Stanton campaign supplying more content to outside group
October 25, 2011
STANTON AND UNION ALLIES WILL GO TO ANY LENGTH TO STOP REFORM
PHOENIX – Career-politician Greg Stanton says he has no connection with Phoenix Citizens United and Educate Phoenix, groups running ads smearing Wes Gullett that have been called “lies” by the Arizona Republic editorial page and labeled “false” by the Republic Fact Checkers.
But for the second time, these groups are using materials supplied by the Stanton campaign in their desperate attempt to stop reform at City Hall.
A new ad on the airwaves includes video footage taped by a Stanton staffer, Chase Williams, at a Gullett event from September.
Williams obtained the footage used in the group’s latest ad at a September 10th Gullett meet and greet at the Pomegranate Café in Ahwatukee. Williams is pictured in this photo taping the event. Previously, these groups have used false information from Stanton press releases after they were removed from Stanton’s Web site for lies.
“Greg Stanton and the unions will clearly go to any length to protect the status quo, their $3.7 million taxpayer subsidies and stand in the way of reform,” Gullett said. “Greg Stanton has called for transparency – well, now it’s time for Greg Stanton to be transparent about his coordination with these two groups that are lying to Phoenix voters.”
On October 15, a Stanton spokesman told the Republic “there isn’t any connection between the political-action committee and the campaign.”
Then why is a staffer providing footage to the group?
In addition to Greg Stanton’s lie, the group’s lies have been repeatedly knocked down by the Arizona Republic.
On October 20, the Republic editorial board wrote: “There just is no other way to say it… the ad lies.”
The Republic Fact Check graded the content of the ad “False” with zero stars.
And in today’s Republic, columnist Laurie Roberts writes: “Phoenix Citizens United – whoever that is — has teamed up with Educate Phoenix – whatever that is — to basically lie to you in hopes of scuttling Wes Gullett’s bid to be mayor.”
