Did anyone else see the Betsy Devos ad on CNN? How would that

[applegrove]

Last edited Tue Feb 7, 2017, 08:37 PM - Edit history (1)

be paid for? Does it get around campaign finance laws? I don't understand. If the GOP can afford ads in non election times what hope is there?

[LisaM]

1. Apparently by his already filing for re-election in 2020, PACs can run ads.

I am not that well acquainted with the ins and outs of the law, but that's what I read.

[applegrove]

2. That's awful.

[onenote]

12. It has nothing to do with Trump's FEC filing.

The ads are being run and funded by pro-Devos groups. Just as there are ads being run groups opposed to various Trump nominees. If you think the former are inappropriate, you can't defend the latter either.

[Florida-Liberal]

3. Called my senator

No doubt I called Senator Rubio to vote no on DeVos. Guess what happened.... Voice mail...Try again later.

[bettyellen]

4. Did you try the Florida numbers? Before six PM, easier to get through.

[MFM008]

5. I've seen 2 today

One on DeVos and 1 on all his nominees.

Wtf? Who wants to see any more ads?

[LibinMo]

6. I've seen one for Neil Gorsuch at least twice

I can't remember ever seeing a political ad for a Supreme Court nominee. Maybe I haven't been paying attention up to now.

[Baconator]

10. Saw one on Fox...

Immediately face palmed...

[rasberry]

7. I don't get it.

How are these ads even legal? It is just frightening to see ads for cabinet members and for the Supreme Court. The ads sound reasonable and are sure to influence people who will never check anything our themselves.

[LibinMo]

8. Saw it again just now

The ad is paid for by The Judicial Crisis Network https://judicialnetwork.com/
The organization was founded in 2005 to promote the judicial appointees of then president George W. Bush.

Their Wikipedia article is very interesting. They paid for ads opposing Merrick Garland.

[pstokely]

9. was it cable or local TV?

I've seen one JCN ad here on local news, just one, I don't watch cable news

[LibinMo]

11. Local

I'm in Missouri. We have one Democratic Senator and one Republican.

[onenote]

14. are you opposed to the ads being run against cabinet nominees?

I'm not. In fact, I've sent contributions to help pay for those ads. But I'm not so hypocritical as to criticize those who would run ads taking the opposing point of view.

And ads for or against Supreme Court nominees are not new. https://origin-nyi.thehill.com/homenews/news/19830-liberal-group-runs-first-pro-sotomayor-ad

[spanone]

13. i saw an ad for the new republican healthcare plan THAT THEY DON'T HAVE YET.

[Iggo]

15. I saw it and I went, "Huh? Why?"

Why are they schmoozing me? I don't have a vote.

[onenote]

16. Why are ads run for or against any nominee or any legislation?

To generate public support or opposition.

[Iggo]

17. So I guess they were trying to get people to call their Senators in support of the nominee?

Okay, I guess.

I never noticed this kind of thing for a confirmation hearing/vote before.

Kinda threw me.

[onenote]

18. It's not really that new.

The first ads I recall relating to a SCOTUS nomination (although there may have been others) were during the Bork confirmation hearings. Most of the time, the nominations aren't so controversial as to warrant ad campaigns on either side. But even the Sotamayor confirmation had ads pro and con.