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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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NEWS
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2004
Kansas City-based group airs ads aimed at blacks
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — One commercial claims Democrats support "abortion laws that are decimating our people," while another argues that Democrats "preech tolerance but practice discrimination."
Operating largely under the radar, Americas PAC, a little-known conservative group based in Overland Park, has been airing ads excoriating Democrats on black radio stations in five states this month.
The spots have drawn the iire of Democrats who claim the commercials are designed to keep a crucial voting bloc for the party at home on Nov. 2.
Americas PAC says its ads — on issues from taxes to school choice to the economy — are designed to encourage blacks to go to the polls in support of President Bush and Republicans.
The group denies that it's attempting to suppress the black vote to help Bush, as
Democrats contend.
"That claim is attached to anything Republicans do in an attempt to mobilize blacks for Republicans," Richard Nadler, the head of the group, said Tuesday. "It's not true."
Nadler is a white conservative from Kansas City who in 2000, through the Republican Ideas Political Action Committee, ran TV ads on education that both Democratic and Republican critics said amounted to race baiting.
Rep. John Lewis, a black Democrat from Georgia, called the ads "repugnant, vicious" and filled with "outright lies that distort the facts."
"Thethey are a deliberate, systematic effort to try to discourage African-American voters from turning out and voting," Lewis said. "These people know that the African-American vote is not going to go to the Republicans. The whole idea is to confuse people and raise doubts in their minds."
This year, Nadler's new group.
Americas PAC, has bought at least $130,000 worth of airtime to run ads on urban radio stations that reach blacks and Hispanics in Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin through the election. It's a relatively small amount, but the ads are meant to have a larger impact in a targeted community.
Democrats, concerned about diminished support, are seeking to reverse the trend. One Democratic group, the Media Fund, launched a massive ad campaign that included a spot saying: "The Republicans want you to sit out this election and simply stay home. Who are they fooling?"
Meanwhile, Americas PAC plans to make another push into the black community this week with a series of commercials featuring the group's new spokesman, Herman Cain, a prominent black Republican and former chairman of Godfather's Pizza who was a candidate for the U.S. Senate from Georgia.
Billionaire's goal: oust Bush
Soros funds democrats, is a scourge to republicans
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — He's donated some $18 million to organizations working to defeat President Bush. Now, billionaire George Soros is taking his campaign — and money — on the road.
The Hungarian-born activist will spend between $2 million and $3 million in the next month visiting a dozen cities, sending at least 2 million informational pamphlets to voters and placing ads in national and local newspapers.
"in spite of his Texas swagger, George W. Bush does not qualify to serve as our commander in
chief," Soros said Tuesday at a news conference.
An ad to appear Wednesday in the Wall Street Journal features Soros' theories on "Why we must not re-elect President Bush." At the top of the list is the invasion of Iraq.
"President Bush silenced all criticism by calling it unpatriotic. When he said that 'either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists,' I heard alarm bells ringing," Soros said.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark introduced Soros, saying that the activist has some important points of view to share, whether or not Clark agrees with them.
Soros says he'll be targeting Republicans who are thinking of voting for Bush out of GOP loyalty.
"Much more is at stake than party loyalty. And Bush hasn't been particularly loyal to the values and principles of the Republican Party," said Soros, who has donated $18 million to various independent groups working to oust Bush, including America Coming Together and MoveOn.org.
Republicans have been critical of Soros, whom the RNC called "the Daddy Warbucks of the Democratic Party." The GOP has dismissed Soros' criticisms of Bush.
Deep-thinking Democrats
Joshua Kendall/KANSAN
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Young Democrats Kathleen Daughey, Topeka junior, and Bryan Behgam, Arlington, Texas, senior, debate with the College Republicans. The Student Legislative Awareness Board sponsored the event in the Big 12 Room at the Kansas Union yesterday as part of Civic Literacy Week. The debate served as a warm-up for the debate at the Burge Union tonight. Daugherty said whether illegal immigrants should receive in-state tuition in Kansas would be a hot topic at tonight's debate.
A Celebration of the SRFC's Grand Opening Anniversary.
ONE YEAR UP AND RUNNING!
Stop by the SRFC any time next Wednesday, September 29th
to register for
Hourly Drawings and participate in the 20.000 Mile Challenge!
Free cake and Coca-Cola products given away at 1:00pm!
785.864.3546
www.ku.edu/~recserv