Cecil & Geiser, LLP

TV Stations Pull Campaign Ads

October 13th, 2011, Category: Cecil & Geiser Blog

Kudos to the many television stations around Ohio that pulled and refused to air an ad purchased by Building A Better Ohio.  As some may know, Building A Better Ohio is a group formed to persuade voters to vote in favor of Issue 2.  Issue 2 is the ballot name for the law passed earlier this year  that has taken away the collective bargaining rights of many public employees, including firefighters.

The ad in question “lifts” the image and statements of an Ohio great-grandmother that was featured in an ad opposed to Issue 2.  The controversial ad edits her statements and spliced them with narration to make it appear that Ms. Quinn supports the issue.  She clearly does not and voiced outrage that the pro-business group would use her image to show otherwise.

The law firm of Cecil and Geiser opposes Issue 2 and supports the teachers, firefighters, law enforcement and others whose careers are at stake with this legislation.  Regardless of our position, neither side should be allowed to use the likeness  and comments of a citizen in such a way that it suggests the person has a view other than that which has been expressed.  If the pro-Issue 2 folks want to run an ad with their supporters, that is fine.  But to “steal” from a grandmother or anyone else, is unforgiveable.

With unsavory  tactics like this being employed by Pro-Issue 2 people, it makes you wonder what things will be like if Issue 2 is not defeated.