TIPA - Truth In Political Advertising

Dear Campaign,

The Truth In Political Advertising Project will assign a contact person to your campaign and will be in touch with you regarding political advertisements. He or she will try to touch base with you as frequently as possible to ensure the TIPA Web site is kept current. Please e-mail all materials and information to your contact person. In that manner, we can ensure that nothing is overlooked.

1. ADVERTISEMENTS IN PLAY. Our arrangement with the campaigns is for you to send us (a) all the advertisements you have used in this General Election campaign (this is a one-time request because once you complete it, only future ads will matter), (b) all advertisements currently in rotation anywhere in Colorado, and (c) all advertisements you have submitted to stations for play and which are scheduled for rotation but may not quite have hit the airwaves. We do not expect you to send us advertisements you have completed but have not submitted for play. This means we do not expect you to submit advertisements which are completed and which actually may be at a television station but for which you have not authorized and broadcast.

2. ADVERTISEMENT DELIVERY. Please send any advertisements you have not already sent us. We need these on a timely basis and do not want this to become an issue. We are informing the campaigns that we prefer publicly stating they are being cooperative and are not intentionally delaying the delivery of advertisements in an effort to gain some kind of advantage. Because the campaigns have given us permission to obtain the advertisements directly from television stations and other sources (e.g., opposing campaigns), we will do this if necessary but, if we receive an advertisement from a source other than your campaign before we receive it from you, you will be deemed uncooperative on that score. To avoid such a public discussion, please review what you have and have not sent and e-mail the remaining advertisements to us immediately.

3. WHAT TO SEND. Please send us (a) the actual advertisements, in digital format, (b) storyboards of any advertisements, and (c) any information you believe is relevant to the advertisement. You should send any television advertisements you are using. We will post them immediately on the TIPA Web site for review.

4. THIRD PARTIES. You are invited to send to us any third party advertisements, especially ads which are not favorable for your candidate. We will place a high priority on reviewing third party advertisements. If you have source and/or other related information, please send that as well. The sooner you send an advertisement, the faster it will be reviewed. If you have copies of supportive third party ads, we would appreciate it if you sent those to us, too, although they are not and will not be associated with your campaign. Such assistance would be indicative of a very high level of cooperation on the part of your campaign.

5. YOUR BACKGROUND INFORMATION. Please submit to us any background information you have which (a) states the factual basis for any statements made in the advertisement, (b) gives the sources of information (preferably detailed in a manner which is easy to verify), and (c) states or discusses any additional thoughts or opinions you have on the subject. You are free to provide any additional information you wish. As a matter of course, we will post this information as a supplement to the advertisement so our evaluators can have additional background on the advertisement/ We also will provide them with information from other sources, including but not limited to AdWatch efforts of the Press, articles, columns, et cetera.

6. OPPOSITION ADS. Please send any information you have on opposing advertisements, whether they are from your opponent's campaign or a third party. If you have copies of the advertisements and/or storyboards, please send them. If you have information about

7. YOUR RESPONSES. You are invited and encouraged to send us your response to any advertisement either directly or indirectly opposing your candidate. This is your opportunity to rebut and critique as well as criticize any advertisement. This information will be posted along with the specific advertisement you are discussing so our evaluators will know your specific thoughts about the advertisement when it is being rated by them. This is an important opportunity and we encourage you to send us your thoughts as soon as you can on any advertisements you have seen. We will endeavor to post this information immediately.

8. OTHER INFORMATION. Please send us any information you believe is relevant and/or would be helpful to our evaluators.

9. PROCESS. We have begun our first evaluation and already are finding our automated system works well. We expect to have our first analysis published by Tuesday, October 5th, if all goes well. Therefore, please try to get everything to us by Monday, October 4th, so your campaign is up-to-date We expect to do reviewed every week from this point forward. We also will be gathering a subset of our Advisory Panel as often as weekly to evaluate multiple advertisements. These sessions have been requested by one or more television stations and we expect them to get significant attention. We will invite other members of the Media to these events but no campaign representatives will attend. We just completed our first session with Rutt Bridges, Hank Brown, Chris Gates, and Bob Schaffer serving as our inaugural participants. WB2 already has broadcast a story on this session and is eager to do more. We also are in discussions with other television stations about their participation in this effort. We expect to have actual ratings on-the-spot for these future sessions so, again, we cannot stress the importance of having current and complete information from you.

We are intimately familiar with campaigns at all levels and appreciate how frenetic they are. With one month to go, we all know everyone is pulling out his or her hair (well, for those who have it) and we understand how things occasionally may fall through the cracks. By having you send us everything electronically, we believe we have minimized the time burden on you as most of our requests can be fulfilled in a matter of seconds (e.g., sending us the advertisements in digital format).

Furthermore, to ease any potential burden on you, as mentioned, Megan Sanchez has taken over the responsibility to assist your campaign in being current. You will find her a delight to work with. In the event you cannot reach her, please feel free to contact Zachary Adler -- (805) 259-7667 and (303) 449-5043 -- or myself -- (303) 666-6161 and (303) 718-3399 -- at any time. If there is a different specific person in your campaign you want us to communicate with as the primary contact, we will do so. Just tell us.

Finally, if you have any suggestions regarding how we can improve this process, please do not hesitate to tell us. We want everyone to see it as honest, fair, nonpartisan, and objective. We sincerely welcome your ideas and suggestions. We also want to encourage you to tell your supporters about the TIPA Web site -- www.TIPAP.org -- and have them participate as public evaluators of advertisements. Their ratings and comments will be incorporated into our analysis, whenever possible. There is an automatic sign-up system so everyone has equal access to participate. Again, thank you very much for your cooperation.

Aaron Harber
Executive Director
Truth In Political Advertising Project

EXAMPLES OF WHAT TIPA EXPECTS

Dear Campaign,

Below is an example of the kind of information we receive almost daily from the Bush and Kerry campaigns (this one is from the Kerry camp but reflects no position of the TIPA Project and is being sent only as an illustration of what we expect). They send us copies of ads, storyboards, background information, Web links, elaborations, commentary from others, et cetera -- often before an advertisement actually even hits the airwaves. Our hope is that you will be able to be equally responsive. Thanks.

Aaron

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Two New Ads on Plan to Create Jobs, Strengthen the Economy and Help Middle-Class Families
Washington, DC – The Kerry-Edwards campaign Saturday announced two new television ads, “Ingenuity” and “Powerful.” The ads focus on the choices John Kerry and the Democrats will make to strengthen and expand the middle class.

“Ingenuity” is a 30-second spot focused on the Kerry-Edwards plan to create jobs, strengthen the economy and build a stronger America.

“Powerful” features John Kerry and the Democratic Party’s commitment to put hardworking families first, unlike George W. Bush who has given billions to drug companies and tax breaks to CEOs who have shipped jobs overseas.

The ads can be found at the following links:

http://www.johnkerry.com/video/093004_powerful.html
http://www.johnkerry.com/video/093004_ingenuity.html

Both ads will be available for downlink this afternoon. Coordinates and time will follow.

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AD SCRIPT
Announcer: “The powerful and well connected are getting what they want from George Bush and the Republicans in congress. Drug companies get a $139 billion bail out – while drug prices skyrocket. They give CEO’s big tax breaks for shipping our jobs overseas.

The Saudi Royal family gets special favors, while our gas prices skyrocket. John Kerry and the Democrats have a plan to help small businesses grow. A middle class tax cut. Energy independence. A real plan for hard working Americans.”

John Kerry: “I’m John Kerry and I approved this message.”

JUST THE FACTS
Announcer: “The powerful and well connected are getting what they want from George Bush and the Republicans in congress. Drug companies get a $139 billion bail out – while drug prices skyrocket.”

American Seniors Will Pay More for Prescription Drugs Under Bush’s Medicare Plan. The average cost of the top 10 most-used prescription drugs went up 8.7 percent in 2003 alone. But seniors will not see cheaper prescription prices when the new Bush Medicare plan is fully implemented in 2006, because it does nothing to control the rising cost of drugs. According to Consumers Union, “most beneficiaries will face higher out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs after full implementation, despite the benefit.” In addition, drug manufacturers have been raising prices in anticipation of a Medicare discount plan, negating potential savings from discount cards. [AdvancePCS, 8/25/03; Consumers Union, 11/17/03; AARP, Trends in Manufacturer Prices of Brand Name Prescription Drugs Used By Older Americans - First Quarter 2004 Update, June 2004; Wall Street Journal, 3/24/04]

Medicare Bill Gave Drug Industry $139 Billion in Extra Profits - 61% of the Bill’s Drug Spending. As a result of Bush's Medicare bill, the drug industry will receive an additional $139.2 billion in profits over the next eight years. That will amount to 61 percent of the spending in the bill for prescription drugs. [Alan Sager, Boston University School of Public Health, 4/12/04; Medicare Rights Center, 11/14/03]

Announcer: “They give CEO’s big tax breaks for shipping our jobs overseas.”

Treasury Secretary John Snow Defends Companies That Use Tax Breaks To Create Shield Profits and Create Jobs Overseas. “It is not the Administration’s view that every time a company goes offshore, that is an abusive tax shelter.” [John Snow Testimony, House Ways and Means Committee, 2/3/2004]
Bush Administration Has Defended Tax Breaks For Companies That Ship Jobs Overseas And Called Efforts to Reduce Them “Stupid.” Commerce Undersecretary Grant Aldonas said that Kerry’s proposal to end tax breaks for companies that shift jobs overseas: “It’s a tax system that’s calculated to drive manufacturers offshore, rather than to keep [them] here… It’s the single stupidest idea since the Smoot-Hawley tariffs in terms of penalizing our manufacturing sector.” [National Journal’s Congress Daily, 4/13/04]

Bush’s Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Called Outsourcing, “A Good Thing.” N. Gregory Mankiw, President Bush’s Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, supported the recent trend of outsourcing of service jobs to foreign countries. Mankiw said, “Outsourcing is just a new way of doing international trade… More things are tradable than were tradable in the past. And that's a good thing.” [Los Angeles Times, 2/10/04]
Announcer: “The Saudi Royal family gets special favors, while our gas prices skyrocket.”

$708 More Per Household with Teenagers for Gasoline. Households with teenagers are paying higher prices for gasoline than ever before. In the United States, households with teenagers are paying $708 more per year for gasoline since George Bush took office. They now pay on average $2,829 per year. [Department of Energy, Household Vehicles Energy Consumption 1994, Table 5.2, August 1997]

America Has Become More Dependent on Foreign Oil. Over the past four years, America has become increasingly dependent on foreign oil. In 2000, 58.2 percent of the oil consumed in the United States was imported. That has increased to 61.7 percent today. [EIA, “Overview of US Petroleum Trade”]

Bush Had Secret Deal With Saudis To Lower Gas Prices Before 2004 Election. According to the book “Plan of Attack” by Bob Woodward, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the U.S., has promised President George W. Bush the Saudis will reduce oil prices before this November’s election to help the U.S. economy and lower gas prices. In an interview with “60 Minutes”, Woodward said oil prices are “high, and they could go down very quickly. That’s the Saudi pledge. Certainly over the summer or as we get closer to the election they could increase production several million barrels a day and the price would drop significantly.” [CBS News, 4/18/04; Bloomberg News, 4/19/04]

Saudis Announced Increase in Oil Output in August. Saudi Arabia announced that it would increase output by one million barrels a day in recent months, to more than 9.3 million barrels a day, and had the ability to do more. [New York Times, 8/12/04]

Saudi Arabia Boosted Production Again this Week. “Oil prices hovered near $50 per barrel Tuesday after a Saudi Arabian oil official said the world's largest petroleum exporter would raise its production capacity by nearly 5 percent in a bid to calm markets.” [AP, 9/28/04]

Secret Deal a Failure, Oil Prices at All Time High of $50 a Barrel. “Oil prices held at $50 a barrel Wednesday.” [Reuters, 9/29/04]
Announcer: “John Kerry and the Democrats have a plan to help small businesses grow. A middle class tax cut. Energy independence. A real plan for hard working Americans.”

A New Era of Opportunity for Small Business
As the former Chairman and current Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, John Kerry has been a national leader in promoting small businesses growth. Kerry owned his own small business, a cookie and muffin shop – Kilvert and Forbes – that he opened in 1976 with a friend in Boston’s Quincy Market giving him first hand experience of the obstacles faced by small business owners. As president, John Kerry will bring to the White House both the lessons he learned from owning and working in a small business and his leadership in fighting to support small businesses in the Senate. Tapping into the ingenuity and inventiveness that drives American business, John Kerry and John Edwards will usher in a new era of opportunity for small business.

Cut Taxes for 98 Percent of American Families and 99 Percent of Businesses.
As president, John Kerry will close corporate tax loopholes and use some of the money gained from repealing Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans - families making over $200,000 a year - to pay for tax credits without increasing the deficit by one dime. The Kerry-Edwards tax cuts include:

A tax credit on up to $4,000 of college tuition
A tax credit to help small businesses and vulnerable workers pay for health care and buy into John Kerry's new Congressional Health Plan.
A tax credit on $5,000 of child care expenses

Cut Energy Costs and Move America Towards Energy Independence. John Kerry and John Edwards support a comprehensive agenda to advance the use of renewable energy sources and new energy technologies, and promote more energy-efficient cars and buildings - a forward-thinking plan that will reduce pressure on businesses over the long run.

Create Jobs Through Energy Technology. John Kerry and John Edwards have a plan to invest in renewable energy and technologies that will create 500,000 jobs and make energy more affordable for businesses. They know that you don't have to choose between a clean environment and a strong economy.
Ingenuity:

AD SCRIPT
John Kerry: “I have a specific plan to strengthen our economy and create jobs. It’s based on three guiding principles. One – to create jobs, we have to help small businesses, not get in their way. Two – the middle class needs help, with a tax cut and lower health care costs. Three – I want an America that relies on its own ingenuity and innovation, not the Saudi royal family. Big plans – for a stronger America. I’m John Kerry and I approved this message.”

JUST THE FACTS
The Kerry-Edwards ECONOMIC PLAN

Under George Bush, America has lost 1.6 million private-sector jobs. The typical family has seen its income fall by more than $1,500. Real business investment and exports are both down under George Bush, the first time we have a decline during a Presidential term in over 70 years. And all George Bush has had to offer are excuses and bad plans that put job creation and the middle class last while favoring special interests.

John Kerry and John Edwards believe that America can do better. They have an economic plan that will unleash the productive powers of America’s workers and companies, creating millions of good-paying jobs and strengthening the middle class. Their economic plan is built around four basic principles:

Create Good-paying Jobs in America

· End tax breaks for companies creating jobs overseas and cut taxes for 99 percent of taxpaying corporations.

· A New Jobs Tax Credit to encourage hiring by manufacturers, other businesses affected by outsourcing and small businesses in 2005 and 2006.

· Level the playing field by enforcing our trade agreements and trade laws.

Strengthen Middle-class Families By Cutting Taxes and Lowering Health and Energy Costs

· Cut taxes for 98 percent of families, including new tax breaks for education, child care, and health care.

· Cut health premiums by up to $1,000 for families.

· Provide $25 billion in a State and Local Tuition and Tax Relief Fund.

Restore America’s Competitive Edge

· Make America energy independent of Middle East oil.

· Invest more in research and development, including lifting the ban on stem cell research and making broadband universal.

· Double the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).

· Provide a tax cut on up to $4,000 of college tuition and invest in training.

Cut the Deficit and Restore Economic Confidence

· Cut the deficit in half in four years by restraining spending growth, paying for all proposals, and eliminating corporate welfare.