What They’re Saying: Eric Hovde’s Dark Money Allies Forced to Take Down False Attack Ad
MADISON, Wis. — Late last week, a dark money super PAC funded by Eric Hovde’s out-of-state billionaire allies, Dick and Elizabeth Uihlein, was forced to take down a false attack against Tammy Baldwin and her record of protecting Medicare and fighting for every Wisconsinite.
See below for coverage of Eric Hovde’s dark money allies being forced to pull down their false ad:
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Sen. Tammy Baldwin is being attacked on Wisconsin airwaves for her work that lowered prescription drug costs and saved taxpayers’ money.
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A billionaire with a history of spending big on Wisconsin elections is attracting attention to one of the political action committees (PACs) he funds, after it had to change a TV commercial because of the way its attack on Sen. Tammy Baldwin perversely twisted the significance of allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices.
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A report by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said Restoration PAC had to replace an ad that claimed Baldwin voted to “cut Medicare funding and use that money to subsidize electric vehicles.” Progressive attorneys from the Elias Law Group reached out to an advertising purchaser about pulling the ad, according to the report.
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The ad’s false claim that has been repeatedly debunked is based on how President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act allows Medicare to negotiate with big pharmaceutical companies for bulk pricing—a seemingly common-sense practice that Republicans had blocked for 20 years since the creation of the Part D prescription drug benefit.
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Restoration PAC is funded almost exclusively by Richard Uihlein, president of the Uline shipping and packaging company. The Center for Media and Democracy reported last month that Uihlein and his wife Elizabeth have already given more than $35 million to right-wing PACs and candidates. Forbes estimates their worth at more than $5 billion, and the couple has been among the largest donors to Republican causes in past election cycles.
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A spokesperson for Baldwin’s campaign told the Journal Sentinel that allies of Republican Eric Hovde, her likely opponent this fall, will be lying about her record.
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“Tammy’s record is clear: she’ll always protect Medicare, always stand up for seniors, and fight for every Wisconsinite and their families, no matter their age or ZIP code,” Jackie Rosa said in a statement.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Conservative group replaces ad targeting Baldwin
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An ad declaring that Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin voted to “cut Medicare funding and use that money to subsidize electric vehicles” was pulled and replaced with a similar spot last week, according to emails shared with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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Attorneys with Elias Law Group, on behalf of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, contacted OnMedia TV Ad Sales on Thursday requesting the spot’s removal. They argued the ad “blatantly lies” about Baldwin’s record.
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“As Restoration PAC well knows, Senator Baldwin has never voted to cut Medicare. This false and misleading advertisement should be pulled from your network immediately,” the DSCC attorneys’ letter read.
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OnMedia’s director of national sales, Doug Staudt, responded Friday afternoon: “That spot has been replaced and no longer airing, as the agency provided alternate creative.” Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesman Arik Wolk told the Journal Sentinel another TV advertising company, Viamedia, also told Elias Group lawyers the original ad had been pulled.
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The super PAC is largely funded by Republican megadonor Richard Uihlein, who owns the Wisconsin packaging company Uline with his wife, Elizabeth.
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A Baldwin spokeswoman accused allies of her Republican opponent, Eric Hovde, of lying about her record.
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“Tammy’s record is clear: she’ll always protect Medicare, always stand up for seniors, and fight for every Wisconsinite and their families, no matter their age or ZIP code,” Baldwin campaign spokeswoman Jackie Rosa said in a statement.
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Asked about the replacement ad, Rosa said it was “just as false” as the original.
Daily Kos: Why a false GOP ad attacking a Wisconsin Democrat just got pulled
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Wisconsin TV stations have pulled an ad by a Republican super PAC that falsely accused Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin of voting to “cut Medicare” after the attorneys for the DSCC pointed out that no such vote had ever taken place.
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“Why else would Baldwin vote to cut Medicare and use that money for electric vehicle subsidies?” began the ad from Restoration PAC, which is largely funded by conservative megadonor Richard Uihlein. The spot doesn’t cite a particular piece of legislation, but Democrats said the PAC was referring to Baldwin’s vote in favor of the Inflation Reduction Act.
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That bill, however, did not cut Medicare in any way. Rather, it allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices for the first time, which would save the program almost $300 billion. Medicare benefits would be unaffected. (The act also includes subsidies for buyers and manufacturers of electric vehicles.)
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Restoration PAC was vulnerable to Democrats’ takedown demand because television stations can be held liable for publishing defamatory statements by third-party groups—one of the few ways in which there can be accountability for lying in the political arena.
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A Baldwin spokesperson, however, responded that the new ad was “just as false” as the initial one, according to the paper. Baldwin will likely face wealthy Republican businessman Eric Hovde in the November general election in a hotly competitive race that could help determine whether Democrats retain control of the Senate.
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