In another direction on this issue: I've wondered about the ethics of Coors
prominently featuring Charles Barkley, former NBA star and often-discussed
potential Republican candidate for the Alabama governor's race, in their
advertising. It seems like this could be a nifty corporate trick: "hire" a
person for advertising, plaster their image all over the television, pay
them a hefty sum, and then when they run for office, they can use the money
that they "earned" to bankroll their campaign, thereby avoiding campaign
finance laws. Ed, any thoughts since you're located in Alabama? Has this
come up in discussions there?
==================================
Dr. Michael P. McDonald
Assistant Professor
Dept of Public and International Affairs
George Mason University
4400 University Drive - 3F4
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
Office: 703-993-4191
Fax: 703-993-1399
Efax: 561-431-3190
mmcdon@gmu.edu
http://elections.gmu.edu/
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-election-law_gl@majordomo.lls.edu
[mailto:owner-election-law_gl@majordomo.lls.edu] On Behalf Of John
Chamberlin
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002 3:20 PM
To: election-law@majordomo.lls.edu
Subject: Re: interesting campaign ad in Ohio (and another one from Nebraska)
Thru Common Cause I heard about a similar ad campaign in Nebraska, in this
case one run by Pfizer that gives a House candidate a boost. Here's the
gist of what's up:
"Pfizer has been running ads in Nebraska using U.S. Representative Lee
Terry to tout its discount drug card for Medicare beneficiaries. Terry, of
course, is up for re-election this year, and the ads, while attempting to
seem like a "public service announcement," have the dual benefit of
promoting both Pfizer and Terry."
******************************************************
John R. Chamberlin Email: johnch@umich.edu
Professor of Political Science Phone: 734-763-0689
and Public Policy Fax:734-763-9181
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
413 Lorch Hall
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI