Dems tie Burns to Abramoff in TV attack - billingsgazette.com

By CHARLES S. JOHNSON
Gazette State Bureau

HELENA - The Montana Democratic Party has fired back at Republican U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns with its own TV ad and accused him of delivering the goods for lobbyist Jack Abramoff, not for Montana.

The party's 30-second spot, which went on the air over the weekend, is in response to Burns' campaign's 60-second ad that was launched last week and is still running.

In his ad, Burns tries to distance himself from Abramoff by saying the Republican former super-lobbyist never influenced him.


Burns received about $150,000 from Abramoff, his associates and his tribal clients, which was more than any other member of Congress. Abramoff earlier this month pleaded guilty to corruption charges.

Burns contended that previous Democratic Party ads against him are playing politics with his reputation. He said, "Those partisan Democratic ads are just that - politics."

The latest Democratic Party ad shows footage from the Burns ad with the senator saying, "I don't know who Abramoff influenced, but he never influenced me."

Then the Democratic announcer says, "But after receiving $5,000 from indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff's associate, Senator Burns changed his vote, helping Abramoff."

The ad shows separate black-and-white photos of Burns and Abramoff, with a big green dollar sign emerging on the screen. It also displays a Missoulian headline that says, "Burns changed vote on bill about the Mariana islands."

The ad notes that Burns earlier supported stronger labor and immigration standards in the Mariana islands. But in 2001, a month after receiving the $5,000 donation from an Abramoff-linked Mariana businessman, Burns asked to be recorded being against increasing U.S. control of immigration and labor standards on the islands.

The Democrats' ad shows Burns saying he wanted to "set the record straight."

Then the announcer says, "Montana's newspapers do just that."

The announcer reads, one at a time, two Billings Gazette headlines that appear on the screen: "Burns changed position after donation" and "Burns helped Abramoff tribes get fed money."

The announcer concludes by saying: "Burns is delivering all right. But not for Montana."

It shows Burns in his ad, with the words "Delivering for Montana" in the background. The Democrats' ad scratches out Montana and then Abramoff's name is printed in red over Montana.

Brian Nick, communications director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, speaking for Burns' campaign, criticized the ad.

"In the absence of ideas or an agenda, national Democrats are again pumping money into Montana to run false and misleading attack ads against Senator Burns," Nick said. "While attack-dog national party operatives run slanderous ads, Senator Burns will continue to deliver positive results for the people of Montana."

Montana Democratic Party spokesman Matt McKenna said, "Try as he might, Senator Burns can't get the stink of Jack Abramoff out of his clothes. He's been on TV for a week telling Montanans Abramoff didn't influence him. Now it's time to set the record straight."