Begich forced to pull "Pants on Fire" ad in Alaska Senate race
Democratic Sen. Mark Begich put out a scathing attack ad last week against GOP opponent Dan Sullivan in Alaska, alleging that the former attorney general is to blame for the early release and subsequent alleged crimes - a double murder and sexual assault - by one Jerry Andrew Active. Begich ran the ad without consulting the family of the victims in the case or their lawyers, and they demanded the ad be taken down because - wait for it - the case has yet to be prosecuted, and making it the centerpiece of a race for national office by a sitting senator might have the potential of derailing the case in some manner.
Politifact gave the ad a "Pants on Fire" rating after it and its response ad from Sullivan had already been taken down, at the family's request.
Politifact goes over the facts in the case and finds Begich's charges inflammatory and false. It was a paperwork error before Sullivan's tenure that caused the early release.
Despite the nature of the allegations and the fact that it was a lie that had to be pulled from TV to protect the victims' family and case, there is precious little coverage of the "unprecedentedly negative" nature of Begich's campaign. The Post did offer this analysis conceding the ad hurts him but it's remarkably kind in tone for a guy who just ran a false ad accusing his opponent of abetting the alleged sexual assault of a toddler and the murders of two people...Also read:
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