The three worst political ads of 2014

Even in an age of sketchy political discourse, some messages aim lower

The election season is still young, but with important primary contests being decided Tuesday now is an ideal time to take stock of the most misbegotten Michigan political spots of 2014. Since January, the Michigan Truth Squad has given “flagrant fouls” to three ads for their detailed attention to smears, hypocracy or inaccuracy.

• There was the charming ad  put out by congressional hopeful Brian Ellis calling Republican opponent Justin Amash “Al Qaeda’s best friend in Congress.”
• The Republican Governor’s Association won its flagrant foul for a 30-second attack on Democratic candidate for governor Mark Schauer. The spot chastised Schauer for supporting state fees on nursing home beds, while failing to mention that the fees would return more federal dollars to nursing homes than the homes would pay out. Oh, it also failed to mention that Schauer’s opponent, Rick Snyder, supported (and even extended) the same fee.
• Finally, there was the much-discussed Julie Boonstra ad, sponsored by the Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperity which, on closer examination, was unable to support the cancer patient’s central claim that the new health insurance she received under Obamacare was unaffordable.

As campaigns head toward November, Truth Squad will continue to analyze political speech and help Michigan residents identify questionable claims, whether they appear in TV or print ads, speeches, news releases, robo calls, mailings, websites or on social media.

As always, we need your help. If you spot a political claim that raises questions, send the information our way, with supporting documents if possible. Allow Truth Squad to do the rest.