Montana TV, Radio Stations Statewide Pull False, Defamatory Attack Ads From Hill Allies
HELENA – Television and radio stations across the state have refused to air ads produced by supporters of Congressman Rick Hill due to patently false content. The ads, which attack Bullock and his family, were pulled after the Bullock-Walsh campaign documented the falsehoods contained in the commercials.
The content of the messages from the Republican Governors Association, which purchased over $800,000 of ads this week, violated the Federal Communications Act’s standards for decency. Under the FCA, television and radio outlets have a duty to protect the public from false, misleading or deceptive advertising.
Ads from a shady group with ties to American Tradition Partnership, called “Jobs and Opportunities, Inc.,” have been pulled by radio stations across the state.
“Congressman Hill and his big-money buddies will say and do anything to win an election, including lie about Steve and his family,” said Kevin O’Brien, campaign manager for Bullock-Walsh. “When you can’t win a race on your merits, record and character, you fall back on desperate attacks – but I have no doubt that voters will see right through them.”
The coordinated attack – which includes mail, television, radio and illegal “robo-calls” – accuses Bullock of sending contracts to his brother’s company.
Stations were presented with documented evidence from the Bullock-Walsh campaign of the falsehoods included in the advertisements:
· Bullock’s brother, William Bullock, founded a firm that is helping to clean up the Clark Fork River and has grown from a small company working out of a basement in Butte to a Montana success story employing hundreds.
· This company won a competitive contract with the Department of Environmental Quality – a state agency that reports to the Governor, not the Attorney General.
· The contract Hill’s supporters are relying on for documentation was issued before Bullock was elected Attorney General.
· Bullock’s brother sold his interest in the company in 2009.
The documents provided to the stations from Bullock’s campaign are available upon request.
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