BCT Editorial – 5/9/06

This page was last updated on May 10, 2006.

True lies; Editorial; Beaver County Times; May 9, 2006.

This is at least the third editorial since August 2004 entitled “True lies.” The previous editorials are here and here.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“Truth in political advertising can be twisted beyond recognition

“As we enter the last week of this year’s primary election, it pays to remember that in politics the truth is not always accurate.

“That’s especially so for the ads that you see on television and hear on the radio. All too often, they are true lies.

“A smear job out in California illustrates that ‘truth’ in political advertising is determined by the people paying for the ad.

“FactCheck.org, a nonpartisan, nonprofit, ‘consumer advocate’ for voters that says its aim is to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics, reports a National Republican Congressional Committee television advertisement says Democratic California House candidate Francine Busby ‘praised a teacher reported to have child porn, saying he was always willing to lend a hand.’ The ads called that ‘dangerous.’

“The ad also charged that while she was on her local school board, ‘the district’s deficit skyrocketed by over 250 percent’ and that ‘Busby voted to lay off teachers but gave raises to administrative bureaucrats.’

“Pretty powerful stuff.

“Pretty misleading stuff, too.

“FactCheck.org, which is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, said the ad mischaracterizes Busby’s record while she was on the Cardiff School Board.

“Let’s start with the most explosive charge - that she praised a teacher who was caught with child pornography.

“Here’s a Busby quote, taken from an April 2004 article in The San Diego Union-Tribune: ‘He is a teacher who put in a lot of extra time ... he was always willing to lend a hand. I am shocked about the investigation.’ (The last sentence was overlooked by the NRCC.)

“How often have we heard that same kind of quote from friends, family and co-workers of people who were caught with child porn? ‘He was such a nice guy, always willing to pitch in to help others. I never suspected ...’

“The NRCC ad also failed to note that in September 2003 the school board stripped the man of his teaching credentials when it was told about the investigation.

“The pay/layoff charge is equally misleading. Yes, administrators did get a 3 percent raise, but it was the same raise the teachers got. The board did lay off five teachers, but it didn’t have a serious impact on the student-to-teacher ratio, going from 18.8 students per teacher in 2002-03 to 18.0 the following year.

“The deficit charge played equally fast and loose with the facts by failing to note that the district had a large cash reserve to dip into and that it ended each year with a positive balance.

“This ad isn’t an exception. It’s an example of what has become the rule for Democrats, Republicans and third-party advocacy groups. Keep in mind that in political ads, the truth isn’t always accurate. Proceed with skepticism.”

[RWC] I got a kick out of this editorial. I continue to find it funny that the Times can find “true lies” elsewhere (Who can’t?), but doesn’t seem to know many (most?) of its editorials use the same technique.