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[mefree]

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqNrhIJcSrw&feature=player_embedded

[mefree]

Reid ad slams GOP nominee on Scientology, Medicare - The Associated Press
11 June 2010, 10:20 pm



(AP) – 10 hours ago

LAS VEGAS —

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unleashed his first negative ad of the general election campaign Friday, depicting Republican Sharron Angle as a heartless extremist who would slash Social Security and Medicare for the elderly.

The 30-second ad airing statewide also reminds voters that Angle once suggested inmates enter a drug rehabilitation program devised by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

"Shockingly, Sharron Angle wants to wipe out Social Security," a narrator says ominously in the commercial. "She'd cut benefits for everyone."

"What's next?" the narrator asks.

Tea party favorite Angle won the GOP nomination in a come-from-behind victory Tuesday, but since that time Democrats have portrayed her as too conservative for Nevada voters.

Angle, a former state lawmaker, is not widely known in the populous Las Vegas area. The ad signals that Reid is eager to introduce her to voters in unflattering terms before she has the chance to run her own ads.

Angle is testing the limits of anti-Washington sentiment in a year when many voters are eager for change. She wants to abolish the Education Department and repeal the 16th Amendment that established the federal income tax. She has said Social Security and Medicare are "broken and bankrupt" and should be privatized.

Angle has said it's Reid and the Obama administration agenda that are out of the mainstream. She has said voters are weary of soaring debt in Washington and want a leaner government.

more at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gE82X-KeYxz-1keatRaHyrGSJpRgD9G9ETLO2
and http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/06/running_against_sharron_angle.html
and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/14/harry-reid-campaign-ad-sl_n_610992.html

[Lorelei]

What a surprise! Dem. Harry Reid is indeed making use of Angle's cult associations. No one could have predicted that. 

[News Thetan]

Hide and seek with Sharron Angle - Washington Post (blog)
16 June 2010, 9:45 am
David Weigel

Washington Post colleague Paul Kane talked to Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) Tuesday and got an explanation of sorts for the decision of Nevada U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle to play Marcel Marceau with the political press.

    "You're going to have complete, 100 percent access to her... it just makes sense at some point. But I think she needs to get staffed up and prepared. The kind of scrutiny candidates undergo in a general-election race like this is far different than virtually anybody's been through before, and I just think it's a matter of due diligence and being prepared... It's going to take a few weeks, I would think, but, you know, it's really up to her."

Angle is continuing to talk to conservative media outlets, though -- none are interested in asking about damaging stories appearing at places like TPM, but none are able to let her go without something strange coming out. For example, her chat with NRO's Robert Costa includes more more musings about Social Security privatization and, interestingly, a deflection of the charge that she backed a Scientology-sponsored prisoner rehab program that more or less defends the (please, nobody sue me) religion often accused of cultish tactics.

more at http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/06/hide_and_seek_with_sharron_ang.html

[mefree]

Angle goes on the attack and misinforms the public about Criminon/Narconon.

The same Post story claimed that as a legislator, Angle had supported “a prison rehabilitation program promoted by the Church of Scientology and involving massage and saunas.”

Seeking to “clear the record,” Angle told us “I am not even sure that the Church of Scientology fits into it at all. You have to make some quantum leaps here.”

She noted “the program itself is a multifaceted program, and it had two protocols: one in the area of withdrawals, and it was a natural withdrawal system. As s you know, that can have some severe physical side effects and the cramping that was involved there required that other people be taught how to relieve the cramping. So that is where it said that people were being massaged.”

“The second protocol was what they called the ‘disintoxification,’ which was actually sweating the drug out of one’s system so that there were no longer any cravings for the drug. This is a very intense potassium, calcium, vitamin, mineral regimen, with a hot rock sauna that sweats the toxins out. Those two protocols were developed by [the late Church of Scientology founder] L. Ron Hubbard, and they had to give him credit. But it is not Scientology, but rather natural homeopathic medicine.”

more at http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=37569

Please do your part to inform the public. Additional Narconon/Criminon info found at: http://www.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/Narconon.php

[mefree]

Nathan Baca interviews Angle:

http://www.8newsnow.com/Global/category.asp?C=28259&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=4878954&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

[wynot]

That lady be scary. I wonder why homaland security agency folks aren't investigating her; if she isn't calling for the armed overthrow of the American governmant, then I don't know what a 'second-amendment remedy' is...

'til next time;
wynot

[mefree]

I found her scary and evasive. In fact, she appeared to literally run from Nathan Baca.

I hope Baca has a second chance to interview her and ask some questions about her Criminon/Narconon connection. She is either terribly misinformed or spouting the Scientology line about these front groups.

Based on her reactions and her campaign PR person's comments to Baca, I'm leaning toward a direct Scn connection at this point. Pure speculation, of course.

[Lorelei]

@wynot: That's what it sounded like to me, too. Dick Armey failed to reassure me after the fact.

@mefree: You think this is a case of a politician using a series of "acceptable truths" (i.e., LIES, in Scispeak)? I hate to "convict" someone of a cult connection without more damning, provable evidence, but it is not looking good.

[mefree]

To prove ads wrong, Angle must offer a plan - Reno Gazette Journal
20 June 2010, 4:44 am

This reporter gets it right.

At the time, she insisted the Church of Scientology was not involved with the program's use at a Mexican prison. The Church of Scientology has engaged in efforts to keep Second Chance separate from the church itself, but the program is strongly linked to the church and uses the teachings of founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Angle said on Ralston's show that the prisoner massage was more like a karate chop and claimed the program succeeded in New Mexico. It didn't, and funding was pulled for it there. Joe Williams, the head of Arizona prisons, said Second Chance wasn't a good fit while research by the University of New Mexico found the program's success rate there for repeat offenders was much lower than those cited by proponents.

THE VERDICT

The ad is right that Angle wants Medicare and Social Security wiped out, or "transitioned out," as her site says. Angle's position is more subtle, though, than simply ending those programs. But until Angle spells out what her "free market alternative" would be, focusing on her desire to see them phased out is not only smart politics but fair. Truth meter score: 8

The ad perhaps stretches too far in claiming "she'd cut benefits for everyone coming into the system." Too little information is offered in the ad to even let voters know what's being referred to. The claim might be true, but it might not, depending on what's proposed by Angle. So a 4 on the truth meter seems about right.

As for Angle's "Scientology prison plan" with massages for inmates, that's right. Second Chance was a dubious idea at best. In her defense, Angle seems to have genuinely pursued what seemed a promising plan to decrease recidivism and prison costs -- and did not intend to promote Scientology. Still, rate it a 9.


Overall truth meter: 7. The ad is as fair as attack ads get, and the claim is generally legit.

Either she was duped or she was promoting scientology. I'm still not sure. Her behavior is very odd.

more at http://www.rgj.com/article/20100620/NEWS20/6200341/1321/NEWS/To-prove-ads-wrong--Angle-must-offer-a-plan

[ethercat]

Either she was duped or she was promoting scientology. I'm still not sure. Her behavior is very odd.

Duped or promoting scientology, either way, it isn't a quality one wants in a politician.  At least, I personally don't want politicians in office who are easily duped.  Information about the connection between Criminon and Scientology is all over the web.  If a politician isn't willing to research something they want to throw public money toward, they have no business being in office, and no business being a steward of taxpayers' money.

Criminon falls under ABLE (Association for Better Living, a scientology corporation, as stated in CoS's statement to the IRS) and therefore, regardless of any attempts to play the corporate shell game, is a scientology-backed corporation.  In fact, it says as much on the Criminon web site:

http://www.criminon.org/about-us/relationship-scientology.php

Criminon is very happy to have the support of the Church of Scientology...

She didn't even look at the website of the group she's promoting??  C'mon.

[Lorelei]

Either she was duped or she was promoting scientology. I'm still not sure. Her behavior is very odd.

Duped or promoting scientology, either way, it isn't a quality one wants in a politician.  At least, I personally don't want politicians in office who are easily duped.  Information about the connection between Criminon and Scientology is all over the web.  If a politician isn't willing to research something they want to throw public money toward, they have no business being in office, and no business being a steward of taxpayers' money.

Precisely so. Agreed.

We don't need MORE politicians unwilling to do their homework or learn from past mistakes, we need fewer.

[mefree]

Daily KOS: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/6/18/877378/-Sharron-Angle-Meets-the-Press!

[mefree]

New Reid ad rips Sharron Angle's scheme as "crazy" - Washington Post (blog)
23 June 2010, 3:41 pm

Angle on social security = welfare.

Harry Reid  has just gone up with a second ad attacking  Sharron Angle  on Social Security, another sign that Angle's apparent desire to phase out the popular program will be central to Reid's efforts to define her as dangerous and extreme before the campaign gets off the ground:

The ad, in keeping with the Reid strategy of relying on Angle's own words, blasts Angle for this recent quote comparing Social Security to welfare:

"My grandfather would not even take his Social Security check because he said he was not up for welfare, he had planned for his retirement, and he wouldn't take it."

But the real key to understanding this spot is its very last spoken word: "Crazy."

The spot closes with the words "just too extreme" on the screen, and quotes an advocate for retirees saying of Angle's Social Security position: "People depend on these checks. It's their livelihood. It's their food. It's their prescription drug costs. This is crazy."

more at http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/06/new_reid_ad_rips_sharron_angle.html
video at http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=jxo8BOa4Je4&vq

[mefree]

Harry Reid on the Attack, but Still Lags Sharron Angle in Polls - CBS News
25 June 2010, 3:46 pm

Some interesting comments on this one.
more at http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20008886-503544.html

[mefree]

Sharron Angle Meets The Nevada Press In Raucous Interview (VIDEO) - TPMDC (blog)
30 June 2010, 11:03 am

Former Nevada state Rep. Sharron Angle, the Republican nominee going up against Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, had a raucous interview last night with Jon Ralston, one of the top political reporters in the state. As we previously reported, Angle backed away from her controversial comments about "Second Amendment remedies" to government overreach -- but there were plenty of fun exchanges on other issues, too.

more, including video at http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/sharron-angle-meets-the-nevada-press-in-raucous-interview.php

[wynot]

I especially enjoyed her claim that the First Amendment separation of Church and State was unconstitutional!

'til next time;
wynot

[Lorelei]

I especially enjoyed her claim that the First Amendment separation of Church and State was unconstitutional!

That reminds me of that old witticism about conservatives hating the First Amendment (separation of church and state, freedom of speech, etc.) and liberals hating the Second Amendment (guns, ZOMG!). Sort of a litmus test, if you will, of where someone may stand on the political spectrum. 

Me, I'm partial to keeping both, even though I don't exercise my 2nd Amendment rights anywhere near as thoroughly as I exercise my 1st Amendment rights!

The Constitution is not a box of Pick-A-Mix or Quality Street candies, you don't get to eat all the chocolate truffles or nougats or caramels or whatever ones you like best and then pick out and discard the ones you don't like. It would be a novel politician indeed who came out equally strongly for both Amendments.

[mefree]

The Constitution is not a box of Pick-A-Mix or Quality Street candies, you don't get to eat all the chocolate truffles or nougats or caramels or whatever ones you like best and then pick out and discard the ones you don't like.

 

[mefree]

First Reads Top 10 TV Ads
From NBC's Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, Sarah Blackwill and Ali Weinberg

If it's Friday, it's time for another First Read Top 10 list. Today's is our look at what we consider the top TV ads of the cycle, so far:

10. Pamela, Get Your Gun: This ad shows Arizona congressional candidate Pamela Gorman (R) delivering fire -- not at her opponent, but rather at a target range.

9. Kirk vs. Giannoulias, Part 1: In what might be the most heated general election campaign right now, Illinois Senate Mark Kirk (R) went up with this TV ad hitting opponent Alexi Giannoulias' (D) family bank.

8. Kirk vs. Giannoulias, Part 2: And then Giannoulias fired back -- though not Pamela Gorman-style -- with this ad blasting Kirk's misrepresentations about his record.

7. Meet Alan Grayson: No one has ever accused Florida Rep. Alan Grayson (D) of being shy, and this Grayson TV ad sums up Grayson well: provocative, liberal, and not holding back.

6. Bradley Byrne Believes In Evolution! This TV ad blasted Alabama gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne (R) for believing in evolution -- and not believing that everything in the Bible is true. This run-off is July 13.

5. Lowden's Scientology Hit (http://bit.ly/9ESdaP): The TV ad Sue Lowden ran against Sharron Angle (R) in Nevada's GOP primary -- criticizing her support for a Scientology-backed program to give massages to inmates -- is something Harry Reid (D) will certainly use in the fall.

4. The "Dang Fence": John McCain's tough-on-immigration TV ad -- even though it's a reversal for him (in either tone or substance) -- is one of the reasons why he remains the front-runner in his GOP primary against J.D. Hayworth.

3. "Gather Your Armies": It's not every day you see a congressional candidate run a TV ad suggesting taking up arms against our government, but that's what Alabama's Rick Barber does here. Note: This TV ad hasn't run on Alabama TV; it was instead an Internet sensation.

2. Dale Peterson: In a cycle of colorful -- and over-the-top -- Alabama ads, this one by Alabama ag commissioner candidate Dale Peterson (R) is our favorite. Peterson didn't win his race, but he followed up with this endorsement.

1. Demon Sheep: The one and the only… And by the way -- as crazy as it might sound -- it helped Fiorina beat Tom Campbell for the GOP nomination in California.

There is a live poll to vote for your favorite on the list.

more at http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/07/02/4601439-first-reads-top-10-tv-ads