Steamy Attack Ad Meets Chilly Reception

(CBS/AP)  The National Republican Congressional Committee is being criticized by one of their own candidates for a sensational attack ad it produced for a congressional race in New York State.

Democratic congressional candidate Michael Arcuri is accused in the ad of billing taxpayers for a call to a phone sex line placed while he was in a hotel. The ad shows Arcuri leering at the silhouette of a dancing woman who says, "Hi, sexy. You've reached the live, one-on-one fantasy line."

But Arcuri's campaign released records showing the call made two years ago from his New York City hotel room to 800-457-8462 — a sex line — was followed the next minute by a call to 518-457-8462, the state Department of Criminal Justice Services.

Arcuri, the district attorney in Oneida County, said the ad was "clearly libelous" and threatened to file a lawsuit. Even his GOP opponent, state Sen. Ray Meier, described it as "way over the line."

At least seven television stations in Syracuse, Utica and Binghamton refused to run the ad, Arcuri said.

The NRCC stood by the 30-second message. Spokesman Ed Patru insisted it was "totally true" and said candidate Meier was not consulted.

"I think they have a low regard for the American electorate," Robert McClure, professor of political science and public affairs at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, told CBS's Syracuse affiliate WTVH-TV. "But I also think they have the evidence that these kinds of negative smear campaigns work."

The two candidates — who say they are friends — are running to fill the seat left open by the retirement of Republican Rep. Sherwood Boehlert. Political analysts have said the race is among the nation's most competitive.

Arcuri said he had "never seen such an unfair commercial. I have a 12-year-old daughter. She's going to have to go to school and hear other kids talk about this."

Earlier in the week, both candidates said they were disappointed by the attack ads produced and funded by their national party committees. They said campaign-finance laws prevent them from screening the commercials.

"I think the voters in this congressional district – and in congressional districts across the state and across the country – are quite frankly sick of this kind of advertising and smear campaigns, Democratic Party chair William Morris told WTVBH-TV.

"We don't agree with any of it," Republican Party chair Mark Scheidelman told WTVH-TV. "And we would hope that both parties would stop it and we'd start talking about the issues."

One voter, Rosemarie Paladino of Utica, said she found such negative advertising so distasteful that she was tempted to avoid voting.

"But then I said, 'Wait a minute. I've got to exercise my right."'

[pakaal]

Rosemarie Paladino is right. It's tempting to walk away when things get this stupid. A better idea is to find your own information about the candidates - you're certainly not going to find any info on a 30 second political smear ad anyway!

[bluestardad]

Be Ever Vigilant. Bush and Rove will do anything to stay in power up to an including flooding key districts with fake absentee ballots tampering with electronic voting machines, and bussing in voters who are not from the districts to vote, or even starting another war with and suspending civil liberties postponing the mid term vote. There is a great possibility for this administration to tamper with the electronic voting machines to the point that very subtle differences will take place in Key races just enough to tip the vote in their favor but not enough to cause a full scale American Revolution leaving some doubt, but just enough to throw key races in the Republican Favor. Watch out for this election coup.

[b4815]

If you think we on the right are just going to move out of the way and let you "CUT AND RUN DEMOCRATS"take charge with this SANFRAN lib Pelosi......u r going 2 b so dissapointed on the morning of Nov 8th

[mjv2944]

Nows the time for a real honest to goodness third party. The repubs stink with corruption and the dems are definitely not lilly white. This is the time for a real house cleaning. VOTE ALL INCUMBENTS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! They have been *** over America for the last 15 years.

[tulcak]

nope, sorry tibu987, but we are talking about CORRUPT REPUBLICANS here - which there seems to be a bumper crop of. the democrats are NOT embroiled in corruption scandal - the republicans are, see my website listing 208 of you god fearin people who have either been indicted, convicted, are being probed or investigated: http://www.deadfockers.com/Repubs/Repubs.htm

[tulcak]

the typical republican response is: "well, they're ALL bad." nope. you repubs must own up or admit that you are just as bad as the corrupt REPUBLICAN politicians that represent your ideology.

[turkeyfish1]

Just another example of a Republican party that now consistently turns its back on God's Commandment not to bear false witness.

No wonder more and more thoughtful members of the religous community and true Christians are preparing to reject them at the polls. This current crop of Republicans only values raw political power and its use for self-benefit.

Let us pray for their souls for they are truly lost.

[turkeyfish1]

Just another example of the Republican party turning their backs on the 10 Commandments to again bear false witness. No wonder the more thoughtful among their evangelical base are prepared to abandon them at the polls.

[tibu987]

This a clear indication of the type of trash that can be slung between the two parties. That the people we may elect to office are party to any such smear programs should not be voted to office.
We expect our politicians (yeah, right), to hopefully not be the type of people that would cater to devious and mud slinging campaigns. If they do, they are exactly the people we do not want in office, Dems or Repubs. Perhaps it may be impossible, but let's try and vote for the most honorable people that we can. Naive, sure, but we can try.

[b4815]

The Foley scandal is only about ***..it's his buisness....seems u dems used that one!!