DDF: Explaining the "Approve" Language to Pundits
I sent this to the DDF, but I'm posting it here to be sure we head this off before it takes on a life of its own. In a column on the MSNBC site, Howard Mortman writes
Howard Dean, Dr. Cocky?I wrote Howard Mortman an e-mail that quoted the column and then said the following:
Howard Dean has been riding high among the political and media wise men. Which means he’s due for the inevitable pundit-driven bruising.
What will pundits find wrong with Dean? Perhaps his cockiness. Let’s take that out for a spin. Three recent examples:
1) In his new TV ad, Dean talks jobs and health care. Then he concludes with this line: “That’s why I’m running for President, and why I approve this message.”
He approves of his own message? Wow, what a relief! How gracious. Let me give that construction a shot — I’m Howard Mortman, I’m writing a column, and that’s why I approve this paragraph.
.... [the other two items are his quotes about Graham and voting against the war]
One provision of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law is that television ads must include "a statement that identifies the candidate and states that the candidate has approved the communication." Such statement-- '(i) shall be conveyed by-- '(I) an unobscured, full-screen view of the candidate making the statement, or '(II) the candidate in voice-over, accompanied by a clearly identifiable photographic or similar image of the candidate ..."I submitted the letter using the on-line form on the page with the column, and I also sent it to letters@msnbc.com and hardball@msnbc.com (Mortman is a producer for Hardball.)
Clearly, it's absurd for you to ridicule Dr. Dean for simply complying with the law.
For your reference, the full text of the law is here: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=107_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ155.107I
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