Attack & Distortion Alert
Former State Party Chairman and Bill Schuette Campaign Manager Rusty Hills today called on Michigan’s media to be especially vigilant toward personal attacks and negative campaigning by third party groups with the August primary and state convention one month away.
“Already this cycle, the attack ads are outnumbering the positive ads,” Hills said. “Bill Schuette has already been subject to an ad that the Center for Michigan Truth Squad clearly labeled a ‘foul’. Yet the ‘Truth’ received far less coverage than the negative attack that generated it.”
“Part of the reason for the general public’s negative view toward public service is because so much attention is lavished on personal attacks, negative campaigning, and distortions. The media needs to ensure that future attacks pass both the fact-check process as well as the smell test before simply repeating the latest smears on television and in print. And false and misleading attacks need to be labeled as such,” Hills urged.