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* Mark Kirk has a new campaign ad. Rate it…
* Script…
She’s only a few weeks old but she already owes the federal government 43,000 dollars.
Will she have a better life than us? Or worse? How will she afford college, her first home?
Mark Kirk: If you’re as worried as I am about our skyrocketing national debt, runaway spending, and the lack of jobs, I need your vote. I’ll fight to spend less, borrow less and tax less so our children have a better future.
I’m Mark Kirk and I approved this message.
* Response from Giannoulias campaign…
After two decades in Washington DC supporting all of the Bush economic policies that sunk our economy into recession, Congressman Mark Kirk today released another ad that lies about his fiscal record.
“In ad after ad, Congressman Kirk expects voters to throw truth to the wind and forget his record of doubling the national debt and voting against tax cuts for the middle class,” said Alexi for Illinois campaign spokesman Scott Burnham. “The record is clear: Congressman Kirk’s votes took the country from record surpluses to record deficits by handing out tax cuts to millionaires and large corporations, while leaving the middle class and small business to fend for themselves. That’s not a record to be proud of, and it’s not the type of leadership that Illinois families can trust.”
…Adding… The Kirk spot appears to be a popular one this year. Ohio Republican congressional candidate Steve Stivers is running basically the same ad, except that he uses his own daughter…
* Meanwhile, in news from Kirk’s home district, Bob Dold has been threatened with an FEC audit. One of his constituents filed a complain alleging that he hadn’t reported spending money on his big campaign tour bus…
“I noticed he made very careful filings of expenditures under two dollars and I couldn’t imagine why an expenditure of this size was not listed,” Stowell explains of a motor coach that was used in Dold’s ads as part of a bus tour he touted post-primary and through the summer. In April, the cost was disclosed as about $15,000, but in July’s report, it wasn’t there.
Stowell wrote the FEC and she got a letter back. The Dold campaign got one too, threatening audit or enforcement action if he failed to provide more information. The FEC said Dold’s numbers don’t add up.
In Dold’s amended report, we found around $22,000 in debts that had gone unreported, as well as about $24,000 in expenditures. His cash on hand is listed as $22,000 more than it was the first time. But he did add the debt for the bus- it cost around $17,000.
“It would be really hard to say that a $17,000 miss was just sloppy bookkeeping. It looks a little funny,” said Burt Odelson, an election attorney who represented President Bush in the 2004 recount.
* Dold also complained to the Daily Herald about his opponent’s campaign posting a harsh remark on his Facebook page…
Republican congressional candidate Robert Dold and his Democratic rival, Dan Seals, have something new to fight about: Facebook.
On Wednesday, a posting appeared on Seals’ Facebook page tipping off his Internet followers to a news report about Dold.
“Uh oh,” began the post, which was attributed to Seals and ran next to his picture. “The Cook County Clerk and States Attorney are now looking into Dold’s potential property tax fraud.”
An electronic link to a Chicago-area media report raising questions about Dold’s residency and voting record in the last decade followed. The comment was posted on Seals’ Twitter account, too.
However, representatives of the clerk’s office and the state’s attorney’s office insist there is no investigation.
The matter was referred to the state’s attorney by the Cook County Clerk. But the state’s attorney claims there’s nothing going on with the issue.
What Dold did manage to do, however, was move the residency story from the Sun-Times, where it began, to the Daily Herald.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:05 am
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I find it pretty ironic that a guy who voted against the partial birth abortion act would use a baby as imagery in an ad about the national debt.
Comment by Living in Oklahoma Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:10 am
Oof. Guess Kirk couldn’t do it in one take. That cut is awful. Not to be dramatic, but this is the worst ad I’ve seen in the major races in IL this season.
Speaking of dramatic, yes OK, it’s all about abortion. No matter the subject at hand, abortion.
Kirk ad: D-
OK comment: F
Comment by haverford Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:21 am
Is Kirk’s ad some attempt to gain the pro-life movement even though he is pro-choice?
Comment by Chicagoan Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:25 am
What Dold did manage to do, however, was move the residency story from the Sun-Times, where it began, to the Daily Herald. ….
Looks like the same mastermind who inspire NoTaxBill, CommandoMakeItUp et al have infiltrated the Dold regime
Cut Min Wage
FreezeTeacher Salaries
Put Right to Work
Raise Prop. Taxes
Name RxRon Stephens the “walk to work” adviser
Name Blagoof McPier Kinks as top funraisers
Fire, Aim Ready!!!!! x100000000000000000
Weekend looks great
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:25 am
Alexi’s campaign has nothing better to say than:
“After two decades in Washington DC supporting all of the Bush economic policies that sunk our economy into recession, Congressman Mark Kirk today released another ad that lies about his fiscal record.”
—Yet, he proudly trumpets the support of President Obama on his campaign ads and speaks nothing of the economic policies and the fiscal record that have kept us in the recession. He’s grasping for straws.
Comment by Logical Thinker Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:26 am
Not nearly negative enough, we need more negative adds, negative negative negative.
In reality C-, run it for a few days and lets get back to mob ties and lying.
Comment by Bakersfield Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:27 am
Dear Alexi,
You clearly didn’t learn how to run a bank or tell the truth in school, but I would at least hope that you learned that the bush administration has been in existence for 1 decade not 2. Also pleased be advised congressman kirk went to dc in 1982, not 1990.
Your not facebook friend,
Shore
Comment by shore Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:28 am
One other problem for democrats, jon stewart noted barack obama’s to do list the other night in a hilarious segment, one thing he didn’t check off was fix the economy.
You look at the 10th dems website, all sorts of stuff, you know what’s missing after 8 years of democrat control of the state-anything about accomplishments or record.
http://www.tenthdems.org/
Comment by shore Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:30 am
SO do neither of the Candiates for the 10th live in the 10th?
Is Alexi a mob banker or a tax cheat? You can pick and choose based on the stories he has told.
Comment by Wumpus Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:32 am
“We believe Seals is deliberating lying to voters about this…” Klopp said.
Huh?! the Seals campaign posted the Sun-Times article before the Herald story ran (obviously), stating that the County wasn’t pursuing it.
What was he lying about? That the Sun-Times story existed? Or is she accusing Abdon Pallasch of lying?
Comment by Anonymiss Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:33 am
WGN’s news director should be fired plain and simple for the crappy story on Dold.
They identify the woman who filed the complaint, a frequent major Democrat donor, who has given HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS to Dems, including thousands to Seals as someone who is not political??
Obviously the kind of lazy, unprofessional reporting we know and love from Chicago TV stations. All it took was two minutes on the internet to see that this woman writes five figure checks to the dems on a regular basis. And they let her sit there and pontificate like some concerned housewife in her backyard?
More of the dems’ gameplan of vicious attacks to divert attention from their discredited agenda, knowing full well that the reporters don’t do any homework.
Comment by Adam Smith Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:35 am
Seriously? This is what it’s come to now? Mark Kirk exploiting a cute baby? Really? Seriously?
What does Kirk’s campaign pay the baby actor with, chew toys? Tickles?
Comment by just sayin' Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:42 am
I give the Kirk ad an “F” for creativity. The “Baby in Debt” ad has been done a thousand times before.
This is an ad agency phoning it in. It’s like a “Talk is Cheap” ad for a cell phone rate plan, or a bank that “Means Business” when it comes to business banking.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:44 am
Adam Smith beat me to the punch about the “disinterested” constituent - it took me about two seconds to find her contribution proclivities. Bad, WGN, bad.
Also, campaigns are just like us - we don’t pay our bills until we get the bill. No bill, no line item on the form for either disbursement or debt. (At least that was my experience on campaigns). Highly doubtful there is something sinister here other than they didn’t have the bill yet. Nevertheless, I’d say the Dold campaign should have asked for the bill as FEC reporting - or lack thereof - is fair game. And this is not exactly a new tactic - I seem to remember Peter Fitzgerald pulled this exact same complaint about Loleta Didrickson - it was even about her campaign bus if I’m not mistaken - back in the 98 Senate primary. Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to lose to mediocrities.
Comment by JC Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:47 am
LOL Just sayin’ - your outrage is even more over-the-top than the female announcers delivery.
I’ll give the ad a b-. A solid, quick reach-out to suburban women, different enough to cut through the clutter, and the repetitive tag line will stick and resonate, despite the overly dramatic v/o.
Comment by 10th Indy Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:48 am
Stowell was always interested but never a participant. And she donated thousands to Seals. And she said this with a straight face on camera.
I guess that also makes me always interested but never a participant!
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:52 am
Kirk ad gets a D+. I’ve seen the variations on the baby has a debt theme, but it always seems to work on some level. Then the ad transitioned to Kirk, who gave a terrible performance. It has an awful Peter Francis Geraci commercial quality.
Comment by phocion Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 11:55 am
I can understand words like “I’ll fight for…” or “I’ll push for..” coming from someone who has not been part of the package before. If Kirk is now going to fight for something what was he doing the last several terms? He was in DC. What did he accomplish that makes him stand out? He should be telling what he has done.
Comment by zatoichi Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 12:06 pm
JC et al —
FEC regs state that you have to report anticipated debts. And if he got the bill late, it would go in Q3. He amended Q2, and admission that it belonged there, and mind you, only when he was told to by the FEC. Dold filed his amendment on September, hardly right after he received the bill, which the FEC also requires candidates to do.
Comment by Anonymiss Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 12:13 pm
I read the posts then saw the ad.
Good grief you people are nuts.
Number one concern among independants is the spending. Another major concern with independants is a real worry about the kids future.
Where do these people live? The collar counties. Where is the electoral battleground? The collar counties.
Lord you people dont get it!
Reading the negative comments is like reading Penthouse letters written by 90 year olds. Dont have babies or children in your house anymore? Dont have kids? Then you couldnt comment on this ad any better than a herd of geldings commenting on a new filly.
Geezers and Scrooges!
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 12:18 pm
Hey VMAn, as one who does care, work for and love my kids, but can still recognize a hackneyed, uncreative ad for what it is….
Bite me. Obviously, with your endorsement, it passes the lowest common denominator test, Maude Flanders.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 12:27 pm
Yes, the ad seemed kinda corny and did have a Peter Francis Geraci feel, but I do like the idea of seeing the candidate talk to the camera and not just do a voiceover. I think this is his second or third ad in which he does that. I think seeing the person speak directly at you can be more effective than just a voiceover.
Comment by Davey Boy Smithe Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 12:28 pm
Exactly!
That is why it is a winner!
This is no time to impress the Clios with something highbrow.
Glad I got your attention with my slam.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 12:32 pm
Exactly what? Where do you get off making yourself the Uber-parent and questioning other parents devotion, pilgrim?
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 12:39 pm
Stiff , wooden, lacking visible passion, and looks like he’s wearing George Bush’s haircut. I think that baby should get swimming lessons as soon as possible. It will make it easier for her to get rescued by he coast guard some day.
Comment by Newsclown Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 12:44 pm
Here comes the Friday intellectual cage-match we have all been waiting for….
Comment by Jake from Elwood Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 12:45 pm
shore: if you’re going to criticize someone for “tell[ing] the truth” then you shouldn’t support a confirmed liar. what’s your complaint? that alexi isn’t as skilled a liar (according to you) as saint kirk?
here’s the difference: alexi giannoulias will go to washington and be able to talk to members on both sides and be able to move legislation forward without suspicion. mark kirk is widely known on the hill to have lied to members of congress, both from the floor, in the committee room and in private, and no one trusts him.
but, heh, if you think roland burris should be replaced by someone equally ineffective, then mark kirk is a great candidate! he’s just an idiot.
Adam Smith: i’m sorry that your so disinterested in modern politics. exploiting your oppo is the name of the game, and the good ones never get caught with their fingerprints on it.
dold is an idiot. must be something in the water up there. oh, wait, he doesn’t live in the district. it’s funny how gop primary voters nominated someone who can’t exploit the most effective argument that mark kirk had against dan seals. wait, that makes them all idiots…
Comment by bored now Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 12:58 pm
This ads is for parents concerned over their childrens future. They live in the collar counties and are politically independant and in the crosshair of both campaigns. This ad hits the bullseye. You forgot this stuff?
The ads is a winner. Obviously so or so I thought.
After reading the posts I was not going to even bother seeing it but curiosity got the better of me. I was simply amazed at how far off the mark you were. You!
What happened?
How could you whif at that? It is so obvious. Naturally BoredNow wouldnt admit it. But you? It is like watching an u forced error from my Sox.
Sometimes you really let your fans down Slinger!.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 1:02 pm
Republicans on the North Shore deserve what they are going to get, in nominating Joe Walsh and Bob Dold for Congressional seats. Two winnable seats, and the GOP is going to lose them both in a GOP year! Amazing!
Comment by Xgman Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 1:05 pm
Kirk ad:
The theme/messaging hit where they need to–collar county 35-49 parent demographic. It’s the execution that isn’t quite right. Whenever I see Kirk talking into the camera, at me, it makes me feel uncomfortable… Gentle Ben about ready to snap and go postal.
The posture is not exactly confidence inspiring either. His chin is almost level with his shoulders.
With no audio: Look, BABY! A CUTE baby at that! Wait a minute… why hasn’t she been paying her taxes. Owes $43K? What kind of infant earns enough to rack up that kind of tax liability?! Is she filing jointly with the etrade baby? 15 second spot over. Another 15 second spot, Kirk lurching with a couple boilerplate bullet points.
Comment by Obamarama Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 1:16 pm
VMan, I have no idea what you’re talking about now. You have your opinion on the ad, I have mine.
But if you’re going to call names, insult people and question the devotion of those who disagree with you, be prepared to get some back. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 1:27 pm
- bored now - Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 12:58 pm:
alexi giannoulias will go to washington and be able to talk to members on both sides and be able to move legislation forward without suspicion.”
This guy is Roland Burris, without the tombstone. He will have zero influence in Washington.
Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 1:32 pm
Kirk ad:
Kirk votes in congress got us into this fiscal mess.
More lies from a liar.
Comment by (618) Democrat Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 1:49 pm
Hey, VMan
“Dont have babies or children in your house anymore? Dont have kids? Then you couldnt comment on this ad any better than a herd of geldings commenting on a new filly.”
My baby, the college freshman, was very distressed to hear that I no longer care about her or her future. I told her it had to be true, as VMan said it.
I can only imagine how hard this is going to hit her big sister, Whatsername. (She’s been out of the house so long — out of sight, out of mind.) I barely remember either of them any more. I used to care desperately about my children and the state of the nation that they will inherit. But when they got tall and stopped being cute, I just kinda lost interest.
Comment by soccermom Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 1:49 pm
“She’s only a few weeks old, but already owes the federal government $43,000…” They forgot to add “thanks to policies Mark Kirk championed over the last decade.”
Too bad that baby won’t be old enough to vote against Kirk in November. He’s wrong on policy, wrong on history and wrong on economics. If Kirk had his way on the tax cut vote, her $43,000 tab will look like a bargain in a few years.
It’s cognitive dissonance. Mark Kirk talking about fighting deficits is like Kirstie Alley talking about dieting. Neither one has any credibility on the subject.
0/10 on content. Overall, 4/10 because the baby is cute and some people with the sound off will think this is an anti-abortion ad.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 2:29 pm
Interesting. It sounds like Mark Kirk is taking voice lessons, or word inflection lessons, from Sarah Palin. I never noticed that before.
Comment by Cheswick Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 3:56 pm
Mark Kirk kind of sounds like what I’d imagine a Ken doll would sound like if it could talk. I liked him better before he started talking in his ads. Bring back the mob banker thing.
And just out of curiosity, how much did America’s 10-year-olds owe Uncle Sam back when Illinois first sent Mark Kirk to Congress?
Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Oct 1, 10 @ 4:48 pm
I find the ad ironic. Kirk voted for all those deficit increasing budgets during the Bush era and now he is going to be a fiscal conservative. The best way to predict future behavior is to look at past behavior…
Comment by mom52 Saturday, Oct 2, 10 @ 11:21 am
to Adam Smith–it doesn’t matter who discovered Dold’s FEC violation–if he broke the law, he broke the law. Are you saying that only Republicans can scrutinize Republican filings and Democrats the filings of Democrats? The election law is the election law and it is pretty clear. If there wasn’t a problem, there would not have been a need for the FEC to pursue it and an amended filing. The FEC gets a zillion complaints and most get ignored because they are without merit. This was pursued because it had merit. The person who brought it to the FEC is an attorney who read the law. FEC regs state that you have to report anticipated debts. And if he got the bill late, it would go in Q3. He amended Q2, and admission that it belonged there, and mind you, only when he was told to by the FEC. Dold filed his amendment on September, hardly right after he received the bill, which the FEC also requires candidates to do.
Comment by mom52 Saturday, Oct 2, 10 @ 11:31 am
Kirk looks weak in the ad. He has no physical presence. His voice is offputting.
Comment by Andy Martin Sunday, Oct 3, 10 @ 1:34 am