Free Republic

The California Teachers Association is running a TV ad saying Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman could cut $7 billion in state education funding and lay off 100,000 teachers. Following is an analysis by Jack Chang of The Bee Capitol Bureau: Text If our future starts here, should California continue the cutbacks that are crippling our classrooms? Meg Whitman's plan says yes.Whitman's plan could cut another $7 billion from our schools. Teacher layoffs – 100,000 more. Thirty-three percent larger class sizes. And even more cuts to arts and music programs that deny our kids a well-rounded education.Tell Meg Whitman that cutting...

Supporters of Proposition 8, which would ban same-sex marriage in California, are running their first television ad.The commercial features San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom making a celebratory speech. The state Supreme Court had just invalidated a law overwhelmingly passed by voters in 2000 that declared "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." Following is a text of the ad and an analysis by Aurelio Rojas of The Bee's Capitol Bureau: The ad Newsom: This door's wide open now. It's going to happen whether you like it or not.Narrator: Four judges ignored 4 million...

Doug Ose's 4th Congressional District campaign is running a new television ad central to one of Ose's themes – that rival Tom McClintock is a more profound political carpetbagger than he is.The ad shows a narrator walking an oversized California map from McClintock's Thousand Oaks-area state Senate district to the 4th District near Sacramento. Ose appears at the end of the ad.The following is the text of the ad and analysis by Peter Hecht of the Bee's Capitol Bureau. • NARRATOR: For 22 years, Tom McClintock has been representing Los Angeles in the Legislature. But now term limits are forcing...

The latest ad from Governor Schwarzenegger's campaign has a clear message: if you're opposed to a tax increase, vote yes on Proposition 76. But when you examine the way Prop 76 would impact the state budget process, you're likely to conclude that the ad is a pretty big stretch. The ad features three "average" people sarcastically asking for a tax increase, higher state spending, and modifications to the property tax initiative Proposition 13. "This is how Sacramento thinks we think," says the narrator. The ad ends with a plea to "Say yes to 76, say no to a tax increase...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign has launched a 60-second radio ad featuring state Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, touting Proposition 76, the Nov. 8 ballot measure that would change the state's budgeting rules. Below is a text of the ad and an analysis by Bee Deputy Capitol Bureau Chief Dan Smith. Announcer: Unless you want higher taxes next year ... pay close attention to this message. Tom McClintock: This is Sen. Tom McClintock for Prop. 76. 76 is the Live Within Your Means Act - to control state spending, balance the budget without new taxes and stop borrowing from our kids....

Redistrict California, a committee supporting Proposition 77, will launch a $2 million television advertising campaign Monday. Its commercial will air for one week on both cable and network stations statewide. The 30-second spot features a professional actress, Sacramento-area resident Golden Henning, who portrays a disgusted elderly voter belittling the Legislature outside her home. The following is the text and an analysis by Jim Sanders of The Bee Capitol Bureau. WOMAN: Legislature, ha, ha. I wouldn't. ... They're a bunch of. ... Well, never mind. VOICE-OVER: Legislators draw their own districts, so they can't lose. WOMAN: I wouldn't give you 2...

NARAL'S "First National Ad Opposing Roberts" Is Both Outrageous And False _____________________________________ For Immediate Release Contact: Press Office August 8, 2005 202-863-8614 "It is stunning that any group would put together an ad with the false and outrageous claims that NARAL has today. By attempting to assert that Judge Roberts supports shameful criminal acts, NARAL has shown how far they will go to slander a good man for political gain. Organizations like NARAL that go to these lengths only serve to denigrate the confirmation process and are drastically out-of-touch with the American people." -- Ken Mehlman, RNC Chairman NARAL AD...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Christine Iverson(202) 863-8614 Washington, DC— RNC Communications Director Jim Dyke released the following statement today on the DNC response ad to the ad ‘Wolves’. Recent media reports exposed the DNC and Kerry Campaign tactic of holding conference calls to introduce response ‘ads’ that are not aired. “There is no evidence that the Kerry campaign intends to air this ad as it features eagles and ostriches but not even one dolphin. “The DNC and the Kerry campaign have a bad habit of introducing response ‘ads’ to the media, generating free headlines and stories, but never actually spending...

10/19/2004 Judy Keen and Mark Memmott USA TODAY The most expensive TV ad buy of the presidential campaign shows President Bush consoling a teenage girl whose mother died in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. The ad, created by the conservative Progress for America Voter Fund, will run until the election on cable stations and in nine key states at a cost of $14.2 million, said the group's president, Brian McCabe. (Related link: Ad analysis) The ad was inspired by a photo of Bush hugging Ashley Faulkner, who is now 16, while campaigning in Lebanon, Ohio, on May 4....

Rhetoric NARRATOR: “George Bush lost the debate.  Now he’s lying about it.  This is what you heard John Kerry really say: The president always has the right for pre-emptive strike. I will hunt and kill the terrorists, wherever they are.” CHYRON: “George Bush lost the debate; Now he’s lying about it; This is what John Kerry really said…; “‘The president always has the right for pre-emptive strike.’ John Kerry”; “‘I will hunt and kill the terrorists, wherever they are.’ John Kerry” The Facts What Kerry Said About Pre-Emptive Doctrine In Debate At Miami Presidential Debate, Kerry Said America’s Self-Defense...

Rhetoric NARRATOR: “The Bush attack machine is smearing John Kerry again.” CHYRON: “The Bush attack machine is smearing John Kerry again.” CHYRON: “‘Smear.’ Kansas City Star, 8/17/04” NARRATOR: “Wait a minute. John Kerry put his life on the line for America.” CHYRON: “Wait a minute.” NARRATOR: “It was George Bush who misled us about weapons of mass destruction.” CHYRON: “George Bush mislead us about Weapons of Mass Destruction” CHYRON: “US Report Confirms No WMDs in Iraq” CHYRON: “UPI, 9/17/04” CHYRON: “US Weapons Inspector: Iraq had no WMD” CHYRON: “Associated Press, 9/17/04” The Facts Report Kerry Campaign Cites Confirms Saddam’s...

KERRY'S GLASS HOUSEKerry Was For Negative Ads Before He Was Against Them___________________________________"'Americans need a real conversation over our future,' Kerry said in a speech at a school in Spring Green, Wisconsin. 'What they don't need is all these trumped up advertisements, they just make people curl up and walk away,' added the Massachusetts senator. 'I'm calling them "misleadisments,"' Kerry said of the adverts. 'It's all scare tactics…'" ("Bush Sharpens Jabs Against Kerry Ahead Of Debates," Agence France Presse, 9/28/04)KERRY'S COMMENTS NEWS TO KERRY CAMPAIGNKerry-Edwards 2004, "Doesn't Get It," 30 Seconds, Sept. 27, 2004ü      "There he goes again. George Bush said...

Rhetoric NARRATOR: “George Bush keeps telling us things are getting better in Iraq.” CHYRON: “Freedom on the March in Iraq, Bush Tells Voters” CHYRON: “Source: Washington Post Sept. 16, 2004” NARRATOR: “The facts tell a different story.” CHYRON: “U.S. Intelligence Shows Pessimism On Iraq's Future” CHYRON: “Source: New York Times Sept. 16, 2004” NARRATOR: “Terrorists are pouring into the country.” CHYRON: “Iraqi PM: ‘Terrorists pouring in’” CHYRON: “Source: CNN international.com Sept. 20, 2004” NARRATOR: “Attacks on U.S. forces are increasing every month.” CHYRON: “U.S. Troops’ Death Rate Rising in Iraq” CHYRON: “Source: Washington Post Sept. 9, 2004” NARRATOR: “A...

Rhetoric  JOHN KERRY: “It’s time for a President who understands that a stronger America begins at home. It’s time to stop rewarding companies for shipping jobs overseas …” CHYRON: John Kerry. CHYRON: Stop shipping jobs overseas.  The Facts  Outsourcing Not Cause Of Major Job Loss Only Two Percent Of Layoffs Were Due To Foreign Outsourcing. “Shifting jobs overseas accounted for only a tiny fraction of U.S. job losses in the first three months of the year, according to a first-ever report released … by the Labor Department. … About 2 percent of the major layoffs in the first three months of the...

Rhetoric  NARRATOR: “What can a President do about the cost of prescription drugs? John Kerry says allow Medicare to negotiate lower prices with drug companies. And permit Americans to buy prescription drugs from Canada.”  CHYRON: What Can a President Do? Allow Medicare to Negotiate Lower Prices; Permit Prescription Drugs from Canada   The Facts  Kerry’s Proposals Will Not Reduce Cost Of Prescription Drugs For Seniors According To Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Government Negotiation Of Drug Prices Would Not Reduce Costs; Under New Medicare Law, Private Plans Will Negotiate “Substantial Savings.”  “CBO has examined the effect of striking the ‘noninterference’ provision...

Rhetoric  TRACY:  “I think George Bush is ignoring the health care needs in this country.” CHYRON: Since George Bush took office … Over 96,000 people lost their health insurance in Wisconsin; Source: U.S. Census Bureau; Tracy Suprise, Wisconsin Registered Nurse BRUCE: “I don’t think George Bush has done anything for health care, not that I can see.” CHYRON: Since George Bush took office … Health insurance premiums increased 41% in Wisconsin; Source: Agency for Healthcare Quality Research and Kaiser Family Foundation; Bruce Moore, Dane County Home Care Aide TRACY:  “George Bush has sided with the pharmaceutical industry on every issue with respect to...

Rhetoric  PRESIDENT BUSH: “We're creating jobs, good, high paying jobs for the American citizens.” FIRST MAN: "The jobs that the President is talking about are low paying jobs. Those jobs can't support our country." CHYRON: New jobs pay $9,000 less. Source: Economic Policy Institute, 1/21/04.  The Facts  Unemployment Down While Jobs And Household Wealth Up  Nearly 1.7 Million Jobs Created In Last Year; Unemployment Dropped To 5.4%. “U.S. employers added 144,000 workers to payrolls in August, the most since May and the first acceleration in five months, suggesting the economy is emerging from a midyear lull. The unemployment rate fell to...

Rhetoric  NARRATOR: “Four years ago, George Bush came to Philadelphia promising to ‘strengthen Medicare for the greatest generation.’” CHYRON: Four years ago, George Bush came to Philadelphia promising … “We will strengthen Social Security and Medicare for the greatest generation.” George Bush, Philadelphia, PA, 8/3/2000 NARRATOR: “Four years later, Bush imposes the largest Medicare increase in history. Now Bush is back, but around here we remember Bush’s broken promises.” CHYRON: Four years later … Bush imposes largest Medicare increase in history. Medicare premiums to jump a record 17% LA Times, 9/04/04; Four years later … A record of broken promises.   The...

Rhetoric  NARRATOR: “George Bush: $200 billion for Iraq.”   CHYRON:   George Bush: $200 Billion For Iraq  The Facts  Kerry Supported War In Iraq … Kerry Voted For Iraq War Resolution. (H.J. Res. 114, CQ Vote #237: Passed 77-23: R 48-1; D 29-21; I 0-1, 10/11/02, Kerry Voted Yea) Kerry Agreed With Removing Saddam Hussein. “I agree completely with this Administration’s goal of a regime change in Iraq – Saddam Hussein is a renegade and outlaw who turned his back on the tough conditions of his surrender put in place by the United Nations in 1991.” (Senator John Kerry, Speech To The 2002...

Rhetoric NARRATOR: “Four years ago, George Bush came to Scranton promising quality health insurance for every senior.”  CHYRON: George Bush; Scranton, PA; 9/5/2000; “quality health insurance for every senior”   NARRATOR: “Four years later, 5 million more people without health insurance. Prescription drug prices skyrocketing. Now, Bush is back. But around here, we remember Bush’s broken promises.” CHYRON: 5 million more people without insurance; Source: Census Bureau Statistics; Drug Prices Skyrocketing; Source: Families USA NARRATOR:  “America can do better. John Kerry – a  real plan to lower the cost of health care. Because a stronger America begins at home.” KERRY:...