The Denver Post
Adwatch
Wednesday, October 20, 2004 -
To support Republican U.S. Senate candidate Pete Coors, the National
Republican Senatorial Committee combined three allegations into a
single ad against Democrat Ken Salazar.
"When a politician wants a promotion, take a close look at his record," intones
a man's voice over a discolored freeze-frame of Salazar's face.
The ad repeats the photograph throughout the 30-second spot, squeezing
a tighter image of the Colorado attorney general's face, ultimately
distorting his features.
Claim: "As attorney general, Ken Salazar refused to defend the law
that prevents the state from deducting union dues from workers' paychecks," the
ad states.
Fact: That statement is true. Salazar, without explaining why, did
not defend Gov. Bill Owens when he issued an executive order in 2001
that ended the automatic deduction of union dues from workers' paychecks.
Claim: "Then his office lost a case, and 71 convicted
sex offenders were released into our communities early."
Fact: In 2001, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that judges
were using the wrong parole law for convicted sex offenders.
Salazar defended the state law that would have required longer parole
terms for sex offenders; the court supported a conflicting law with
less stringent sentencing requirements.
Both laws were passed by state legislators before Salazar was the
state's top law-enforcement officer.
After the court's ruling, Salazar asked law enforcement officials
throughout the state to make it a priority to arrest any sex offenders
who fail to register as is required by state law.
Claim: "Now Salazar wants to make the FBI notify
suspected terrorists when their homes are being searched."
Fact: That statement distorts Salazar's position on the Patriot
Act and the proposed changes to protect civil liberties and rein
in government power to conduct searches in some cases.
Salazar said he supports a bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Larry
Craig of Idaho and co-sponsored by Republican Sens. Mike Crapo of
Idaho, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and John Sununu of New Hampshire.
That bill aims to prevent the abuse of federal government power
to conduct some searches.
Under the proposed changes, the government would be required to
give notice of many searches within seven days. But the bill also
allows secret warrants when a court approves.
