ABC now has a THIRD version of the ad submitted to them by the NRCC. They wouldn’t run the revision (#2). So there might be as many as three versions up
Oy.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Democrat Bill Foster’s congressional campaign claims that four of the five Chicago broadcast TV stations initially refused to air this ad by the NRCC…
Only CBS2 continued to air the ad, according to the Foster campaign.
The ad claims that Foster sold his stock “just one day after congressmen held a closed-door briefing in Washington about the financial crisis.”
“Congressman Foster got the parachute, you got the crash,” the ad ends.
* Foster’s campaign says the NRCC spot was “a clear attempt to outright lie to the public without any credible facts.” More…
It’s quite simple: Bill never attended the “closed door briefing” they allege. Not to mention, it was publicly reported that AIG would require a federal bailout at that time, so anyone with an internet connection had access to information.
Though the Bill Foster campaign is fuming over a recent campaign ad that charges he personally profited during his time in Congress — the ad is still running — with the exception of WGN.
The National Republican Congressional Committee says the ad raises a central question about the timing of the Democrat’s personal financial decisions during a critical time in congress — the 2008 housing market collapse. While some stations asked for more details about the ad before airing it, she said, they aired it after some minor changes. […]
“The major Chicago television stations are all running our ad that highlights how Congressman Foster inappropriately used his position on the House Financial Services Committee to personally benefit. We added language to our ad that reinforces the fact that Congressman Foster abused his power,” said National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Katie Prill.
Biggert and Foster have portrayed each other as wealthy in TV ads. Asked whether it was disingenuous for each candidate to slam the other as a millionaire without mentioning they are one as well, Biggert quickly responded: “But I’m not.”
“Certainly the salary from being a member of Congress would not make me a millionaire,” said Biggert, whose congressional salary is $174,000 a year. “We have investments, and that’s good. You have to plan for retirement.”
Biggert’s financial disclosure form shows that she and her husband, Rody Biggert, a retired attorney, have assets worth $1.9 million to $5.3 million.
In the last couple of years, with talking about taxing millionaires and billionaires, it seems that different people have different opinions as to what a “millionaire” is. I have always thought of it that has assets worth at least a million. I would think this is the right definition as Trump and Buffet will likely always be billionaires even though they might have a bad year and only earn a couple hundred million…
So yes, she is a millionaire. (I assume for the assets, if you have a million dollar house with a 800,000 outstanding, it is only counted as 200,000).
That NRCC ad is without question the dumbest, most worthless, demonstrably false piece of crap I have ever seen stain the airwaves in my entire career in professional politics. It is an embarrassment to its creators and whatever staff were shameless enough to even try to justify it.
It is false. Their flack’s statement on it is false.
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- dave - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 10:22 am:
LOL… I’m not a millionaire, I’m just worth somewhere between $2M and $5M.
- Lobo y Olla - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 10:29 am:
My wallet is too small for my $50’s and my diamond shoes are too tight.
-Chandler Bing
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 10:42 am:
Was the Walsh ad that the stations wouldn’t air because it was so misleading on Duckworth also an NRCC ad?
If so, I just wonder how many times this has happened to them across the country this cycle.
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 10:47 am:
Yeesh, let’s not complain too much about that Congressional salary.
How can you have assets north of $1.9 million and not be a millionaire? Is she loaded with debt?
- Just a Guy - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 10:58 am:
In the last couple of years, with talking about taxing millionaires and billionaires, it seems that different people have different opinions as to what a “millionaire” is. I have always thought of it that has assets worth at least a million. I would think this is the right definition as Trump and Buffet will likely always be billionaires even though they might have a bad year and only earn a couple hundred million…
So yes, she is a millionaire. (I assume for the assets, if you have a million dollar house with a 800,000 outstanding, it is only counted as 200,000).
- Will Caskey - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 11:29 am:
That NRCC ad is without question the dumbest, most worthless, demonstrably false piece of crap I have ever seen stain the airwaves in my entire career in professional politics. It is an embarrassment to its creators and whatever staff were shameless enough to even try to justify it.
It is false. Their flack’s statement on it is false.
Not only that, Biggert is ALSO on Financial Services- http://biggert.house.gov/house-committees-that-judy-serves-on/
And she also dumped stock after that alleged “secret meeting”- http://pfds.opensecrets.org/N00004762_2008.pdf
- Colossus - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 2:01 pm:
Lobo: Every time I complain about something great, I follow it up with that line. Thanks for the laugh.