Fact checking campaign ads
Updated: October 18, 2012
SPRINGFIELD -- If you've watched news coverage on WCIA-3 at all during
the past few weeks, you've seen ads for the 13th District Congressional
Race. Democrats and republicans are dumping hundreds of thousands of
dollars into the race, which features two relative unknowns.
Some of the commercials are getting pretty negative. WCIA-3's Steve Staeger looks into the claims of these negative ads as part of Your Local Election Headquarters.
The real negative ads aren't funded by the actual campaigns. They're coming from national congressional committees. Some of the claims made, need to be put into context.
Our airwaves have been filed with lots of campaign commercials. The first from congressional democrats. The second from the other side of the aisle. It's a lot to take in, so let's put it into context for you.
We'll start with the ad about Republican Candidate Rodney Davis.
"Rodney Davis. He was right in the middle of it. Named on the infamous George Ryan clout list of favors."
Yes, Rodney Davis was one of the names on that list. But, it included hundreds of names, democrats and republicans. Most of the people on the list weren't involved in any kind of corruption. Davis' campaign says he never received any favors from the now-imprisoned governor.
"He was even given a job in George Ryan's office."
This one's a little tricky to follow. Davis did work in Ryan's office, but when Ryan was Secretary of State, not governor. In fact, Davis left his job in 1997, two years before Ryan became governor.
On the other side, the National Republican Congressional Committee released an ad about Davis' opponent, Dr. David Gill.
"David Gill. His plan would end Medicare. Medicare would no longer exist."
The Gill campaign says that quote was taken entirely out of context. Gill claims during that debate, he was talking about expanding Medicare, not ending it.
WCIA-3 News requested a copy of that tape, but the campaign couldn't provide one by airtime.
Both campaigns were quick to point out the commercials were paid for by national committees, though Davis did buy some time for an ad which disputes the claims made in the negative ad about him.
The candidates will face each other before election day. WCIA-3 News is putting on a debate with Davis, Gill and Independent Candidate John Hartman.
It airs live on WCIX, November 1, and will be rebroadcast on WCIA-3, November 4, after the 10 pm news.
Some of the commercials are getting pretty negative. WCIA-3's Steve Staeger looks into the claims of these negative ads as part of Your Local Election Headquarters.
The real negative ads aren't funded by the actual campaigns. They're coming from national congressional committees. Some of the claims made, need to be put into context.
Our airwaves have been filed with lots of campaign commercials. The first from congressional democrats. The second from the other side of the aisle. It's a lot to take in, so let's put it into context for you.
We'll start with the ad about Republican Candidate Rodney Davis.
"Rodney Davis. He was right in the middle of it. Named on the infamous George Ryan clout list of favors."
Yes, Rodney Davis was one of the names on that list. But, it included hundreds of names, democrats and republicans. Most of the people on the list weren't involved in any kind of corruption. Davis' campaign says he never received any favors from the now-imprisoned governor.
"He was even given a job in George Ryan's office."
This one's a little tricky to follow. Davis did work in Ryan's office, but when Ryan was Secretary of State, not governor. In fact, Davis left his job in 1997, two years before Ryan became governor.
On the other side, the National Republican Congressional Committee released an ad about Davis' opponent, Dr. David Gill.
"David Gill. His plan would end Medicare. Medicare would no longer exist."
The Gill campaign says that quote was taken entirely out of context. Gill claims during that debate, he was talking about expanding Medicare, not ending it.
WCIA-3 News requested a copy of that tape, but the campaign couldn't provide one by airtime.
Both campaigns were quick to point out the commercials were paid for by national committees, though Davis did buy some time for an ad which disputes the claims made in the negative ad about him.
The candidates will face each other before election day. WCIA-3 News is putting on a debate with Davis, Gill and Independent Candidate John Hartman.
It airs live on WCIX, November 1, and will be rebroadcast on WCIA-3, November 4, after the 10 pm news.
