You Report: Election 2010

Published — October 20, 2010 Updated — May 19, 2014 at 12:19 pm ET

American Action Network likens Virginia Democrat to heavy backpack

Introduction

The Republican-affiliated American Action Network has unleashed a 30-second ad against freshman Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly, who represents the liberal-leaning Virginia suburbs outside Washington, D.C., for his votes on the economic stimulus and health care reform bills.

The American Action Network, a tax-exempt 501©(4) group, was previously highlighted byYou Report: Election 2010 for an ad targeting Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state. The conservative group, led by Republican and ex-Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota, reported to the Federal Elections Commission that it spent $850,000 on the Connolly ad.

With a photo of Connolly in the lower right corner of the screen, the ad shows children trudging off to school, weighed down by gigantic backpacks. A female narrator claims that Connolly “loaded our kids up with nearly $800 billion in wasteful stimulus spending” and “a trillion more for Pelosi’s healthcare takeover.” After reminding viewers of the $14 trillion national debt, the ad urges them to call Connolly’s congressional office and ask him to back a Republican bill that would cut all non-security federal spending by five percent.

American Action Network is using the same advertising footage to oppose other Democrats and spent $185,000 to attack Rep. Tom Perriello of Virginia and $175,000 on a similar ad against Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota.

Ad Title: “Backpack”

Paid for By: American Action Network

Cost: $850,000

Disclaimer: Paid for by American Action Network. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. The American Action Network is responsible for the content of this advertising. americanactionnetwork.org

Read more in Money and Democracy

Share this article

Join the conversation

Show Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments