Minnick, Labrador TV ad war rages

Just received this press release from Walt Minnick's campaign. Are these ad campaigns actually changing anybody's minds or simply reinforcing what voters already believe? - Mike Patrick

The Minnick for Congress campaign reacted sharply to Raul Labrador's first television advertisement, and called on him to remove the misleading commercial.

"Raul Labrador's hypocrisy is breathtaking," Minnick for Congress campaign manager John Foster said. "He cries crocodile tears about negative campaigning, yet his first advertisement is little more than a spurious collection of innuendo and outright lies. The ad should be pulled immediately."

Consider the gross inaccuracies:

·         "He says he's against amnesty but wouldn't send illegals back" -  NumbersUSA, the nation's leading anti-amnesty group, calls Walt Minnick a "true reformer" on the issue of immigration and says he is against amnesty. (Source: numbersusa.com)

·         "Minnick voted with Obama/Pelosi over 70% of the time." -  It is factually inaccurate to say that Walt voted with Pelosi 70% of the time; on most roll call votes the Speaker of the House does not actually vote. (Source: Gov Track) Walt Minnick also voted with the Republican Party 78% of the time and with Mike Simpson over 70% of the time.  (Source: Analysis of Washington Post database)

·         "For $68 billion in more stimulus" -  HR 1586 was not a stimulus bill; it was bipartisan, paid-for legislation to keep teachers in our public schools and keep Medicaid afloat. (Source: Open Congress) HR 5297 helped free up credit and provided tax breaks for small-business owners. It was not a stimulus bill, it was bipartisan and was also paid-for. (Source: Open Congress)

·         "And Minnick won't commit to repealing Obamacare." - Walt is the cosponsor of a GOP bill to repeal the section of the health care bill requiring small businesses to use 1099s. (Source: Open Congress) Walt was the ONLY Democratic vote earlier this year to challenge the speaker and House leadership when they blocked the bill from coming up for a vote. (Source: WSB Radio) Walt joined GOP Congressman Dave Reichert to repeal and replace another section of the health bill. (Source: Congressman Reichert's website) Walt also voted to repeal the individual mandate in the bill. (Source: Idaho Statesman)

·         "Bottom Line: Minnick's hiding his liberal Obama/Pelosi record." - Walt is the most independent member of the Congress of either party. He has voted less with leadership than any other member of Congress. (Source: Washington Post/WhoRunsGov)

The final irony of the ad is Raul's claim of being a "conservative." This is, after all, a candidate who opposed preventing illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits;  said he was "to the left"  and a "moderate" on immigration;  voted to allow anti-gun advocates to go after small-business owners;  helped an illegal immigrant escape to Mexico to avoid drug charges in U.S. court; and voted against honoring military families who suffer the death of a son or daughter.

"Raul's values simply do not match up with the values of Idaho," Foster said. "The latest, desperate attempt to smear Walt Minnick is just another example of how out-of-touch Raul really is."