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Article published May 7, 2004
Campaign bill by Graham extends ad
accountability
Genevieve Wong
Washington
Correspondent
WASHINGTON -- Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Ron
Wyden, D-Ore., Thursday unveiled new, bipartisan legislation that expands the
accountability provisions in the "Stand by Your Ad" component of the
McCain-Feingold campaign finance law.Under current law, candidates for federal
office are required to state their personal approval of television and radio
advertisements. "Stand by Your Ad II" extends the requirement to Internet, print
and telephone ads that refer to the candidate's opponent.This is the first
election cycle in which a campaign's TV ad includes statements delivered by
candidates that identify the candidate and say that the candidate has approved
the ad. Candidates must comply in order to receive the lowest advertising
rates."For too long, candidates have been letting the buck stop with the
advertising agency," said Wyden, who was involved with passing the previous
bill.At a news conference for the bill's launch, Graham revealed that personal
experience led him to co-sponsor the measure. During his 2002 election, Graham
said he was attacked by negative ads sponsored by faceless groups he'd never
heard of."They came, they went and they burned everything inside of me," he
said. "Taking responsibility for our ads is not only good government, but good
citizenship."The Internet in particular, Graham said, has become "the trash
receptacle of politics."