WCAX reports the gubernatorial candidate’s negative ads are over. Their guest, longtime analyst Chris Graff calmly lectured Vermonters:
“You try to run them early enough so that you can knock down the opposition, but not too close to the election so that you have time to build your candidacy back up."
One of the signs they put forward as evidence is Brian Dubie’s simple declaration that he will now focus on his campaign and he proudly notes he has complied [sic] a jobs plan(26 pages,10 points!)
"I am gonna focus on my campaign. My campaign is focused on my jobs plan that I've complied; 26 pages, a 10-point jobs plan," Dubie said.
Maybe negativity in candidate run ads will subside, but VtDigger warns: Expect the bitterness to intensify. One thing WCAX and Graff neglect to mention are elephants looming in the room that may pick up the slack in negativity. Several of them on Dubie’s side that may pick up the slack are, Haley Barbour’s Republican Governor’s Association (RGA), Green Mountain Prosperity and Crossroads Media. Crossroads Media LLC which has been commissioned to buy ads on Dubie’s behalf works “hand in glove” with Karl Rove’s American Crossroads funding clearing house according to VtDigger.
Last week the RGA placed a $201,490 bet on Dubie. Green Mountain Prosperity PAC made seven separate media buys on Sept. 28 and Oct. 1, according to filings from the Vermont Secretary of State.
As WCAX news declares the end of negativity should Vermont’s trusted news source walk down their hall to their advertising department and inquire about how many of Karl Rove and Haley Barbour’s ads are contracted to run on their station?
The ad against Shumlin is a blatant lie. Shumlin does not advocate allowing convicts out of jail, nor does he support freeing child molesters and child pornographers.
The ad against Dubie is 100 percent accurate. Dubie did falsely say military duty kept him from Senate duties. He did falsely say that he had a list of the names of the convicts who would be released under Shumlin’s plan for reforming Corrections.
If accurately quoting a candidate’s own words is the new definition of “negative” and “attack”, candidates should feel free to say or do anything, knowing that if they’re caught, they can just pretend to be victimized.
on Dubie’s “26-page plan,” at least until he gets through reading the thing himself. This is not a candidate who lends himself well to reasoned articulation.
A 90% tax on TV income from campaign ads. Gross, not net.