Pro-Schaffer ad draws complaint

9 Apr 2008 // A Washington, D.C.-based group has filed an elections complaint over an ad where school children repeatedly thank U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer for his commitment to charter schools.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington says the ad violated election laws in two ways.

The spot was paid for by U.S. Term Limits, a Virginia group, to thank Schaffer for keeping his pledge to serve only three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Schaffer, a Fort Collins Republican, left office in 2002. He faces U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, in the U.S. Senate race.

CREW noted that a written disclaimer at the end of the ad says "U.S. Term Limits does not endorse candidates for public office." But when the group posted the ad on YouTube.com, it labeled the spot "Bob Schaffer for Senate video."

In its complaint to the Federal Election Commission, CREW said that was a violation because anyone who pays for an ad advocating the election or defeat of a candidate must file a report about the ad's costs within 48 hours of it airing. The ad began airing in March, but Term Limits has not filed a report.

In addition, political TV ads are required to include an audio statement saying the person who paid for the ad is responsible for its content. The Schaffer ad includes only the written disclaimer.

Ray Wotring, spokesman for U.S. Term Limits, said the organization just found out about the complaint and is reviewing it.

But as CREW noted in its news release, the complaint is likely to go nowhere. That's because the commission currently lacks a quorum and any penalties cannot be assessed until new commissioners are confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Philip Blumel, the president of U.S. Term Limits, earlier said the group has no position on charter schools, but chose to highlight them because Schaffer is passionate about the issue.