Ad Watch: Special Interest Onslaught Against Sherrod Hits $27.6 Million As Karl Rove Desperately Tries To Distract Ohioans From Mandel’s Opposition To Auto Rescue, Cronyism, Absenteeism In Treasurer’s Office
New Ad An Attempt To Distract From Mandel’s Debate Failures, Admission He’d Have Voted To Let Auto Industry Die, Promise To Take Unqualified Political Cronies To Washington
As his preferred puppet Josh Mandel reels from two consecutive debate failures, during which he admitted that he would have voted to let the auto industry die and promised to bring the unqualified political cronies and friends staffing his Treasurer’s office with him to Washington, Karl Rove is back on the air with another false, negative attack against Sherrod.
The latest attack ad raises the total amount spent against Sherrod by secretly-funded third-party groups to a staggering $27.6 million, more money from outside groups than any other senate candidate has faced.
Crossroads GPS – “Dragging” :30 – 10/23/12
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TRUTH |
| Announcer: “Sherrod Brown is dragging Ohio’s economy down.”
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Ohio’s Unemployment Rate Is Lower Than The National Average, The Auto Industry Has Made A Resurgence, And The Recovery Appears To Be Happening Faster In Ohio Than The Rest Of The Country. In August 2012, The Dayton Daily News wrote “Ohio’s unemployment rate, at 7.2 percent, is lower than the 8.2 percent national unemployment rate. The auto industry, which appeared on the verge of calamity a few years ago, has made a resurgence. Recovery appears to be happening faster in Ohio than it is in the rest of the country.” [Dayton Daily News, 8/18/12]
AP: “In Ohio, The Economy Is On The Upswing.” In October 2012, The Associated Press wrote “In Ohio, the economy is on the upswing, with the 2009 federal bailout of Chrysler and General Motors crucial in a state where 850,000 are working due to the auto industry. Unemployment in August in the state was 7.2 percent, below the national average that month of 8.1 percent.” [Associated Press, 10/9/12]
“In Ohio, The Recovery Is More Noticeable Than Most States.” In September 2012, WYSO reported “Republicans have been very effective in tying the slow economy to President Obama. But in Ohio, the recovery is more noticeable than most states. At the Democratic National Convention, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown is urging delegates to spread that message.” [WYSO, 9/6/12]
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| Announcer: “Voting for higher taxes on Ohio’s small businesses.”
Source: CQ Vote #183, 1/25/12; CQ Vote # 184, 1/25/12; U.S. Treasury Department |
Senator Brown Voted To Extend Tax Cuts For Most Ohioans. In July 2012, Senator Brown voted for the passage of the bill that would extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for one year on taxable income of up to $200,000 for single filers or up to $250,000 for joint filers.” [CQ; Vote 184, 7/25/12]
Associated Press: Tax Plan From Senate Democrats Would Mean Tax Cuts Stay In Place For 98% Of American Households. In July 2012, the Associated Press reported that the tax plan from Senate Democrats “would continue the expiring tax cuts next year for everyone but individuals making $200,000 a year and couples earning $250,000, who would see their taxes rise. That would mean higher levies next year for 2.5 million households — just 2 percent of the 140.5 million returns the Internal Revenue Service receives, according to 2009 figures.” [Associated Press, 7/24/12]
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| Announcer: “Voting for Obamacare, and its new tax on Ohio manufacturers.”
Source: CQ Vote # 396, 12/24/09; CQ Vote # 105, 3/25/12; Joint Committee On Taxation Report, 3/20/10 |
The Impact Of The Tax Is Arguable And Portraying It As A Tax On Ohio Manufacturers’ Over Bills The Scope Of It. In August 2012, PolitiFactwrote “The law does include an excise tax on the sale of medical devices. Its impact is arguable. Dissenters say it could cost jobs and force business overseas. But portraying it broadly as ‘a new tax on Ohio manufacturers’ over bills the scope of the tax.” [PolitiFact, 8/30/12]
The Tax On Medical Devices Does Not Apply To Items Generally Purchased By The General Public And Applies To Imported Devices As Well As Those Made Domestically. In August 2012, PolitiFact reported “Crossroads GPS cites that as the ‘new tax on Ohio manufacturers,’ and notes that the Joint Committee on Taxation says it will generate $20 billion in revenue by 2020. The tax does not apply to devices made for export, or to eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids or other medical device ‘generally purchased by the general public at retail for individual use,’ the law states. It applies to imported devices as well as those made domestically.” [PolitiFact,8/30/12]
PolitiFact On Previous Crossroads GPS Ad: Crossroads GPS Claim On Health Care Taxes Cites A Study That “Is Not Credible.” In August 2012, PolitiFact reported “In responding to our query, Crossroads GPS also pointed to a 2011 study financed by the Advanced Medical Technology Association, or AdvaMed. It said that the excise tax would cause 10 percent of device manufacturing to move offshore, leading to the loss of 43,000 U.S. jobs. An analysis by the research service Bloomberg Government, however, found that the trade group’s study ‘is not credible.’ Bloomberg concluded that its assumptions conflict with economic research, overstate companies’ incentives to move jobs offshore, and ignore the positive effect of new demand created by the healthcare law.” [PolitiFact, 8/30/12]
President Of Group That Conducted Study Cited By Bloomberg As “Not Credible” Could Not Cite A Single Example Of An Ohio Company That Had Cut Jobs Because Of Medical Device Tax. In May 2012, theColumbus Dispatch reported “Stephen Ubl, president and CEO of AdvaMed, the largest trade group representing medical-technology companies, said the tax could ultimately cost the United States tens of thousands of jobs. But he and other industry officials could not cite an example in Ohio of a company that has cut jobs or put growth plans on hold in anticipation of the tax. [Columbus Dispatch, 5/15/12]
Columbus Dispatch Ad Watch: Crossroads GPS Ad “All Too Often Distorts Brown’s Record.” In a July 2012 ad watch of a previous Crossroads GPS ad, the Columbus Dispatch reported “But although it is entertaining, all too often the commercial distorts Brown’s record.” [Columbus Dispatch, 7/10/12]
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| Announcer: “… and a massive new tax on the middle class.”
Source: The Heritage Foundation, 1/20/11; The Associated Press, 9/20/12 |
FactCheck.org: “A Large Majority Of Americans Would Not See Any Direct Tax Increase From The Health Care Law.” In June 2012,Factcheck.org wrote that “…a large majority of Americans would not see any direct tax increase from the health care law.” [Factcheck.org, 6/28/12]
PolitiFact On Crossroads GPS Ad Less Than Two Months Ago: Crossroads GPS Claim On Health Care Taxes Cites A Study That “Is Not Credible.” In August 2012, PolitiFact reported “In responding to our query, Crossroads GPS also pointed to a 2011 study financed by the Advanced Medical Technology Association, or AdvaMed. It said that the excise tax would cause 10 percent of device manufacturing to move offshore, leading to the loss of 43,000 U.S. jobs. An analysis by the research service Bloomberg Government, however, found that the trade group’s study ‘is not credible.’ Bloomberg concluded that its assumptions conflict with economic research, overstate companies’ incentives to move jobs offshore, and ignore the positive effect of new demand created by the healthcare law.” [PolitiFact,8/30/12] Senator Brown Voted To Extend Tax Cuts For Most Ohioans. In July 2012, Senator Brown voted for the passage of the bill that would extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for one year on taxable income of up to $200,000 for single filers or up to $250,000 for joint filers.” [CQ; Vote 184, 7/25/12]
Associated Press: Tax Plan From Senate Democrats Would Mean Tax Cuts Stay In Place For 98% Of American Households. In July 2012, the Associated Press reported that the tax plan from Senate Democrats “would continue the expiring tax cuts next year for everyone but individuals making $200,000 a year and couples earning $250,000, who would see their taxes rise. That would mean higher levies next year for 2.5 million households — just 2 percent of the 140.5 million returns the Internal Revenue Service receives, according to 2009 figures.” [Associated Press, 7/24/12]
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| Announcer: “290,000 Ohio jobs lost and 90,000 more people out of work. Sherrod Brown, votes with Obama 95% of the time, votes for higher taxes on job creators, costing Ohio jobs.”
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Between 2010 And 2012 Ohio Gained 80,915 Jobs And 30% Of Economic Growth Occurred In Manufacturing. In August 2012, The Dayton Daily News reported that January 2010 and January 2012 Ohio gained 80,915 jobs and noted “Some 30 percent of economic growth occurred in manufacturing, according to Mark Schweitzer, research director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.” [Dayton Daily News, 8/18/12]
“Economists Say That The State’s Economy Is Undoubtedly Better Than The Rest Of The Country.” In August 2012, The Dayton Daily News wrote “Economists say that the state’s economy is undoubtedly better than the rest of the country.” [Dayton Daily News, 8/18/12]
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“Like clockwork, when the Josh Mandel campaign stumbles, in comes Karl Rove with another false, negative attack ad against Sherrod. That’s been the story in this race so far, and with $27.6 million in outside money from the likes of Rove and the Koch brothers singlehandedly keeping Mandel’s floundering campaign above water, it’s clear who secretly-funded special interest groups want voting their way in Washington,” said Sadie Weiner, spokeswoman for Friends of Sherrod Brown. “Unfortunately for them and for Josh Mandel’s ever-increasing political ambitions, no amount of false attacks against Sherrod will change the fact that Ohioans can’t trust Mandel to show up for work, hire qualified staff or fight for Ohio jobs.”
