I just saw an advertisement on MSNBC calling the President's policies, all the President's policies "failed." The ad, "Mourning in America," was an outright attack on a public office holder, naming the President. No one claimed responsibility for the ad and no contact information is supplied at the end.
We must complain, and loudly, to MSNBC and any other network running this ad, about the lack of disclosure statement attached to this ad. It's a dirty trick and a well funded dirty trick attacking the President to hurt Democratic candidates.
Complain to MSNBC and anywhere else this ad is running that they are violating the The Fair Campaign Practices Act and the ad should be pulled immediately.
It is my understanding that under The Fair Campaign Practices Act: 1) political advertising includes communications supporting or opposing an officeholder, and 2) political advertising includes communications that are broadcast by radio or television in return for consideration. If the ad is political advertising,
"A disclosure statement must include the following:
- the words "political advertising" or a recognizable abbreviation such as "pol. adv."; and
- the full name of one of the following: (a) the person who paid for the political advertising; (b) the political committee authorizing the political advertising; or (c) the candidate or specific-purpose committee supporting the candidate, if the political advertising is authorized by the candidate.
The disclosure statement must appear on the face of the political advertising.
The current ad does neither.
Complain to MSNBC and anywhere else this ad is running that they are violating the The Fair Campaign Practices Act and the ad should be pulled immediately.