Godless redux
Cross-posted from D-2008
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Remember the story about state Sen. Kay Hagan taking money from "Godless Americans?"
It's back.
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who is defending her seat against Hagan, has put an ad on the air, starting with newscasts that aired at 5 p.m. Tuesday night, that draws connections between Hagan and Godless Americans PAC.
The ad is based on the fact that Hagan attended a Boston fundraiser that was hosted by more than 30 people. Click here to see the invite.
It took place at the home of Wendy Kaminer and Woody Kaplan, who are leaders in secularist/atheist circles. Kaplan is a founder of Godless Americans PAC.
You can click here to see the text of the ad the Dole's campaign back-up for the claims.
Hagan, who is a church elder, said the ad misrepresents her views. In particular, she says she is incensed by a piece of the ad that shows her picture on screen while a woman's voice says, "There is no God."
I'll have a story on this in tomorrow's paper - you can read a draft after the jump of this post. I'm working on pulling down a copy of the 30-second spot, but you can see a longer non-televised spot by a National Republican Senatorial Committee here:
As I explain in the story, a politician just cannot get elected in North Carolina begin godless. Yes, on behalf of some voters there is a prejudice against different points of view. But far more, I have the sense, take it as a sign of arrogance or a lack of a certain moral barometer. (Note: I am NOT endorsing that view, just saying it is held by some voters.) It just does not play here.
With less than a week before Election Day, this is an aggressive move by Dole - who had to put her "I approve this message" line on the ad. The lack of time makes it harder to push-back against an ad, and the message is pretty severe.
On a side note, I've been writing stories that involved Hagan since 2001 and covered her in the legislature since 2005. This, bar none, is about as angry as I've ever heard her. The newspaper story is after the jump.
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GREENSBORO — A new television ad by Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s re-election campaign that ties her rival, state Sen. Kay Hagan, to an atheist group has provoked a threat of legal action from the Greensboro Democrat.
"I can't tell you how upset I am that Elizabeth Dole is attacking my strong Christian faith," Hagan said late Tuesday.
Hagan, who is an elder at First Presbyterian Church, said she is incensed by the ad because at the end it shows her picture with a female voice saying, "There is no God."
Her campaign is preparing for a news conference in Greensboro today to offer more push-back against the ad, and Hagan said lawyers for the campaign are preparing to send a cease-and-desist order demanding that Dole stop the ad.
"The ad is 100 percent accurate," said Dole spokesman Dan McLagan . "If the truth hurts, that’s their problem."
Dole is running the 30-second spot statewide, McLagan said.
The ad relies on information surrounding a September trip Hagan made to Boston for a fund-raiser. Organized by the Democratic group ActBlue and sponsored by more than 30 people, it was held at the home of Wendy Kaminer and Woody Kaplan . The pair are leaders in the secularist community, and Kaplan helped form Godless Americans PAC, a group that pushes to remove religious references from civic life.
The ad features clips of news footage and speeches involving the PAC and a voice-over intones: "Godless Americans and Kay Hagan. She hid from cameras. Took Godless money. What did Hagan promise in return?"
McLagan said it was "completely appropriate" to raise the issue, since U.S. Senators play a role in nominating and confirming judges who could help the group.
"This questions whether or not Kay Hagan is receptive to their agenda," McLagan said.
Hagan's appearance at the fund-raiser has been referenced in at least two direct-mail pieces sent by the North Carolina Republican Party over the past month. Those fliers helped spark discussions online, but the message has not gotten a great deal of attention from news outlets. This ad puts the issue front and center in the final days of the campaign.
The suggestion that a candidate doesn’t believe in God is damning in North Carolina, where churches play a central role in civic and private lives for millions of people, many of who would not look kindly toward a politician who did not have some belief in God.
"A lot of voters go to church," said Gary Pearce, longtime political strategists who has worked mainly with Democrats. "You can’t run for political office in North Carolina as a 'Godless American.'"
Pearce said Dole's move was risky and indicated that she was uncomfortable with her position in the polls. Public polling has shown Hagan within the margin of error or leading Dole for the past month, while both campaigns claim their internal polls show them to be ahead.
"It's always tempting to throw a hand grenade at the end of a close campaign," Pearce said. "The question is whether it blows up your opponent or comes back on you."
Early voting is already under way, and Election Day is Tuesday.
Hagan was already sensitive to the suggestions surrounding this ad. Even before the spot began airing Tuesday night, her campaign had taped a radio commercial featuring Hagan's longtime minister who attested to her church membership and good works.
"I teach Sunday school. I'm an elder in my church. I go on mission trips," Hagan said. “I was raised going to Sunday school and church every week. I raised my children that way.
"This is the lowest of the low...I just am shocked by the audacity of Elizabeth Dole taking this kind of action."
Comments (2)
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The ad must be good, throw a rock into the air, the liberal it hits will be the one to yip. Must have hit you square in the head. Low is when you send out a flier claiming you cut taxes, low is when you misdirect 748 million from the schools. I said Hagan, is about as low as you can go.
Posted on October 30, 2008 11:07 AM
Please dear god,
Don't let another decent newspaper blog become a favorite watering hole of the rabid-right.
Thanks in advance for your blessing of a safe-haven.
Posted on October 30, 2008 12:32 PM