Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Chamber ad for Bean deemed “misleading”

Posted in:

Illinois

Apparently, the Chamber couldn’t just come out and say they were backing Bean because of CAFTA, so they came up with this.

A $400,000 television advertising campaign supporting the re-election of northwest suburban U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.) has been branded as misleading by FactCheck.org, a non-partisan consumer advocacy group.

“This ad is a bit like those sweepstakes promotions that say, `You may already be a winner.’ Maybe, but not yet,” said Brooks Jackson, director of the Annenberg Political Fact Check project at the University of Pennsylvania’s Public Policy Center.

The ad, produced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, praises the 8th District incumbent for supporting a small-business health plan it says would allow health-insurance pools, which could save small businesses more than 30 percent.

The plan, however, does not exist.

You can read the analysis here.

Consider this an 8th District open thread.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 7:32 am

Comments

I attended a Democratic meeting on Wednesday and Bean showed up. I was stunned to see her and was knocked over by her presentation. She took questions, presented her record and beat back any assualt on her record with a great deal of skill.

Several at the meeting where upset with her voting record and when they claimed that the “facts” (read talking points) where on their side, Bean refuted each one, nicely.

She was congratulated for her Chamber endorsement by several. I should note that this meeting was of a lot of progressives - 50 in the room.

I thought she was in for a tough race this year, with Democrats hitting her on the left and McSweeny hit her from the right. But after seeing her in action, I think she maybe a big winner in November.

Comment by 8th District Democrat Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 9:24 am
This will be a tough race for her and McSweeney. This ad, regardless of how big a lie it is, is still $400,000 in free pub. Hopefully, it will backfire.

Comment by Todd Castro(ger) aka Wumpus Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 9:46 am
I believe the plan does not exist because it was filibustered in the senate. It was NFIB backed legislation, I belive it was S. 1955

Comment by moderate - half way between crazy and crazy. Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 9:58 am

Add a comment

Sorry, comments are closed at this time.

Previous Post: Morning shorts
Next Post: Another over-hyped project backfires on taxpayers

Last 10 posts:

Reader comments closed for the weekend (04-26)
Isabel’s afternoon briefing (04-26)
Things that make you go 'Hmm' (04-26)
Did Dan Proft’s independent expenditure PAC illegally coordinate with Bailey's campaign? The case will go before the Illinois Elections Board next week (04-26)
PJM's massive fail (04-26)
$117.7B In Economic Activity: Illinois Hospitals Are Essential To Communities And Families (04-26)
It’s just a bill (04-26)
Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work (04-26)
Open thread (04-26)
Isabel’s morning briefing (04-26)