I have been posting comments about this concept for more years and I can remember. Friday night, November 7, 2014, Bill Maher brought it up in his final segment of the show, Real Time.
He asked the same question I have been asking for years: Simply put ... if there are Truth in Advertising Laws, which prevent an advertiser from saying anything not true to promote their product, why do those same laws not apply to political ads?
Bill Maher made mention of the many political ads which contained very little truth, only exaggerations, likes, innuendo, and misdirection, but were allowed on the various airways in support of their candidate.
He also brought up the fact that so many advertisements have been produced and paid for by organizations which claim to have no connection to the candidates themselves.
Again, how does the FCC allow for false claims, spewed forth by political groups, candidates, PACs and others? Why do they not crack down on these ads, which are only designed to prevent the opposition from gaining office, if they can be cast in a light showing their questionable character?
Kansas’ Governor Sam Brownback versus challenger Paul Davis is one such example. Brownback ruined the economy of his state, but used a campaign against Davis from more than 16 years ago, when the Davis was single, went to a bar, and got a lap dance.
As Bill Maher put it: Governor Brownback fucked the state economy, while Davis got a dancer, barely sitting in his lap!
Truth in Advertising may be the only way to stop these ads, which are designed to scare people into voting for particular candidates. The FCC must enforce these laws, starting right now, before the presidential campaign season jumps into high gear.