We’ve heard of politicians launching false attacks before (i.e. John Spratt), but this is the first time we’ve ever seen one launch a “false opponent.”
Ken Ard – the Republican nominee for Lt. Governor of South Carolina – has a new ad up attacking his Democratic opponent, Lowcountry lawyer Ashley Cooper.
“My lawyer opponent’s negative campaign proves he is already part of politics as usual,” Ard says in the spot, except the “opponent” portrayed in the 30-second ad isn’t Cooper, but rather “an older balding male with no resemblance to Cooper,” according to Charleston attorney’s campaign.
“You don’t do things like this,” Cooper spokesman Lachlan McIntosh said. “It’s just not ethical, even for a slick politician like Ken Ard.”
McIntosh added that Ard has been “consistently dishonest about his voting record,” referring to a debate last week in which the Florence Republican said that he has never voted to raise taxes or increase his own pay.
“The official records clearly indicate that Ard voted twice for tax increases and voted for budgets that raised his pay by 19 percent,” McIntosh said.
Anyway, here’s the spot:
Look .. we’re not going to get into a debate about Ard’s integrity. He’s running for office in South Carolina, so it’s probably safe to assume that he doesn’t have any.
Of course he is looking for “solutions, not arguments,” so we guess he’s got that going for him …
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By hgyjutty October 27, 2010 at 4:51 pm
This is not news. I happen to like the ad. We need more people like Ard in government that are not constantly seeking a fight.
By Brian October 27, 2010 at 4:55 pm
If you’re curious about what Ashley actually looks like, take a look at his ad (see if you can spot the differences): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D43wRgCOpQ
By Dan October 27, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Funny Ken Ard is standing in front of a Wofford emblem when he lied about going to school there for months
By hgyjutty October 27, 2010 at 4:59 pm
Brian October,
That’s funny. It seems he failed to mention in his ad that he is partner in a large multi-state law firm.
http://www.nelsonmullins.com/attorneys/ashley-cooper
That sure doesn’t look like a law firm in the ad.
Government Relations and Administrative Law? Really Ashley? Smells like lobbyist style activity to me.
By eggaday October 27, 2010 at 5:17 pm
I believe it’s way past time TO point fingers Mr. Ard. Some solutions don’t come until fingers are pointed.
By Scott October 27, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Ard *attended* Wofford. He just didn’t graduate. He also dropped out of Francis Marion.
He should go back to school somewhere in the middle of the state, maybe that would work out for him.
By Crash October 27, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Ken Ard is a joke. It is amazing that he won the primary. Ashley Cooper is the clear choice here.
By Brian October 27, 2010 at 9:09 pm
hgyjutty (or should I call you hgyjutty October?),
Cooper’s not shy about being a lawyer, but it’s pretty clear on his website and on the link you provided that he works in energy law. If there was any whiff of Cooper being a lobbyist, I promise you that would have been the first thing out of Ard’s mouth.
On the other hand, Ard’s full-time job appears to be his part-time job as a county councilman, which I guess is nice when you’re campaigning for office and don’t have to work at the same time.
By DG October 27, 2010 at 10:39 pm
I’m not impressed with Ken Ard. I just don’t think he’s that smart. I also think he might get eaten alive as Lt. Governor. The State House is a place where you need to be shrewd and keen — Ard just doesn’t have those qualities. He needs to sharpen up to play with the big boys over there. I’ve had several conversations with him where I’ve walked away thinking, “Did he really just say that?”
However, I know this sounds bad — but I’m still going to vote for him. I think he’s the lesser of two evils. And, I usually tend to vote for conservatives.
That’s just my two cents.
By Catherine October 28, 2010 at 9:43 am
If Andre Bauer can do it, then I’m sure Ard is more than qualified. I hear Ard doesn’t drive 100 mph.
By ML October 28, 2010 at 10:44 am
“We’ve heard of politicians launching false attacks before (i.e. John Spratt)”
Nice “stealth asserted conclusion” unsupported by facts. :)
By Scooter October 28, 2010 at 2:09 pm
OMG. All I see on TV from the republican candidates is attack after attack, usually throwing in Nancy Pelosi and President Obama , as if all Dems in this state are personal friends and close allies with the Speaker and the President. I do not see that kind of craziness from the Dems ads. The one problem with Liberals in general is that they are way to forgiving and focused on others more than themselves. They tend not to yell and scream ugly things at their opponents. Can you really say the same for the right wingers?
By Groundball October 29, 2010 at 12:29 pm
I’ll bet this ad cost between $55 – $65. Power to the People!
By Savannah Kennedy October 30, 2010 at 7:02 pm
I’ve seen videos put together for Middle School Student Government campaigns that were better. Ken Ard, Hugh Leatherman’s baby RINO was the only top ticket Republican NOT endorsed by the SC Club for Growth. They actually left him out of round after round of press releases endorsing candidates that are fiscally conservative. Ard is a proven enemy of the taxpayer and SC can’t afford him. Haley and the state of SC would be better off with Cooper. The SCGOP had to send an email on Ard’s behalf about how “conservative” he is after Cooper’s ads exposed him as a big tax and spend fraud. Another RINO hoisted on his own his own petard. And in case Ken Ard reads this – it’s Shakespeare and translated it literally means “blown up with his own mine”. Good riddance.