Screen grab from new attack ad
A Republican advocacy group that claims in a new TV ad that mayoral candidate Richard Skorman’s “liberal policies” would kill jobs in Colorado Springs is drawing sharp criticism from Skorman, who says the group has “close ties” to opponent Steve Bach.
“This attack by a shady political action committee must end immediately,” Skorman said in a statement.
“The Bach campaign must come clean about its role in running these negative ads,” he said. “Steve Bach should speak out now to keep secret, out-of-state interests from influencing a Colorado Springs election.”
The ad, being funded by Americans for Prosperity, uses the word “liberal” four times.
Click here to watch it.
“Do Colorado Springs citizens think Richard Skorman’s policies are liberal?” the voiceover asks at the beginning of the ad.
Then, the ad flashes to a picture of Skorman and uses Skorman’s own words.
“I’m not sure why people call me liberal,” Skorman says.
“Maybe it’s because Skorman has been a longtime advocate for higher taxes, higher sales tax and higher property taxes that would hurt our economy. Or maybe it’s Skorman’s liberal spending policies that include salary increases for bureaucrats,” the voiceover says.
“Richard Skorman’s liberal policies would hurt working families with higher taxes, more spending and fewer jobs. Call Richard Skorman and tell him liberal policies kill jobs and are bad for Colorado Springs.”
In an email Tuesday announcing the new ad, conservative radio host Jeff Crank, state director for Americans for Prosperity, said the ad highlights Skorman’s votes during his time on City Council as well as previous statements.
“The Skorman record is one of higher taxes and bigger government. Whether it was votes on City Council or statements Richard Skorman has made – even in the last few months – he has not been bashful about his support of a big-government policy agenda. Skorman needs to hear from citizens that these policies will destroy jobs and hurt our families,” Crank said in the email.
The Skorman campaign fired back today, saying Bach has ties to Americans for Prosperity.
Crank is the Colorado state director, and Laura Carno, who is Bach’s chief of staff, is a producer on the Jeff Crank Radio Show.
Crank and Carno also hold leadership positions with the Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition, which has endorsed Bach for mayor.
“In a campaign with no contribution limits, the only reason a candidate would allow an independent expenditure is to hide the source of its funding,” Skorman said. “The obvious connections between the Bach campaign and AFP also raises some serious questions.”
The Skorman campaign provided what it called a “detailed fact sheet” showing those ties. They include:
Radio Host Jeff Crank Is State Director For AFP. According to his profile on the AFP Colorado website, “Jeff is currently the Colorado State Director of Americans for Prosperity, a grassroots free-market, free-enterprise organization. Jeff also hosts The Jeff Crank Show, a conservative talk radio show on Colorado’s 740 KVOR.”
Bach’s Campaign Chief of Staff Simultaneously Works As A Producer for AFP Colorado State Director Jeff Crank. According to her LinkedIn page, Laura Carno is presently a producer for Jeff Crank’s radio show. “Associate Producer Jeff Crank Radio Show, Media Production industry, March 2009 – Present (2 years, 2 months).” At the same time, she serves as “Chief of Staff” for “Steve Bach for Colorado Springs Mayor.”
Multiple Reports Show Laura Carno Worked For AFP as Recently as Last Summer. Reported KRDO, “Laura Carno of Americans for Prosperity Colorado said her organization has grown from 1,400 members to 30,000 during the time-out period.” According to a blog post by the National Taxpayers Union, “On Tuesday, I was in Colorado to speak at a press conference, along with Jon Caldara of the Independence Institute, Marty Nielson with the Colorado Union of Taxpayers, Joshua Culling of Americans for Tax Reform, State Senator Shawn Mitchell, Amy Oliver with Mothers Against Debt, and Laura Carno with Americans for Prosperity Colorado, recognizing the return of TABOR.”
Why is it that liberals are offended when they are called liberal? Look at Richard’s voting record and his public statements. Can it be that he will say anything to get elected? Surely not!
John Weiss, Publisher of the Independent, is on Skorman’s staff and has contributed almost $15,000 to his campaign. Skorman has a newspaper behind him. That should raise serious questions.
This ad looks significantly different from Skorman’s attack ad. They are citing his actual votes, while Skorman tries to pin the scar on Steve Bach. Not even in the same league. Good grief.
*GASP*
God forbid that a mayoral candidate’s voting record be brought to light! No no, a much more rational approach is to paint your opponent with less factual terms (such as “scar” and “Kentucky Blue Grass”). That’s much more appropriate; after all, why hit someone with facts when you can paint broad, emotion-filled generalizations against them?
Get over it, Dick. You’re a liberal; you know you’re a liberal; everyone knows your a liberal. At this stage, pretending to play dumb and offended about it is only going to speed up the crumbling of your campaign.
THE TRUTH HURTS doesn’t it Richard your voting record from your days on City Council and as Vice Mayor speaks LOUDLY! You can’t Hide from your past!
Here is the Link to the City Council Meeting minutes review it for yourself!
http://www.springsgov.com/units/cityclerk/clerkdocs/
In the libnut world, facts are attacks, but if you make it up about a Rebub it is True!!! Yes, the truth really hurts and the Liberal Skorman will lose.
Debra, you have it correct… Please keep pointing out the difference. Or should I say, BIG Difference!
This like the pot calling the kettle black!
Pure Koch brothers astroturf front group attack ad.
Full of lies and completely connected to wife beater, Steve Bach.
Steve Bach is going to be the next Mayor of Colorado Springs.
So, what’s interesting to me here is that Skorman’s economic plan – Opportunity Springs (available in full on his website) – actually highlights proposals to CUT taxes (see his stance on the business personal property tax, for example) and create a small, yet incredibly effective government infrastructure. (I know, I know, it’s crazy to think that you can have an effective AND small government…but the guy has a hell of a plan).
Sure, nobody likes attack ads. But it seems to me that, while it may be possible to argue against Skorman’s attacks on Bach by debating what actually constitutes a “developer,” there is at least substantiated evidence behind them. Furthermore, Skorman at least has the dignity to attach his own name to his own message. This ad, however, is not substantiated whatsoever by the evidence (Skorman’s own policy proposals) and, while the message echos Bach – it is being put forth by some out-of-state special interest.
Here’s what the non-partisan Center for Public Integrity said about AFP, “They have a pattern of lawbreaking, political manipulation, and obfuscation.”
In the words of a commenter on youtube, “GET OUT OF MY CITY, AFP!!!”
Steve Bach….you forgot something…..the voters will have the final say whether or not taxes are raised…..not the Mayor….it’s called Tabor Duhhhhhhhhh
Steve Bach went crying home to his momma when Richard Skorman called him a developer.
Steve Bach says “Boo Hoo!….Mommy!…….Richard Skorman called me a developer.’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAgRe52Fxfg
That’s right, I only want the upscale class represented in Colorado Springs. So What? You miserable worms who are voting for Richard Skorman are sure to burn in hell while those of you who vote for Steve Bach are sure to get into heaven. I am more worthy of human dignity because I am wealthy.
Well Said Beep Beep, I hate these damned liberals too!
All these liberals ever care about is Civil Rights, equality, and all that crap!
I hope Steve Bach wins so that every liberal who cares about Jobs that pay a decent wage, a sound infrastructure, and decent parks and recreation will be pounded with Steve’s Iron fist!
Steve Bach will put these pukes in their place. No More Liberals in Colorado Springs! No More Democratic Party in El Paso County! Steve Bach, if you are reading this please be comforted in knowing that every night before I go to bed I salute my Confederate Flag while I think of you.
It is O.K. when the Gazette endorses Steve Bach, it is not O.K. that the Independent is endorsing Richard Skorman. Colorado Springs is not a city that is accepting of the opposing side exercising their rights of free speech. I am voting for Steve Bach so that he will squash the free speech of the liberals, only conservatives like myself should be allowed to use free speech while liberal skorman supporters need to shut their *&^%$#@ mouths!
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