June 29, 2011 04:56 PM UTC

"American Crossroads," Meet "Priorities USA"

• 8 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: Arguing it out with relatives over the 4th of July weekend? Check out this Bell Policy Center report on the Ryan budget plan and its impact on Colorado–forearmed is a debate won.

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You can’t turn on a TV right now in Colorado without seeing the new ad from Karl Rove’s well-funded “Super PAC,” American Crossroads, blaming the recent recession on President Barack Obama and lambasting the 2009 federal stimulus bill. Today, Priorities USA Action, a Democratic “expenditure-only committee” with the ability to raise unlimited corporate and union dollars–and directly advocate for and against candidates–hits back with this ad:

The Hill reports:

Priorities USA calls the Crossroads ads “politics at its worst,” and accuses Republicans of wanting to end Medicare, slash education, and giving away tax breaks to oil companies and the wealthy.

It’s part of the developing tête-à-tête between the two groups. Priorities USA’s buy is much smaller, just $750,000, and airing in Iowa, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Colorado. Bur Priorities USA has started to position itself as the best counterweight to Crossroads, which spent millions, fueled by unlimited and anonymous donors, on influencing the 2010 elections.

Priorities USA’s buy may be smaller, but it’s worth noting that they are only hitting back in a few strategic states, including Colorado, where a smaller investment may go farther–if you break down the headline-grabbing $20 million Crossroads buy by state, it’s our understanding that no more than $240,000 of that was spent in Colorado media markets. Release follows:

“This is just the start of the Republicans $500 million dollar campaign to tear down the President,” said Sean Sweeney, senior strategist with Priorities USA Action.  “Their agenda is to use millions of dollars to mask their plan to tear down the middle class.  Our goal is to keep them from getting away with their agenda.”

And…yes. It’s June of 2011. We’re a year and a half out. It’s all crazy. Very observant of you.

PRIORITIES USA ACTION RESPONDS TO ROVE ATTACK ADS

Washington, D.C.-In response to a $20 million-dollar funded effort to mislead Americans about President Obama’s economic record, Priorities USA Action today began a multi-state advertising campaign to inform voters about the source of the Rove ad and the truth about the Republican economic record.

The ad will run in Colorado,Florida, Iowa, North Carolina and Virginia over the course of the next two weeks.

“Not content with ruining the American economy, Karl Rove is attacking President Obama for trying to fix it,” said Paul Begala, senior advisor to Priorities USA Action. “Republicans have done nothing but stand in the way of economic progress, turning their backs on the middle class by proposing to essentially end Medicare for future retirees and slash education while giving tax breaks to the wealthy.”

“This is just the start of the Republicans $500 million dollar campaign to tear down the President,” said Sean Sweeney, senior strategist with Priorities USA Action.  “Their agenda is to usemillions of dollars to mask their plan to tear down the middle class.  Our goal is to keep them from getting away with their agenda.”

It has been reported that outside Republican groups have pledged to spend $500 million collectively in this upcoming cycle against Democrats-including an estimated $120 million from Karl Rove’s American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS, and $88 million from billionaires Charles and David Koch.

View ad here at www.prioritiesusaaction.org.

Ad Script:

We are Americans.

We know right from wrong.

And we know the ads blaming President Obama for the economy are politics at its worst.

The Republicans have opposed economic reforms at every turn.

And now they have a plan that would essentially end Medicare for future retirees…

… slash education …

… while giving huge tax breaks to big oil and the wealthy

We can’t rebuild America if they tear down the middle class.

Priorities USA Action is responsible for the content of this advertising.

Priorities USA Action is an Independent Expenditure PAC that supports candidates who will advance policies that provide the strongest and most sound outcomes for middle class families.