Issues: Economy

The Week In Conservative Attack Ads

As the nation turned its attention to the Democratic National Convention, conservative groups were again relatively quiet on the airwaves. We fact checked six television ads, including two extremely misleading attacks on Democratic candidates from the Adelson-funded YG Action Fund. In addition, Americans for Prosperity released an ad falsely comparing the Affordable Care Act to Canada’s single-payer health care system, Crossroads GPS continued its assault on North Dakota Senate candidate Heidi Heitkamp, and the Club for Growth shifted its focus from Republican primaries to the general election.

30 Months, 4.6 Million Private-Sector Jobs

American Crossroads countered the convention with an ad blasting President Obama’s economic record and suggesting that he has taken the country “backward.” In fact, the economy now has gained 4.6 million private-sector jobs in the last 30 months, but government employment continues to shrink, restraining the overall recovery. The following chart shows the accumulation of private-sector job gains and public-sector job losses since the recession officially ended in June 2009:

pub-priv-jobs-jul2

Read more after the jump.

YG Action Fund: “Two Mikes”

adcheck •

An ad from YG Action Fund accuses Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC) of voting for “higher taxes on working people” and criticizes his support for the “failed stimulus.” However, the Recovery Act helped prevent an even worse economic crisis and actually cut taxes for the vast majority of working Americans. The ad also misleads on McIntyre’s role in passing the Affordable Care Act, which he opposed, by citing his vote for Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker.

Read more after the jump.

YG Action Fund: “Something New”

adcheck •

The Eric Cantor-linked YG Action Fund super PAC is attacking Bill Enyart, the Democratic nominee in Illinois’ 12th district, with an ad belittling him for having “little private-sector experience,” failing to acknowledge that his public-sector jobs have consisted of 30-plus years serving his country in the armed forces. The ad is also critical of Enyart’s suggestion that the economy is improving and of his support for the Affordable Care Act, but the private sector has added 4.6 million jobs over 30 straight months of growth, and repealing the health care law would have devastating consequences for the millions of Americans already benefitting from its reforms.

Read more after the jump.

Club For Growth Action: “Typical”

adcheck •

An ad from Club for Growth Action portrays Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) as a “typical Washington liberal,” citing his support for President Bush’s bank bailout, the “failed” stimulus, and the “government takeover of health care.” However, the financial rescue and the Recovery Act both helped the nation avert a more severe economic collapse, while the Affordable Care Act relies on private insurance companies to extend coverage. Despite the ad’s attempt to cast him as a hardcore partisan, Donnelly has the eighth most independent voting record among representatives in the current Congress.

Read more after the jump.

Crossroads GPS: “Big Difference”

adcheck •

Crossroads GPS bolsters North Dakota Senate candidate Rick Berg (R) with an ad attacking his opponent, Heidi Heitkamp (D), over health care reform law and the stimulus, emphasizing their impact on the debt. In reality, the Affordable Care Act does reduce the budget deficit, and the “wasteful” stimulus helped prevent an even deeper recession.

Read more after the jump.

American Crossroads: “Forward?”

adcheck •

American Crossroads is countering the Democratic National Convention with an ad claiming that President Obama has taken the country “backward,” citing what the ad calls “America’s worst economic recovery ever.” However, the ad ignores the severity of the recession President Bush left behind, as well as the decline in government employment (which conservatives favor) that distinguishes the current recovery from previous ones. Indeed, the private sector has grown steadily for the past 30 months, adding 4.6 million jobs during that period. Crossroads also dishonestly calls the Affordable Care Act a “tax on middle-class families” and blames the president for deficits that are fueled by Bush policies and the recession.

Read more after the jump.

NumbersUSA: “Fall 2012 TV Ad”

adcheck •

An ad from NumbersUSA, a nativist group that presses for lower legal immigration, uses an inept rap song to suggest that recent college graduates are unable to find jobs because immigrants are taking them. There is virtually no evidence to back this up; immigrants expand the economy by creating additional demand, thereby creating new jobs and driving up wages for native workers.

Read more after the jump.

Americans For Prosperity: “Stop Spending Our Future”

adcheck •

An from Americans for Prosperity accuses Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) of spending future generations into debt, citing his votes in favor of the Recovery Act and the “$2 trillion health care law.” But the stimulus helped drag the economy back from the brink of an even greater recession, while the Affordable Care Act actually reduces the deficit.

Read more after the jump.

Concerned Women for America: “Can’t Afford Tester”

adcheck •

Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee attacks Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) for voting “to spend trillions we just don’t have,” citing his support for the health care law and the stimulus. But the Affordable Care Act reduces the deficit, while the Recovery Act created jobs, cut taxes, and helped avert an even greater recession.

Read more after the jump.

60 Plus Association: “Wisconsin – Good Look”

adcheck •

An ad from the 60 Plus Association draws a comparison between Wisconsin, where the ad claims “tough choices” were made to “balance the budget,” and Washington, where Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) supported the Recovery Act and health care reform. But Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) “balanced” budget relied on delayed payments and didn’t conform to the accounting standards he promised he would use, while the Affordable Care Act reduces the federal deficit and the Recovery Act helped avert an even more devastating recession.

Read more after the jump.