It just never stops with the Martha Robertson campaign and its TV ads in NY-23, my home district.
Robertson’s “fat shaming” ads mocking incumbent Tom Reed gained national attention, for all the wrong reasons.
Her ads also suffered bad truthfulness ratings.
Now AARP is calling out Robertson for improperly using AARP’s name in her ads, violating AARPs non-partisan status and falsely implying that AARP has taken sides in the race.
The Elmira Star Gazette Reports:
AARP in New York issued an objection Wednesday to congressional candidate Martha Robertson’s use of the association’s name and logo in a campaign ad.Beth Finkel, state director for AARP in New York, issued a statement after learning of its name and logo appearing in the Ithaca Democrat’s campaign ads in the race for the 23rd Congressional District seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning.“AARP does not endorse candidates or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates,” Finkel said. “AARP did not authorize the use of its name or logo in currently running Martha Robertson campaign ads.”Contacted for comment, Seth Stein, Robertson’s communications director, issued the following statement:“The campaign’s ad in no way says that Martha has received the endorsement of the AARP, but simply cites them when discussing Congressman Tom Reed’s policies ….”The AARP logo appears in one segment of the 30-second ad.
Here is the offending ad:
Here’s the AARP’s Press Release:
UPDATE 0-26-2014: Local WETM rates the content of the ad only half-true.
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