Doherty and Reilly for State Assembly

ANOTHER VISIT TO THE LAND OF MAKE-BELIEVE FOR ASSEMBLYMEN CORODEMUS AND KEAN

In the rough and tumble world of politics sometimes the truth gets bent and stretched a bit to make a point. Here in the 11th District, the truth has been largely ignored, as Assemblymen Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean make increasingly frequent visits to the Land of Make-Believe to fuel their increasingly baseless accusations and accolades as they attempt to further distance themselves from their non-existent records.

For Immediate Release
November 2, 2005
Contact: James Sverapa IV
Phone: 732-389-3103

ANOTHER VISIT TO THE LAND OF MAKE-BELIEVE FOR ASSEMBLYMEN CORODEMUS AND KEAN

EATONTOWN

-In the rough and tumble world of politics sometimes the truth gets bent and stretched a bit to make a point. Here in the 11th District, the truth has been largely ignored, as Assemblymen Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean make increasingly frequent visits to the Land of Make-Believe to fuel their increasingly baseless accusations and accolades as they attempt to further distance themselves from their non-existent records.

Their latest trip was documented in a radio ad on Millennium Radio Network that began running yesterday. The announcers in the advertisement purportedly quote from an editorial page endorsement of Kean and Corodemus in the Asbury Park Press, saying "Female Announcer: As for Doherty and Reilly, the Asbury Park Press says reject them and their tax and spend ways, adding, Doherty and Reilly will be controlled by the Trenton political bosses." A pretty damning statement, if it hadn't been made up by Kean and Corodemus.

"I am continually amazed that the incumbents, with a combined 17 years in the legislature, have so little to talk about that they feel they must resort to making things up in their paid media," said 11th District Democratic Assembly candidate Matt Doherty. "What's worse, Assemblymen Kean and Corodemus apparently see nothing wrong with continually making things up to tell their constituents. It's despicable. They should at least have the intellectual honesty to run on their records instead of always running away from them."

The first half of the Asbury Park Press 'quote' used in the Kean and Corodemus radio ad takes liberties with what was actually written by the paper, specifically twisting the following, which was actually printed in the editorial endorsement: "The best way for the electorate to reject the Democrats' tax-and-spend ways and their refusal to move toward meaningful property tax and ethical reform is by electing qualified Republican candidates." [Source: Asbury Park Press, 10-27-05] Suspiciously lacking is any direct mention of Doherty and Reilly. And nowhere in the entire editorial endorsement does "Doherty and Reilly will be controlled by the Trenton political bosses," appear.

"Apparently Assemblymen Kean and Corodemus feel that they can mislead the voters of the 11th District," said 11th District Democratic Assembly candidate Jim Reilly. "As a private citizen and as a candidate for office I am disgusted by the tactics being employed by our opponents. This is dishonest campaigning at its worst and it needs to be stopped immediately."

The Doherty and Reilly for Assembly campaign has notified the station carrying the Kean and Corodemus ad of the factually inaccurate, potentially libelous advertisement they are carrying and are requesting that the ad be pulled immediately.

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A TRANSCRIPT OF THE RADIO AD, A COPY OF THE CEASE AND DESIST LETTER AND A COPY OF THE ASBURY PARK PRESS EDITORIAL ENDORSEMENT FOLLOWS

CORODEMUS-KEAN RADIO AD TRANSCRIPT

Male Announcer: The Asbury Park Press endorses Assemblymen Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean saying:

Female Announcer: "Corodemus and Kean see property tax relief as the priority for their constituents. They'll continue to fight to reduce state spending."

Male Announcer: Corodemus is a strong supporter of the plan to cut property taxes by thirty percent in three years.

Female Announcer: And Kean is an able watchdog voting against the Democrats' spending programs.

Male Announcer: The Assembly needs legislators to fight to lower the cost of living in New Jersey. Corodemus and Kean are the tax cutters for the job.

Female Announcer: As for Doherty and Reilly, the Asbury Park Press says, "Reject them and their tax and spend ways," adding, "Doherty and Reilly will be controlled by the Trenton political bosses."

Male Announcer: On Tuesday, the choice for taxpayers is clear: Assemblymen Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean.

Steve Corodemus: This is Steve Corodemus.

Sean Kean: And I'm Sean Kean and we authorize this message.

Steve Corodemus: That's paid for by Assembly Republican Victory 2005. Ron Gravino, Treasurer.

Andy Santoro
General Manager, WXKW 101.5 FM
109 Walter Street
Trenton, NJ 08638

SENT VIA FACSIMILE AND REGULAR MAIL

RE: Assembly Republican Victory 2005 Radio Ad Buy on behalf of Steven J. Corodemus and Sean T. Kean for Assembly

To Whom It May Concern:

Please be advised that political advertising currently airing on your station, purchased on behalf of Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean for Assembly by Assembly Republican Victory 2005, contains false, misleading and libelous information that may lead to immediate legal action against your station. We respectfully request that the entirety of this buy be immediately pulled from circulation until the issues in dispute are resolved.

The minute long advertisement at issue purports to quote from an endorsement editorial from the Asbury Park Press, noting in relevant part that "[a]s for Doherty and Reilly, the Asbury Park Press says 'reject them and their tax and spend ways,' adding 'Doherty and Reilly will be controlled by the Trenton political bosses'" [Assembly Republican Victory ad on behalf of Corodemus and Kean for Assembly].

The advertisement is patently false. The Asbury Park Press editorial never urged voters to reject the "tax and spend ways" of Doherty and Reilly. The editorial also did not indicate that Doherty and Reilly "will be controlled by the Trenton political bosses."

In fact, the Asbury Park Press editorial included criticism of the Democratic Party - not Doherty and Reilly. Neither Doherty nor Reilly have ever held elective office and, consequently, never have raised taxes or increased spending. The editorial states that "[t]he best way for the electorate to reject the Democrats' tax-and-spend ways and their refusal to move toward meaningful property tax and ethical reform is by electing qualified Republican candidates." [Asbury Park Press, 10-27-05] Again, nowhere in the Asbury Park Press endorsement editorial does it state "Doherty and Reilly will be controlled by the Trenton political bosses."

Consequently, your station is broadcasting a false political advertisement that leaves you susceptible to litigation. It is well settled that political advertising not expressly paid for by a candidate or candidate committee does not fall under the purview of legitimate use, instead qualifying it as an issue advocacy advertisement. As such, the advertisement is required to be factually accurate and is not considered protected political speech. Under state and federal law, if the station continues to broadcast this false and misleading advertisement, the station may be held liable.

We hereby request that the entirety of the buy be pulled from circulation. Failure to do so may result in our further pursuit of legal action.

We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to discussing this with you.

Respectfully,

Matthew J. Doherty James M. Reilly
Candidate for New Jersey General Assembly Candidate for New Jersey General Assembly

cc: William J. Castner, Esq.
General Counsel, New Jersey General Assembly

Asbury Park Press Editorial Endorsement