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Missouri Democrats protest against Ashcroft Meth Ad

August 31, 2000
By: Laetitia Thompson
State Capital Bureau

This is Laetitia Thompson for Missouri Capital Caucus.

Missouri Democrats spoke out against a John Ashcroft campaign ad that accuses Mel Carnahan of a weak record in the fight against methamphetamine production.

The collection of Democratic sheriffs, prosecutors and lawmakers say the ad is simply dishonest.

They argue Carnahan signed the strongest anti-meth law in the United States two years ago.

And St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch says the group supports any Democrat or Republican who voted in favor of the meth law.

Actuality:mc1
RunTime: 14 sec
OutCue: "just not accurate."
Contents: McCulloch says he thinks everybody has come to expect, right or wrong, some negative campaigning. But this ad is so off the mark that if anybody got up and said about this legislation what that ad says, yes, this whole group would get up saying that's just not accurate."

Buchanan County Prosecutor Dwight Scroggins was not as bipartisan.

He suggested Ashcroft pull the ad completely.

Actuality:scrog2
RunTime: 12 sec
OutCue: "continuing the ad."
Contents: Scroggins says the Senator should look at it and say you're right, it's misleading, it's incorrect, it's inaccurate and inexact. And we consequently are withdrawing from continuing the ad.

But Ashcroft spokesman David James says the ad is NOT dishonest.

Actuality:james1
RunTime: 9 sec
OutCue: "accurate in all respects."
Contents: James says this is a transparent political attack effort by Democrat politicans to cover up Mel Carnahan's failure to deal with this meth crisis.

When asked if Ashcroft will pull the meth ad, James said absolutely not.

From Jefferson City, I'm Laetitia Thompson.