Harry Reid push called 'un-American' in new ad
Washington (CNN) - American Encore, a new conservative group created by outside money specialist Sean Noble, is airing a television ad in Nevada attacking Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for proposing IRS regulations that would rein in outside political groups.
The minute-long spot features a clip of Reid on the Senate floor blasting the billionaire business titans Charles and David Koch, who have steered hundreds of millions of dollars to conservative causes in recent election cycles without disclosing their donors, "as un-American as anyone that I can imagine."
[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker'] [twitter-follow screen_name='PeterHambyCNN']
"Sen. Reid, attempting to kill free speech because you disagree with what's said, that's unfair and that un-American," the ad's narrator says. "Tell Harry Reid, stop attacking free speech."
American Encore is spending $30,000 to air the commercial for a week on Las Vegas cable, beginning Monday. It's accompanied by a digital ad buy.
The group, a 501(c)4 organization that launched earlier this month, plans to spend $10 million this midterm cycle against Democrats who have been critical of outside campaign spending.
Noble, the organization's founder, formerly headed the Center to Protect Patient Rights, a Koch-affiliated group that funneled almost $200 million in undisclosed contributions to conservative entities like Americans for Prosperity and the National Rifle Association between 2009 and 2012, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
American Encore has already aired a TV ad in Minnesota that attacked Democratic Sen. Al Franken, who is up for re-election this year. Reid is not on the ballot again until 2016.
UPDATE: The Nevada Democratic party condemned the ad in a statement Monday.
"Nothing says 'free speech' like shadowy billionaires spending unlimited amounts of money on a massive campaign of deception to buy an election," said party spokesman Zach Hudson.
"The Koch brothers' extreme agenda of privatizing Social Security and ending Medicare as we know it to pay for tax breaks for corporations that ship American jobs overseas is out-of-touch with Nevada. Fortunately, Nevadans have Harry Reid fighting for a strong middle class and a growing economy."
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, I have a serious problem with ANY billionaire's interests being deemed more important than that of the population as a whole
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Hear, hear!!
@Jeff Frank (Ohio T Party) "Right Wing Insanity"
Do you know what the difference between the Koch brothers and Harry Reid? The Koch brothers are "job creators", and Harry Reid is a "government dependency creator".
Then where are the jobs, these guys are job killers for Americans and job creators for communist china. Who ever vote for a congressmen funded by citizens united, and the koch brothers voted to keep communism strong.
Why isn`t Harry Reid calling George Soros un-american? More of the daily double standards.
go get them Harry. They sure can't take it. Lets see who they will buy next?
YoonYoungJo
Just curious why don't campaign donations have to be disclosed? This was the dumbest law enacted. Not only is it completely against American interests but is a massive security issue. What if some outside country decided to sponsor someone for a high office in the US? Without disclosing campaign donations, Iran could decide to pay for a few senators all the way up the ladder. Personally I think not having to disclose campaign donations is un American. You want freedom of speech then you have to be honest about everything. You cannot pick and choose freedoms as it benefits you. Then reverse those "freedoms" when it no longer does
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Very observant post.
Especially the part about some foreign country buying our senators, congressmen and up the line.
Who's to say? We can't see who these "citizens" are I don't care what side of the aisle they're on, we'd like to know.
We'd especially like to know if you're American.
YoonYoungJo
I will say when it comes to the Kochs, as selfish and self serving as they may be, they are probably for American interests. As having a strong America is absolutely essential to their business and personal goals.
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Unfortunately, just as their father supported and promoted the hyper radical John Birch Society in the 1950s and 1960s (the very one noted Conservative Barry M. Goldwater warned the GOP to avoid), the current Kochs are supporting equally of not more radical anti-American and anti-democratic solutions for our nations problems. Their goals are short-term and disastrous: they are spending acres of dollars to refute global warming science; attempting to get the Keystone XL pipeline built across some of America's most valuable land (against the objections of private landowners) because there are billions of dollars in profits waiting for them selling the resulting processed oil to China- never mind the environmental damage to our air or from the inevitable resulting spills).
The kochs paid for more than half of the money spent to elect the feckless Mr. Romney, and have spent $1oo million to take affordable healthcare away from average Americans. No, sir, these are not "patriots" they are corporate tyrants.
smith
Why isn`t Harry Reid calling George Soros un-american? More of the daily double standards.
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Scale, sir, scale. Soros sat out the last two election cycles, while the Kochs provide half of the money spent in support of Mr. Romney.
Both parties are guilty of this, so I'm no 100% sure how you change things when both sides want to keep the feeding frezzy going, while accusing the other side of being "un-American."
It's a shame no one has standing to sue and overturn this corrupt system of unlimited undisclosed donations. If you truly believe in what your supporting why do it anonymously?
Rudy NYC
tom l wrote:
Oh, Rudy, what would David Stockman's position on corporations being able to vote be? You've told us about his Trojan horse comment but for some reason have neglected to tell us all about his feelings on Ron Paul, Paul Ryan or Barack Obama. Maybe you can shed some light on that for us.
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Here you go again, your being condescending and manufacturing your opponent's side of the argument. You wonder why you get zero respect from some quarters around here. Why don't you write him a letter and ask him yourself? Better yet, why don't you enlighten us? You seem to already have the answers. This ain't no quiz game show, dude. Get real.
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Why don't you answer up, O sage of the ticker?
rla
Gee it is amazing the progressives never mention their own private fund ma/ organizing machine the UNIONS! What's fair for the goose is fair for the gander as an old saying goes. Stop whining liberals it is old stale dogma that scares people more and more
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Yeah, heaven forbid we let the average American worker have a voice in government instead of just super-rich tycoons.
"follow the money"
smith
Why isn`t Harry Reid calling George Soros un-american? More of the daily double standards.
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Name the group, and the ad, that Soros has donated to that puts out misleading ads in the media. Name one ad.
I guess you have to watch a lot of Fox "News" to see a relationship between Unions and the Koch Bros.
I worked in construction when I was young. never was Union, but all workers owe them for the wages paid being reasonable. Not so much these days, and less Union also. Any connection?
Unions represent large numbers of workers, who elect their leaders.
Koch Bros represent themselves only, and lie to anyone stupid enough to believe the right-wing propaganda, to get their way. Most of the rich are in it for short-term gain, not the long-term good of the country.
The GOP party and the Koch brothers are one in the same. They only care about the 1%. No one else matters.
Dominican mama 4 Obama
YoonYoungJo
Just curious why don't campaign donations have to be disclosed? This was the dumbest law enacted. Not only is it completely against American interests but is a massive security issue. What if some outside country decided to sponsor someone for a high office in the US? Without disclosing campaign donations, Iran could decide to pay for a few senators all the way up the ladder. Personally I think not having to disclose campaign donations is un American. You want freedom of speech then you have to be honest about everything. You cannot pick and choose freedoms as it benefits you. Then reverse those "freedoms" when it no longer does
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Very observant post.
Especially the part about some foreign country buying our senators, congressmen and up the line.
Who's to say? We can't see who these "citizens" are I don't care what side of the aisle they're on, we'd like to know.
We'd especially like to know if you're American.
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I've said the same thing in the past. What they have done is to legalize the anonymous bribing of politicians. Think about it. Instead of donating to the politician directly, just donate to their super PAC. You can anonymously give as much as you want, and it is all completely legitimate.
Fair asked:
"Here you go again, your being condescending and manufacturing your opponent's side of the argument. You wonder why you get zero respect from some quarters around here. Why don't you write him a letter and ask him yourself? Better yet, why don't you enlighten us? You seem to already have the answers. This ain't no quiz game show, dude. Get real."
Why don't you answer up, O sage of the ticker?
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I've already explained why not. Your name calling is once again noted.
YoonYoungJo
I will say when it comes to the Kochs, as selfish and self serving as they may be, they are probably for American interests
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This is where you and I part company.
Outside billionaire funded group is attacking Harry for wanting the IRS to limit outside interest group in politics Well I will vote for Harry. And I know the Majority of Americans feel the same way.
harry reid is the new joseph mccarthy. and this is the guy who is funneling thousands of campaign money to a relative for 'gifts'. reid is as dirty and corrupt as they come. how could you do this to america nevada? please get rid of this corrupt dinosaur.
If the Koch brothers were Democrat contributors Red and the Democrats would be hailing them as glorious patriots. But because they do not share and support Democrat views and policies, they are somehow 'un-American' according to this senile, corrupt little man. He should be removed from ANY position of power immediately. What HE has done is un-American.
just asking
harry reid is the new joseph mccarthy. and this is the guy who is funneling thousands of campaign money to a relative for 'gifts'. reid is as dirty and corrupt as they come. how could you do this to america nevada?
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There was nothing illegal about buying products used in the campaign from a relative. Doesn't look very good, but there is nothing illegal about it. Let's not forget about whose family is in the business of digital voting machines, the Romneys.
@rs-Google political donors to democrats and you will see Soros did not sit out of the last election.
smith
@rs-Google political donors to democrats and you will see Soros did not sit out of the last election.
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No one is denying that he didn't. Stop manufacturing arguments. Try a web search for Koch brothers donors. You don't get nearly as many as hits. They prefer to operate in the quiet back rooms, instead of out in the open.
Another great example of a 501(c)4 "social welfare" organization. I am sure their main purpose is not to spread the gospel of the Koch brothers.
@ Randy, San Francisco
Dark money corrupts politics by buying access and influence. The obscene amounts of money from anonymous donors is currently the greatest threat to our democracy. The Åmerican Encore ad is not true about restricting free speech. It is a cynical attempt to mislead the public and hide the names of its donors.
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I wholeheartedly agree. The distraction IS the game to these wheeler and dealers.
"American Encore has already aired a TV ad in Minnesota that attacked Democratic Sen. Al Franken, who is up for re-election this year. Reid is not on the ballot again until 2016."
Yes it did. Curiously no one has given it a second thought. Might be because the Koch's aren't as adept at hiding themselves under the American Encore "free speech" Super PAC meme as others would want them to be hidden.
The ad itself is sophomore. I'd call it a waste of money, but we all know the Koch's have enough pocket change to burn from now until doomsday. Which is ALL their little Super PAC financing is to begin with ... pocket change.
Two very bored billionaires dabbling in politics and hoping for a hostile take-over by them of our United States government in the process very similar to the hostile take-overs of one corporate business after another in America.
Not cool that Republicans are allowing the Koch's this power state by state.