( – promoted by Colorado Pols)
A mysterious organization fronted by a crony of Republican Senate candidate Bob Schaffer has produced a second TV ad, this time slamming Schaffer’s opponent, Democrat Mark Udall.
Coloradans for Economic Growth returns to the air about a month after “Sources,” otherwise known as “the butterfly and the Prius,” a 30-second spot that played heavily across the state portraying Schaffer as a friend of alternative energy.
The new ad, “You Don’t Know Udall” (also viewable here), claims the Democrat “voted for higher taxes at least 50 times,” “stood with extremist groups,” and “voted to block bipartisan energy reforms that could lower gas prices.” The ad also charges Udall with “fighting for the biggest tax increase in history” because he opposes extending the Bush tax cuts, set to expire next year.
The extremists? According to Coloradans for Economic Growth’s Ad Facts, that would be the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters. The latter sponsored the anti-Schaffer TV ad “Fingerprints,” which lists Schaffer’s ties to “Big Oil” while oily fingerprints drips black goo over the screen.
Normally, the Sierra Club doesn’t frighten Colorado voters. But this week, polls show Udall losing a solid lead over Schaffer as the race tightens to neck-and-neck. Could it be the seemingly pejorative nickname “Big Oil Bob” has worked in Schaffer’s favor as gas prices hover around $4 a gallon? One Denver pollster thinks so:
“Being related to the industry and being able to argue that ‘I know production and we need to get it going’ is now a much more positive position to be in for Republicans,” [Floyd] Ciruli said.
After the jump: what the ad says, Udall camp responds, and just who are these Coloradans for Economic Growth guys?
Here’s the ad’s script:
“You might think you might know where Mark Udall stands, but you don’t know Udall. Udall voted for higher taxes at least 50 times. Udall is fighting for the biggest tax increase in history. Udall stood with extremist groups. And voted to block bipartisan energy reforms that could lower gas prices. If you think you know where Mark Udall stands, then you don’t know Udall. Call Mark Udall, tell him to stop raising taxes and start standing for Colorado. Coloradans for Economic Growth is responsible for the content of this advertising.”
Last night, the Udall campaign fired back with this posting on its web site:
The powerful special interests are at it again-launching false attacks on Mark Udall. But, here are the facts: Mark Udall has voted to reduce taxes on middle class families and Colorado’s small businesses-at least 65 times. It’s true (see below the 65 votes Mark Udall has cast to reduce taxes on small businesses and the middle class). Meanwhile, Bob Schaffer and his special interest allies just keep giving away billions in tax breaks to millionaires, big oil companies, and corporations who ship American jobs overseas.
Coloradans deserve better than false, misleading attacks. And Coloradans deserve better than when Washington and Bob Schaffer sell out to special interests.
… and then goes on to list 65 roll call votes referenced above.
Who’s behind the ad? Coloradans for Economic Growth, a 501 c (4) organization incorporated in Colorado on May 7, 2008, says its mission is to “Promote ideas that secure our future and promote economic growth in Colorado.” Because of its tax status, CEG doesn’t have to file donor information and won’t have to file a tax return until next year. The Contact Us link on its web site leads surfers to a “Coming Soon” page that cautions simply
Don’t worry…it’s coming soon.
In the meantime, you can email us at act@cegnow.org.
Because it’s incorporated as a nonprofit business, rather than a campaign organization, it hasn’t had to file the usual disclosure forms with the Secretary of State, but an examination of public records reveals some familiar names behind the group.
Attorney Scott Gessler of the LoDo firm Hackstaff Gessler LLC is CEG’s registered agent. In 2006, Gessler established a 527 group called Coloradans for Change, which raised and spent in the neighborhood of $1.5 million on electioneering.
The secretary/treasurer of Coloradans for Change? Bob Schaffer. Which should come as no surprise, as Coloradans for Change collected $600,000 from Schaffer’s employer, Aspect Energy boss Alex Cranberg. In addition, the 527 collected $100,000 from the Trailhead Group, $125,000 from the Senate Majority Fund and $300,000 from C. Edward McVaney, the billionaire co-founder of J.D. Edwards, who, along with his family, have donated tens of thousands of dollars to Schaffer campaigns over the years.
Schaffer turned his duties at Coloradans for Change over to Mark Hillman last year and the 527 added another familiar name to its roster, listing convicted accountant Scott Shires as its e-mail contact.
The Coloradans for Economic Growth web site is hosted by Orem, Utah, company BlueHost.com, and run by notorious South Carolina political consultant Warren Tompkins through his company Political Net Roots, which boasts the CEG site among its best work. Tompkins took some flack a year ago for creating a fake Fred Thompson web site while serving as Mitt Romney’s South Carolina honcho, hearkening back to the same role he played derailing John McCain’s presidential aspirations in South Carolina when he worked for George W. Bush and Karl Rove. The PhoneyFred.org site was hosted on BlueHost.com, as are other prominent Republican campaign sites, all operated by Political Net Roots.
Talk about fingerprints.
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Now THAT’S shadowy!
Why does a group have to be shadowy because they oppose one’s candidate?
Who is this group? Where do they get their funding? And what are the rules govern this type of group? Are they allowed to work with the candidate on issues or not?
These groups may not work with the candidate. They are a non-profit interest group that has more ability to lobby than a 501c3. Just like Moveon.org
Maybe it IS MoveOn!!!
I’m wondering if this group needs to file an electioneering communication report, just as Colorado Counts was required to. That includes listing the donors who paid for the ad. Here’s the language from the FEC’s page that lists electioneering communication reports:
“Electioneering Communications are broadcast ads (television, radio, cable, satellite), made by people or groups who do not file regular reports with the FEC, that refer to a federal candidate, are targeted to voters and appear within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of a general election. Individual contribution limits do not apply here, but, with some exceptions, no corporate or union funds may be used to pay for these ads, and they must be disclosed.”
We are within the 30-day primary window (even though this ad is targeted at the general), so I’m wondering if the requirement may kick in.
Pay no attention to the energy issue as a possible explanation for Udall’s drop in the polls. It’s all Dave’s campaign to punish Udall for his FISA vote.
…. and ignore the garbage from everyone else, especially ProgressNowAction.org and Coloradans for Economic Growth. These kinds of groups should not be influencing your vote. Go to the debates, listen to the candidates.
The liberal 501c4 ProgressNowAction.org has been sliming Bob Schaffer for months, so it sounds a bit whiny to complain when Coloradans for Economic Growth feeds it back the other direction, doesn’t it?
But you’ll have to admit, there’s a huge difference between ProgressNow issuing a press release or posting a web video and CEG’s massive, saturation ad buys. They’re certainly free to get their message out there. Some are curious who they are and what they stand to gain. That’s politics.
Hee, Hee, Hee, love the Ad.
Gee when MoveOn does an Attack Ad you guy love it so why don’t you all love this ad?
Someone I agree with..