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Pro-Edwards 527 On The Air In Iowa
Here's the new pro-Edwards ad being aired being aired by Alliance for a New America, a 527 group run by a former Edwards 2004 campaign manager:
There's a certain irony in a 527 group running an ad that calls for getting special-interest money out of politics — reportedly to the tune of $750,000. And as Ben Smith points out, it's "a positive ad that could easily be confused for an ad for Edwards, though the 527 insists that it's an issue ad."
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I thought they weren't supposed to be set up for specific candidates. This is really suspicious for his former campaign manager to be doing. Does this group need to disclose its donors? Have they? Who are they?
December 26, 2007 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
For once I have to agree with Ben Smith (who is still on double secret probation for the Edwards haircut thing and in general, rather strikes me as the kind of asshole who will repeat any rumor he hears just to prove how wired in he is). This sure enough does walk like a campaign ad and quack like a campaign ad.
December 26, 2007 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Uh...
after watching the ad...
is THIS the ad the Obama campaign criticized?
Seems very bland to me.
Doesn't single out any particular legislation that I can tell?
Although through all the 'white noise' that is our MSM, Edwards might come across as being hypocritical with such a lame excuse, at the end of the day he can't control whether of not group A or B decides to run an ad.
If this were an attack ad against Obama, maybe I could see the beef.
But Obama tagging an ad from the SEIU as coming from a 'special interest' is tricky business:
NOW I see what Krugman's beef is.
Obama is smearing a union. Intentional or not. He did it. A pre-emptive smear at that. LOL
December 26, 2007 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is not "smearing a union" by criticizing Edwards when his former campaign manager sets up a 527 to run campaign ads outside of the campaign budget. Furhtermore, unlike Edwards, Obama has never supported union-busting "right to work" laws. It's good that Edwards has come around to become less hawkish and to embrace more progressive positions, but the sanctimoniousness from some of his supporters is entirely unsupported by his track record. I personally think it would be a good idea for Edwards to get back to the Senate and maybe try to get some progressive legislation passed now that he's seen the light and apologized for his former positions, rather than run for president claiming to be a "fighter" when he was in fact a pretty undistinguished legislator.
December 26, 2007 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
TPM is a cesspool.
How much can one kiss Hillary Clinton's behind?
I ignore Obama supporters. They are clueless if they think he could win a General Election. His name isn't Colin Powell, last time I checked.
In the U.S., Colin Powell is the only black man with a chance of winning a General Election in 2008...Sincerely, Reality.
December 26, 2007 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eric, once again you, as a press member, neglect to mention that this ad is bankrolled by the SEIU and have taken Obama's m.o. by ommitting that fact.
"Special interest"? Well yes, the SEIU is a special interest, but you and Obama know exactly what you're doing by calling them that, and failing to identify who this 527 is actually comprised of.
It's a trick...a bit of deception by ommission. There are many good 527's spearheaded by labor and environmental groups.
Obama got scared and tried to confuse the issue. The issue of 527's is something we should debate, but it's imperative that honesty prevail and that reporters not relay the fact of their existence as something nefarious.
December 26, 2007 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jeremy wrote; Obama is not "smearing a union"
He sure as hell is smearing unions, he is calling us a special interest, in sen obamas eyes me and millions of other middle class working people that give 5 or 10 bucks extra a month to our political action arm of our union are now special interest groups. The union 527's are made up of millions of us, not some corporate boardroom executives that give a million of there corporate dollars to distort the truth.
To think that this is the ad obama has been crying about for a week now is laughable.
December 26, 2007 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unions are NOT "special interests"!
December 27, 2007 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink