CREW Files FEC Complaint for Ad
by Amanda Adams*, 4/10/2008
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) charging that the nonprofit group U.S. Term Limits, violated federal election law by running a television and Internet advertisement urging the election of former Representative Bob Schaffer (R-CO) to the Senate. In the ad, school children thank Schaffer for his commitment to charter schools. According to CREW, the ad is not issue advocacy, but actually a campaign ad because it promotes the election of Schaffer. In addition, at the end of the ad there is a written disclaimer: "Paid for U.S. Term Limits. U.S. Term Limits is responsible for the content of this advertising. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. U.S. Term Limits does not endorse candidates for public office." However, when the ad was posted to YouTube, it labeled the ad "Bob Schaffer for Senate video." Meanwhile, the FEC continues to only have two commissioners and therefore unable to enforce election laws.
CREW's press release states; "The ad violates federal election law in two ways. First, anyone who pays for an ad expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate is required to file a report describing the expenditure within 48 hours after the ad first runs. This ad first aired on March 26, 2008, meaning that a report should have been filed with the Commission no later than 11:59 p.m. on March 28, 2008, but no report was filed. Second, such television ads must include an audio statement that the person paying for the communication is responsible for the ad's content, which the USTL ad does not."
