Colorado & Denver News

by Raj Chohan
DENVER (CBS4) ― Reality Check is the name of a new set of special reports by CBS4 reporter Raj Chohan.

In the August 4th Reality Check, Chohan analyzed Ed Perlmutter's new TV ad containing controversial pictures. His complete notes on the report lie below.

Reporter notes and sourcing:

There's a new "issues" ad out by 7th Congressional District Democrat candidate Ed Perlmutter that seems to look past the primary election and onto the general election. It's an interesting tactic. It has the effect of making him look like a winner before he's actually won the primary. In the ad he focuses on two issues important to Democrats including the war in Iraq and energy policy.

AD STARTS:

THOUSANDS OF LIVES LOST, AND WE STILL HAVE NO PLAN. SOMETHING HAS GOT TO CHANGE.

Commentary:

It's a controversial choice of imagery. The ad uses flag draped coffins of dead American service men and women. Perlmutter is certainly going to get some grief from critics who will accuse him of exploiting images of dead American service men and women for political gain.

The Perlmutter camp is unapologetic about this choice because they argue Americans are dying in Iraq and that the use of these images illustrates what they call the tragedy of the Bush Administration's failed policy in Iraq. (source: Raj Chohan interview with Scott Chase of the Perlmutter campaign Aug. 3, 2006)

Right now most of the critics are coming from the right. In fact, the state Republican Party has already put out a press release blasting the use of flag draped coffins in political ads. it reflects the partisan nature of the national debate on these images, but the pictures are certain to stir up emotions for voters in both parties.

The quote below comes from Colorado Republicans:

"Democrat Congressional candidate Ed Perlmutter shamelessly exploited the deaths of American Service men and women in his new television ad by showing an American flag draped coffin being carried out of an airplane." (Source: excerpt from the Colorado Republicans press release dated Aug, 4, 2006)

AD CONTINUES

WE NEED TO RE DEPLOY OUR TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ, AND BE INDEPENDENT OF FOREIGN OIL

Commentary:

While Perlmutter thinks troops ought to be withdrawn from Iraq, he's not exactly a dove. He supports the Israeli military action in Lebanon to root out Hezbollah and believes sanctions ought to be imposed against Syria and Iran.

As for Iraq, his Web site says he would support the resolution by Congressman John Murtha calling for an expedited redeployment of troops out of Iraq. It's an issue democrats across the country will hit hard this fall, and a position republicans will be sure to call, a cut and run strategy.

AD CONTINUES

AND WE NEED TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF ENERGY TO CREATE JOBS AND MAKE AMERICA MORE SECURE.

Commentary:

As for the energy issue, Republican Rick O'Donnell's camp says its one issue they agree with Perlmutter on. Should Ed Perlmutter win the primary, both candidates will stress renewable energies as part of their platform. (Source: K.C. Jones, Rick O'Donnell campaign)

AD CONTINUES:

I'M ED PERLMUTTER, CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS, I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE BECAUSE WE NEED TO PRESERVE WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT COLORADO AND MAKE AMERICA MORE ENERGY INDEPENDENT.

Commentary:

There's not a lot of fact checking to do on this ad because it simply states a couple of Perlmutter's big issues. What's interesting is that the ad feels like Perlmutter's taking a victory lap before he's even won the primary. The ad is addressing issues he'll tout in the general election, should he win the primary. He still has to defeat a tough opponent in fellow Democrat Peggy Lamm.

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