FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 25, 2008
Ad Watch: Dishonest Kennedy Attack Hides His Own Record
New Kennedy TV ad disregards the facts for cheap political gain.
NEW ORLEANS - Friends of Mary Landrieu today responded to perennial candidate John Kennedy's new negative television ad falsely attacking U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La.
"John Kennedy's new ad is a pathetic attempt to confuse voters into forgetting that in 2004 he ran as the most liberal U.S. Senate candidate in Louisiana's history," Landrieu campaign spokesman Scott Schneider said. "But Louisianians won't forget that just four years ago, he endorsed John Kerry, said he wasn't 'another Election Day Democrat' and tried to convince us that he was a member of the famous Massachusetts Kennedy family. We wonder if he ever returned that money from MoveOn.org.
"John Kennedy thinks that if he lies about Sen. Landrieu's record enough, people will start to believe it. He can spin all he wants, but he can't change the facts. Sen. Landrieu is consistently rated among the most bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate. She works across party lines to get things done. While Kennedy plays politics, Sen. Landrieu delivers for Louisiana."
See below for more information on John Kennedy's dishonest new ad:
| Kennedy's Ad Spin | The Facts |
| John Kennedy: I'm John Kennedy. I approve this message. | Visit www.oneconfusedpolitician.com |
| VO 1: Judah Benjamin... VO 2: A hundred ninety-six years of Louisiana history...fifty senators... VO 1: John S. Harris....Randall.... VO 2: But one Louisiana Senator's record is more liberal than all the rest...Mary Landrieu |
Baton Rouge Advocate - Huey Long's "Save The Wealth" Plan More Liberal Than Anything Landrieu Ever Proposed: The Baton Rouge Advocate reported that Suzie Terrell had to correct her claim that Landrieu was the most liberal Senator in state history after "several folks pointed out that Sen. Huey Long's 'Share the Wealth' plan in the 1930s was a lot more liberal than anything Landrieu ever proposed." (Baton Rouge Advocate, 12/10/02) Daily Advertiser - Claim Is "Ridiculous": In 2002, a Daily Advertiser editorial stated, "Suzanne Haik Terrell launched her campaign with the less-than-honest claim that she 'abolished her office to save the taxpayers money," and is ending it with the ridiculous charge that 'Mary Landrieu is the most liberal senator in Louisiana history.' In between are a host of claims that are equally false...[The charge] was apparently devised by a campaign committee convinced that Louisiana citizens are backward, gullible and ignorant of their own history." (Daily Advertiser, 12/6/02) Landrieu Ranked As The Ideological Center Of U.S. Senate: National Journal magazine ranked Landrieu as the ideological center of the U.S. Senate in 2008. (National Journal, 3/8/08) Consistently Among The Top 10 Most Independent Democrats In The U.S. Senate: Landrieu has consistently been ranked by Congressional Quarterly among the most independent members of the Senate, breaking with her party more than most other Democrats. In 2007, Landrieu was the second most independent Democrat in the Senate. (CQ Party Unity Ratings, 2001 - 2007) |
| VO 2: The only one liberal enough to favor abortion rights...Landrieu | Landrieu Voted For Ban On Abortion Procedures: In 2003, Landrieu voted to pass the "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003" that would ban partial-birth abortions. The bill would prohibit doctors from partially delivering a fetus and then committing an "overt act" to kill it. The measure was signed into law by President Bush in November 2003. Landrieu voted for similar legislation in 1997 and 1999. (S 3, Vote #51, 3/13/03; Vote #402, 10/21/03; Charlotte Observer, 3/14/03; CQ Daily Monitor, 9/26/03; S 1692, Vote #340, 10/21/99; HR 1122, Vote #71, 5/20/97) Landrieu Voted For "Unborn Victims Of Violence" Act To Make It A Crime To Kill A Fetus: In 2004, Landrieu voted for a bill that would make it a criminal offense to injure or kill a fetus during the commission of a violent crime. The bill passed and was cleared for the president's signature 61 to 38. This vote was in support of the president's position. (HR 1997, Vote #63, 3/25/04) Co-Sponsored Human Cloning Ban With Conservative GOP Sen. Sam Brownback: In 2007, Landrieu was an original co-sponsor of legislation with Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) to ban all forms of human cloning. Landrieu has co-sponsored similar legislation with Brownback since 2002. (S 1036, Introduced 3/29/07; S 658, Introduced 3/17/05; S 245, Introduced 1/29/03; S 1899, 1/28/02; New Orleans Times-Picayune, 3/18/05) • Won Praise From President Bush For Cloning Ban Legislation: The Times-Picayune reported that at a White House ceremony, President Bush paused during his speech, gestured toward Landrieu and said he "wholeheartedly endorses" her legislation to ban human cloning. (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 4/14/02) A Leader On Promoting Adoption: Landrieu is a co-chair of the Congressional Adoption Coalition. She co-sponsored legislation to encourage adoption including increasing the adoption tax credit. She has also fought to make the tax credit permanent. Senator Landrieu also co-sponsored legislation to improve the foreign adoption process. (CCAI Website; S 1686, Introduced 9/30/03; HR 3182, passed by voice vote 11/14/03; CQ Today, 11/14/03; S 1934, 11/23/03; Congressional Record p. 15647, 11/23/03; S 3031, 12/7/04; New Orleans Times-Picayune, 5/27/01; SCONRES 21, Vote #82, 3/21/07; Congressional Record p. S3468, 3/21/07; Senate Finance Committee Release, 3/21/07; National Journal's CongressDaily, 3/21/07) |
| VO 2: The only one to vote for the largest tax increase in American history...Landrieu | CLAIM IS UNTRUE - Budget Set Aside Funds To Extend Tax CUTS For Middle Class: The budget resolution set aside $180 billion to cover extending the 10% income bracket, the child care and adoption credits, marriage penalty relief and partial estate-tax relief.. (Investor's Business Daily, 3/23/07) Authored Measure To Reduce Estate Tax, Measure Would Exempt 99.99% Of Louisiana Residents From The Tax: In July 2006, Landrieu introduced legislation to reduce the estate tax, allowing a $5 million exemption for individuals and a $10 million break for couples and would have imposed a 35 percent rate on the value of estates exceeding the exemption levels with a 5 percent "surcharge" estates worth more than $100 million. Landrieu said that under her proposal, 99.99 percent of Louisiana residents would no longer be subject to the tax. Landrieu introduced her proposal again in 2008. (S 3626, 2006; Baton Rouge Advocate, 7/9/06; SCONRES 21, Vote #101, 3/23/07; SCONRES 70, Vote #76, 3/13/08) Led Efforts To Eliminate The "Widow Tax" On Military Survivor Benefits: In 2004, Landrieu sponsored legislation to end the "widow tax" which reduced benefits for surviving spouses of military service members by one-third when recipients entered retirement. The measure signed into law in 2004. ( S 2400, Senate Amendment 3315, Adopted by unanimous consent, 6/23/04; Gannett News, 2/4/04; CQ Weekly, 10/16/04; House Report 108-787, pg. 150-51, 10/8/04; Biloxi Sun Herald, 10/16/04) Supported Largest Cut Two Decades: In 2001, Landrieu was one of 12 Democrats who voted for final passage of Bush's $1.35 trillion tax cut package. The measure was the largest tax cut in 20 years. (HR 1836, Vote #170, 5/26/01; USA Today, 5/29/01) Landrieu Voted To Expand Relief For Lower & Middle Income Taxpayers: Senator Landrieu has voted repeatedly to expand lower tax brackets to cover more taxpayers and provide income tax relief to Louisiana taxpayers. (Vote #188, 9/23/04; Vote #168, 5/15/03; Vote #170, 5/26/01; Vote #165, 5/23/01; Vote #149, 5/22/01; Vote #144, 5/22/01; Vote #143, 5/22/01; Vote #116, 5/21/01; Baltimore Sun, 5/22/01; Vote #247, 7/30/99) Repeatedly Backed Child Tax Credit: Landrieu has voted 14 times to extend and increase the child tax credit. In 2003, Landrieu sponsored a tax cut package that sought to increase the child tax credit to $1,000. (Vote #85, 3/14/08; Vote #42, 3/13/08; Vote #414, 12/6/07; Vote #160, 5/9/07; Vote #346, 11/17/05; Vote #188, 9/23/04; Vote #36, 3/10/04; Vote #266, 7/9/03; Vote #210, 6/5/03; Vote #168, 5/15/03; Vote #167, 5/15/03; Vote #166, 5/15/03; Vote #162, 5/15/03; Vote #153, 5/15/03; Vote #151, 5/15/03; Vote #107, 3/26/03; Vote #170, 5/26/01; Vote #165, 5/23/01; Vote #159, 5/23/01; Vote #144, 5/22/01; Vote #226, 7/21/00; Vote #160, 6/27/97; Vote #140, 6/27/97; Vote #134, 6/26/97; Vote #211, 7/31/97) Backed Relief From Tax Penalties For Married Couples: Landrieu has fought hard to provide relief from the "marriage penalty" - tax provisions that result in married couples paying more federal income tax than they would as a pair of single taxpayers. She voted for the relief for married couples contained in the 2001 tax cut package and in 2003, Landrieu authored a tax relief package that would have accelerated reductions in the marriage penalty. (Vote #85, 3/14/08; Vote #42, 3/13/08; Vote #82, 3/21/07; Vote #344, 11/17/05; Vote #188, 9/23/04; Vote #36, 3/10/04; Vote #167, 5/15/03; Vote #162, 5/15/03; Vote #155, 5/15/03; Vote #170, 5/26/01; Vote #113, 5/17/01; Vote #165, 5/23/01; Vote #144, 5/22/01; Vote #143, 5/22/01; Vote #215, 7/18/00; Vote #200, 7/17/00; HR 4810 CQ BillAnalysis; Vote #53, 4/5/00; Vote #247, 7/30/99; Vote #233, 7/30/99; Vote #59, 4/1/98) Pushed For Tax Breaks For Families Paying College Tuition: To combat the rising cost of a college education, Landrieu has voted 15 times to support tax breaks for the costs of college tuition. (Vote #264, 7/19/07; Vote #32, 1/25/07; Vote #29, 1/25/07; Vote #10, 2/2/06; Vote #347, 11/18/05; Vote #164, 5/15/03; Vote #155, 5/22/01; Vote #152, 5/22/01; Vote #182, 7/13/00; Vote #241, 7/30/99; Vote #211, 7/31/97; Vote #160, 6/27/97) |
| VO 2: She even voted to oppose conservatives on the Supreme Court...Mary Landrieu...Liberal...Historically liberal | Landrieu Participated In "Gang Of 14" To Ensure Judges Received Fair Senate Approval Process: In May 2005, Landrieu was one of the "Gang of 14," a group of seven Republicans and seven Democrats who seized the Senate's balance of power on judicial nominations. They vowed to prevent filibusters of the president's nominees except under "extraordinary circumstances," a term they left up to each senator to define. But they also vowed to block GOP leaders from using a parliamentary force play to end all judicial filibusters. (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 7/24/05; CQ Politics In America, 4/1/07) Landrieu Voted For Bush Nominees 81% Of The Time: In 225 roll call votes on President Bush's judicial nominees, Senator Landrieu voted for the nominee 81% of the time. (CQ Vote Reports) |
