Ford’s Idea on Negative Ads

[question everything]

December 1, 2006

Ford’s Idea on Negative Ads

Former Tennessee Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. has an idea to help prevent inaccurate negative ads from destroying a candidate’s reputation: require broadcasters to check the accuracy of ads before they appear on the air.

On CNBC today, the Democratic congressman spoke about the negative ads that helped contribute to his unsuccessful campaign for a Senate seat this year. “A lot of what happens is that people just lie,” said Ford, whose campaign was rocked by a Republican Party ad that referenced his active social life and drew criticism for racial undertones.

The idea could be a non-starter, however. It would place a heavy burden on local broadcasters, which are required to provide airtime to federal candidates. Given the large volume of ads – mostly negative — that run in the final weeks before Election Day, it might be a tad difficult for local broadcasters to check them all out.

There’s also a little problem of current law, which prohibits broadcasters from censoring or altering any candidate ads, no matter how false or malicious they might be. Those rules don’t apply to ads by third-party ads, however, which include spots sponsored by political parties, 527s and non-profits. That’s why some radio and television stations have refused to run some ads deemed too inaccurate or misleading to broadcast. – Amy Schatz

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/ (subscription)

[JI7]

1. so he just figured this out ?

but in Ford's case what really hurt was the bigotry.

[snowbear]

3. I still can't believe so many Tennesseans fell for it....

Un-freaken-believable!

I hope that weaselly, little creepy worm Dorker (Corker) is the absolute WORST U.S. Senator ever voted to the "Volunteer State"!

The voters who fell for the Rovian tactics DESERVE it!!!! :mad:

[JI7]

4. it wasn't a matter of "falling for it"

some people are just racist . they see a black man and then people start up with the black man and white woman stuff and they go out and vote against him.

even Jim Webb's race was close. i think some people decided to vote FOR Allen after the racist stuff. but they are a bit better as most didn't. but it was still too close.

Corker was a horrible candidate. anyone who voted for him is a piece of shit. we got rid of Allen and Santorum but i think we will so a bit of them in Corker.

[peacetalksforall]

2. I think it's a great issue to add to the Dem platform. nt

[bluestateguy]

5. Great. So a local station owned by the Sinclair Group will get to interpret the "truth"

Well intentioned, but I don't want some corporate media boss having the power to decide what is and is not "truthful". You need to fix the media consolidation problem first before an idea like this could be entertained.