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McCain on 3rd Party Ads: 'Cease and Desist'
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ShareNovember 12, 2007 2:09 PM
ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: Senator John McCain , R-Ariz., issued a forceful statement Monday condemning advertising by outside groups in the presidential campaign, even advertising meant to benefit him.
McCain asked groups who might wish to support his run for the White House, to "cease and desist" any campaigning on his behalf.
"Anyone who believes they could assist my campaign by exploiting a loophole in campaign finance laws is doing me and our country a disservice," the statement read.
McCain’s words were directed at the Foundation for a Secure and Prosperous America, a group registered as a 501 (c)(4) corporation, which ran an ad in South Carolina complimentary of McCain.
Campaign manager Rick Davis wrote a letter to McCain supporters that was similar in tone, saying that the best way to support the Senator is through donations directly to campaign.
"While not illegal, this group's efforts certainly violate the spirit of reform and disclosure for which John McCain has fought over the past decade," Davis wrote.
The founder of the South Carolina group is Rick Reed, whose firm helped produce the 2004 Swift Boat ads that damaged Sen. John Kerry's, D-Mass., presidential campaign, and who worked for McCain’s campaign earlier this year. The pro-McCain ad was first reported on Friday by the Associated Press.
McCain put out a statement on Friday, saying "I would prefer they do not air the ads."
But earlier Monday McCain's Republican rival Mitt Romney, R-Mass., criticized McCain on the issue.
"Its the height of irony that the founder, excuse me, the father of McCain-Feingold, would now have supporters, now he's saying he has nothing do with that, he doesn't want them to do it, but that nonetheless his supporters have put together (the ads)," Romney said in New Hampshire.
McCain's campaign has denied any connection to Reed's group.
McCain was the author of the 2002 McCain-Feingold bill which called for an end to soft money in campaigns, but, many say, created a loophole for these groups such as Reed's. He spoke out against the Swift Boat ads in 2004 and similar ads that ran against former Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga, in 2002.
"I will never betray my trust to them or my own conscience for the sake of expediency, and I want all who support me to honor that commitment," McCain wrote in Monday's statement.
ABC News' Matt Stuart contributed to this story.
November 12, 2007 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (3)
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I suspect the Liberal press will put this story on the back page wit a two paragraph article so it won't be noticed....Its up to the republican faithful to get the story out....
Posted by: Galut | Nov 12, 2007 5:11:34 PM
I've said it before and I'll say it again: ALL political ads which benefit a candidate or cause should be endorsed (or not) by the politician or organizational representative. Given campaign finance reform's lack of reform, it seems to me that if a group is going out and saying things that benefit a candidate, that candidate must decide whether he approves (or not) of what is being said. We can't stop people from having their say, but we can, legally, let the candidate decide if they're going to explicitly approve or disapprove of what people say that benefit them. And if it's just a slam against a particular candidate (in more than a two-party race) then everyone who benefits must explicitly give or rescind their approval of the ad. If we can't stop this kind of soft money thing, at the very least we can demand accountability as to whether the candidate who benefits wants that kind of support. (And open themselves up to criticism if they do).
Posted by: Fatesrider | Nov 12, 2007 8:40:35 PM
I can see Senator McCain being personally interested, as a man of integrity. Groups like the Swift boat Veterans who distort the truth for their own gains, I can see how he would want to distance himself from them and all their ilk.
Down with the Liberal media AND the NEO CON MEDIA!!! Neither are useful and do nothing more than make us uninformed.
Posted by: Dave | Nov 13, 2007 3:01:52 AM
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