{news} Ct Greens nexy big fight? Censoring CT politcial races?

Fri Nov 17 10:26:04 EST 2006

Dear Greens,

Today I spoke directly with Sen Williams on the morning show AM1080-
His plan is to have a 3 person committee make a decision on whether a politcal as go "too far". I called and aked him since they have penality for third parties in the new Cam Fin. ref. that makes us get hundreds of thousands of signatures, why should we trust them NOW? 

I asked if our candidate had an ad saying Jodi Rell should have known about the corruption in the Rowland office but we could not "Sight a source" of fact, (as he is purposing), would we be penalized by attacking any popular candidate?

Williams countered that the new CFR laws was VERY FAIR to 3 rd parties and "FAIRER than the Presidential laws which ONLY give to third parties AFETER the race". This is B.S. spin!! In fact, its easier to get money in a Presidentail race,  and almost all 3rd parties do get it! Not a full amount like the D and R, but some money. Spin, spin!!

Please read the article and note:

Who decides what a false ad is?
Will WE have a voice?
Will we a VOTE in any committee that could punish candidates?

Please join the FORUM to discuss this       >ctgp-forum at ml.greens.org<

ttp://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-cttruth1117.artnov17,0,7197618.story?coll=hc-headlines-local                 

     A Call For Action On Political Ads    

          ADVERTISERS          
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  Advertise on ctnow 
       -->               By MARK PAZNIOKAS
                 Courant Staff Writer

      November 17 2006

 After a raucous and caustic campaign season, the leader of the state Senate wants the legislature to set standards for political advertising.

Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, said Thursday that one of the most negative seasons in history shows the need for a truth-in-advertising code.

 "I'd like to say up front this is not a Republican problem. It is not a Democratic problem," Williams said. "We need to fix this problem together."

States have had difficulty regulating political advertising without running afoul of free-speech rights, but Williams said Connecticut's new public financing law gives the state leverage.

Just as the new law imposes limits on campaign spending for candidates who accept public funding, a further condition could require candidates to abide by an advertising code, he said.

The voluntary campaign finance law takes effect next month and will apply for the first time to the 2008 legislative campaigns.

Williams would create a citizens review panel to consider complaints of unfair advertising and determine if candidates were in compliance with the code of conduct.

In cases involving candidates participating in public financing, the panel could withhold funding from offenders or allow extra funding for those victimized.

The panel could pressure candidates not involved in public financing by offering a public, nonpartisan judgment on the accuracy or fairness of advertising, he said.

"Campaigns should be opportunities to inform, not mislead," Williams said. "Voters are interested in issues, not insults."

He declined to identify any campaign that he found offensive, but he said the recently concluded season was the most negative in state history.

Williams won bipartisan applause for his concept, at least.

"I think he is on the right track," said George Gallo, the Republican state chairman. "It makes perfect sense, what he is trying to do."

Nancy DiNardo, the Democratic state chairwoman, said she liked the concept but questioned how it might work. Few negative ads have outright falsehoods; the problem often is portraying a vote or a position in a misleading way.

"I'm not sure there is a way of regulating if someone is putting a misleading spin on a record," DiNardo said. But she added, "It certainly is a noble challenge to try."

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    Tim McKee cell (860) 778-1304 or (860) 643-2282
   National Committee Member of the Green Party(Connecticut)
    Cliff Thornton for Governor- Campaign Manager

  Paid for by Thornton For Governor, Max Wentworth, Treasurer-   www.VoteThornton.com

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