Posted on 10/21/2002 10:05:26 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
TOPEKA (AP) -- A new campaign commercial for Republican Tim Shallenburger tries to link his Democratic opponent in the governor's race to former President Bill Clinton.
Narrated by a woman, the ad opens with video of Clinton. On the screen is a Sebelius quote: ''I was born a Democrat, raised a Democrat, converted to a new Democrat with Bill Clinton in 1988.''
The announcer says: ''So, that explains it. Kathleen Sebelius is a Clinton Democrat. That's why she thinks we believe her double talk. She learned from the best.''
The ad then says Sebelius voted to increase vehicle, sales, income and property taxes. It also claims that while Sebelius, the state insurance commissioner, says she does not take money from insurance company executives, she does take money from their spouses, from board members and lobbyists.
An analysis by The Topeka Capital-Journal, however, found that the ad misrepresents Sebelius' record on the biggest tax increase it accused her of supporting.
In March of 1989, Sebelius, then a member of the House, voted to send bill authorizing a $1 billion highway building program to the Senate. She said, however, that she would vote against it when it returned for final action unless proposed increases in motor fuels taxes and vehicle registration fees were lowered.
On April 30, 1989, Sebelius joined Shallenburger in voting against the final version of the highway bill.
Also, while the ad indicates Sebelius took more than $27,000 in insurance related contributions, it does not mention that during the 2002 campaign cycle Sebelius' campaign has returned more than $21,000 to individuals and companies that the insurance department licenses and regulates, The Capital-Journal reported Saturday.
Also, a Sebelius campaign spokeswoman said contributions from spouses of insurance company executives are accepted only if it can be verified that they have an independent source of income.
The Sebelius campaign, meanwhile, also has a new commercial accusing Shallenburger of running a negative campaign.
The ad does not mention, however, that the Sebelius campaign also is running a negative commercial, which accuses Shallenburger of failing to adequately support public education while he was a member of the Kansas House.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.