Posted on 08/02/2006 5:37:23 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
MADISON, WI (AP) -- Archival footage of former President Richard Nixon declaring that he is not a crook is merged with headlines and references to probes of Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle's administration in the latest no-holds-barred TV ad of the campaign season.
The spot, paid for by the Republican-leaning Coalition for America's Families, began airing Wednesday across the state. It is the most recent of several paid for by independent groups supporting either Doyle or his Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Mark Green of Green Bay.
Doyle's campaign responded with its own statement saying Green takes a "Nixonian approach" to governing.
"Green likes him so much, he's even begun making an appearance in the latest attack ad put up by Green's special interest pals," the Doyle campaign statement said.
The ad begins with a narrator talking about the conviction of former state worker Georgia Thompson, who was found guilty of two felonies for illegally steering a contract to Doyle contributors. The narrator then adds that the investigation into Doyle's administration and that case is continuing.
That is followed with Nixon saying, "I welcome this kind of examination."
The ad also references a $10,000 donation Doyle received from Philadelphia-area attorney Richard Schiffrin the same day he met with the governor about doing work for the state. Schiffrin's firm did not get any work, but the situation is being investigated by the state Ethics Board.
Also mentioned in the ad is a $68 million University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee building contract awarded to a firm whose employees had donated $51,000 to the governor's campaign since December 2003.
The state Justice Department is reviewing whether to launch an investigation into that.
The ad concludes with Nixon's famous quote, "Well, I'm not a crook."
Doyle campaign spokesman Anson Kaye tried to turn the tables by attempting to draw parallels between Green and Nixon, noting that Green took money linked to Tom DeLay, the former congressman awaiting trial on conspiracy and money laundering charges.
Green has given to charity about $29,000 in donations he received that were linked to DeLay.
Kaye also questioned Green's statements that he knew of no wrongdoing when he served as chairman of the Republican Caucus, despite illegal campaigning that occurred during that time by caucus members.
According to testimony at the trial of former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, Green's aides may have known about what was occurring and used state employees for political purposes.
The coalition paying for the Nixon ad is run by Steve King of Janesville, the former state Republican Party chairman. The coalition launched a similarly themed radio ad last month accusing Doyle of being corrupt.
King said the ad will run for a week in Milwaukee, Green Bay, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Wausau, and Madison. He would not say how much air time was bought, saying only that it was "significant."
King, who served under Nixon's Agriculture Department from 1972 until 1974, said the ad's message is that voters should not let Wisconsin government go down the same path the federal government did in 1972.
"I was there and I saw that administration despoil the political landscape and I don't know that they've fully recovered," King said. He said that Doyle, like Nixon, is in denial of the problems in his administration.
The ad is one of several attacking either Doyle or Green that have appeared in recent months. Green has yet to run any ads of his own, although a commercial on his Web site appeared on Monday.
Doyle's campaign has run two ads. The first was an overview of several issues, while the second attacked Green's position on stem cell research and said he was "too extreme to be governor."
97 days to go, Kids. And then this will all be over, and the past years will all have been a Bad Dream. :)
And FWIW, Doyle can't even keep his own sons out of jail, and he was our Attorney General for years and years! Though, of course, no one talks about THAT in polite circles in Madistan. He is the King of Denial. *Rolleyes*
"Daily 'I Am Not A Crook' Doyle" Ping!
P.S. Conservative Talk Show Host Vickie McKenna, on AM 1310 - WIBA from 2-6pm is now doing "The Daily Doylies" on her program thanks to us!
Free Republic is Show Prep for Rush AND for local Conservative Madison Radio! Wa-Hoo! :)
Nah, he's just an Egyptian...
...living in Denial
Can you put me on the Doyle ping list, please?
You're in. You may get a few pings this weekend too that only concern other goofy things going on in Wisconsin. I need to take mental breaks from this stuff once in a while and laugh a little. ;)
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