Abortion, religion and judges — oh my! Move over, economy, the culture wars continue.
The Judicial Confirmation Network’s most recent ad says it best: “Fixing the economy is crucial, but…” But? Yes, but what? “But America’s principles and Constitution are threatened by one more liberal activist vote on the Supreme Court.” The $250,000 ad buy goes out to Pennsylvania, Ohio and northern West Virginia.
On the other side of the spectrum, Winning Message Action Fund bashes McCain-Palin for wanting to overturn Roe v. Wade. The action fund recently sprang forth from NARAL Pro-Choice New York. The dramatic ad shows women lining up for mug shots, some cringing with the flash of a camera, going to jail because they had abortions after the practice was made illegal. (Generally, it should be noted, anti-abortion legislation mandates prosecution for the doctors, not the women.) The ad airs in Wisconsin and Ohio.
How often does one of these independent groups ask what effect its ads have on you? The Matthew 25 Network does that on its Web site, where you can find its latest radio ad “to share with Christians the faith that is the source of Obama’s hope.” The Web site says, “If this ad has blessed you, please donate here to help us keep it on the air.”
The ad is mostly audio clips from an Obama speech about his faith — in fact, the same speech that other groups carefully edited in order to attack the Democrat.
You don’t have to give us any money, but let us know — are you feeling blessed by any political ads these days?
This originally appeared on The Secret Money Project Blog, a joint project of CIR and National Public Radio tracking the hidden cash in the 2008 election.
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