The Montana Democrat Party/DSCC’s False And Misleading Attack Ad Is Changed After They Were Caught Playing Fast And Loose With The Truth
After Attempting To Air A False And Misleading Attack Ad, The Montana Democrats Were Forced To Make Changes Following Objections From A TV Station. “The Montana Democratic Party has changed wording in a controversial television ad targeting Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., following a request from KTVQ’s general manager. The first ad, released to television stations Monday, said Burns ‘takes $136,000 from notorious lobbyist Jack Abramoff . . .’ . . . Burns’ re-election campaign said the ad is false because that money didn’t solely come from Abramoff. Federal Election Commission records show the money, donated to Burns’ campaign over several years, came from a variety of sources.” (Jake Whittenberg and Aaron Murphy, “Democrats Rewrite Campaign Ad After KTVQ Request,” KTVQ-TV Online, www.ktvq.com/Global/story.asp?S=3702961&nav=LpDYd9OX, August 10, 2005)
- Ironically, “FEC Records Also Show One Of Those [Lobbyist] Clients Donated To The Montana Democratic Party In 2002.” (Jake Whittenberg and Aaron Murphy, “Democrats Rewrite Campaign Ad After KTVQ Request,” KTVQ-TV Online, www.ktvq.com/Global/story.asp?S=3702961&nav=LpDYd9OX, August 10, 2005)
- The Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians (Palm Springs, CA) Contributed $5,000 To The Montana Democrat Party On October 31, 2002. (Campaign Finance Analysis Project Website, www.campaignfinanceanalysisproject.com, Accessed August 10, 2005)
On August 9, 2005, Billings Station KTVQ-TV President And General Manager Monty Wallis Raised Concern The Democrats’ Ad Was “Not Correct.” “Wallis said Federal Election Commission records show the money, donated to Burns’ campaign committee, came from a number of sources, not just from Abramoff. He wants the record set straight. ‘We want to make sure we’re not disseminating information that’s written in such way that it really is not correct,’ Wallis said.” (Sarah Cooke, “Station Asks For Changes To Controversial Burns TV Ad,” The Associated Press, August 9, 2005)
- Wallis On The Deceptive Ad: “We Don’t Want To Decide Who Is Lying And Who Isn’t . . . . That Shouldn’t Have To Be The Responsibility Of Broadcasters.” “Monty Wallis, president and general manager of KTVQ Television, asked the Montana Democratic Party to change the ad for accuracy. He said he would pull the ad had the change not been made. ‘We want to provide the public with the right information, with accurate information,’ Wallis said. ‘At the same time we don’t want to decide who is lying and who isn’t, who is telling all the truth and just half the truth. That shouldn’t have to be the responsibility of broadcasters.’” (Jake Whittenberg and Aaron Murphy, “Democrats Rewrite Campaign Ad After KTVQ Request,” KTVQ-TV Online, www.ktvq.com/Global/story.asp?S=3702961&nav=LpDYd9OX, August 10, 2005)
“The Montana Broadcasters Association Voiced Similar Concerns And Told Members In An E-Mail They Were Not Obligated To Run The TV Spot, Which Began Airing Statewide Monday.” (Sarah Cooke, “Station Asks For Changes To Controversial Burns TV Ad,” The Associated Press, August 9, 2005)
Once Again, Democrats Prove They Can’t Handle The Truth
Initially, Democrats Dug In Their Heels. “Dennis McDonald, president of the Montana Democratic Party, said Tuesday he had heard rumors a television station was asking that the ad be changed, but had not ‘seen anything in writing and nothing official.’ He said Monday he stood by the ad, and would not respond to the GOP’s request to remove it.” (Sarah Cooke, “Station Asks For Changes To Controversial Burns TV Ad,” The Associated Press, August 9, 2005)
But Even After The Changes, “Democratic Party Officials Stood By The TV Spot And Said Its Central Message Remained Unchallenged.” (Jake Whittenberg and Aaron Murphy, “Democrats Rewrite Campaign Ad After KTVQ Request,” KTVQ-TV Online, www.ktvq.com/Global/story.asp?S=3702961&nav=LpDYd9OX, August 10, 2005)
- On August 8, 2005, The Associated Press Reported The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) “Aided” The Montana Democratic Party With The Attack Ad. “The Montana Democratic Party - aided by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee - is airing a television ad criticizing Republican Sen. Conrad Burns for his dealings with a GOP lobbyist who is under federal investigation. The DSCC contribution on the ad referring to lobbyist Jack Abramoff was its first salvo in the Senate ad wars that are just warming up.” (Sarah Cooke, “Montana Democrats Get National Help Criticizing Sen. Conrad Burns,” The Associated Press, August 8, 2005)