KUER News Transcript: November 1, 2000
By Vince Pearson

HOST: With just days to go before the November 2000 election, the race for Utah's 2nd congressional district is heating up the airwaves. The Republican Party and their candidate Derek Smith, have released a torrent ads that some are calling negative. Now Democrat Jim Matheson is trying to use that strategy against them. He's got his own ad out attacking negative ads. KUER's Vince Pearson has more.

MATHESON: "I've been predicting from the beginning of this campaign that negative ads and negative campaigning would come into this race. Well here we go. The negative attacks have intensified. They have spewed political toxic waste into our homes and they should be ashamed."

PEARSON: Democrat Jim Matheson spoke with visible emotion at a press conference the day the ads were released. He says new ads from Derek Smith, the Republican Party and other special interests are attacking his character and distorting his positions. The ads don't go after Matheson for his stands on the issues, he says instead they try and link him to Democratic stereotypes.

AD: "Jim Matheson supports Al Gore and a Democrat - controlled Congress. To Utah, that means larger government, higher taxes, and health care that limits our choices and federal control of our schools."

MATHESON: "I don't want higher taxes, I don't want bigger government, I don't want federal control of education or health care and Derrick Smith knows my positions."

The Derek Smith campaign ad features a full frontal image of Matheson Banners with the words larger government, higher taxes, limited health care and federal control of schools climb up to his chin, one block at a time. But Derek Smith says he's not saying these are Matheson's positions. Just that House Republicans have a slim six - seat majority, and electing Matheson might put the Democrats back in control of the House.

SMITH: "My ads are making the point that, while, if you listen to Jim and I in debates we sound pretty similar on fiscal policy. But it takes more than just a fiscal plan, it takes a team back in Washington to actually make those plans reality."

Smith's ad embodies a national Republican strategy to focus on partisanship, over the individual qualities of a candidate, and a new ad from the Utah Republican party reflects the same strategy.

AD: "It's an important time in the America. It's a time when we'll make crucial decisions about our nation's future. Will the Boy Scouts be forced to accept homosexual leaders? Will we work to stop abortion? Who will control our children's education? Whose values will lead us through the next century? Call Jim Matheson. Tell him to return money from people opposed to Utah's values."

The GOP ad also features a picture of Jim Matheson. Flashing along the bottom of the screen are the names of liberal groups and individuals who have contributed to Matheson's campaign. They range from Jane Fonda, to the AFL-CIO, to the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights organization.

Scott Simpson is the executive director of the Utah Republican Party.

SIMPSON: "Basically it says these are people that are contributing to the Jim Matheson campaign. We are hoping voters will ask themselves the question -- why? Why are they contributing to Jim Matheson?"

For the record: Matheson does not favor compelling the Boy Scouts to accept homosexual leaders. He does support a woman's right to choose abortion, but favors banning late - term abortions. Smith is opposed to abortions except in the case of rape, incest or to protect a woman's life. But to the point, Matheson vehemently rejects the notion that his contributors say anything about how he would vote in Congress.

MATHESON: "I think it is important to note that I have a broad range of support from across the political spectrum and I think that broad range of support I have indicates that as a member of Congress I'm going to be prepared to represent everyone in the 2nd District."

Because the ads rely on innuendo and indirect comparisons, Matheson considers the Republican ad strategy dishonorable. But University of Utah Communications Professor Dennis Alexander sees the distinction between the Derek Smith ad about a Democratic Congress and the GOP ad about Matheson's contributors. Alexander views the GOP attack ad as slightly unsavory.

ALEXANDER: "The Republican Party ad was real close to crossing a line in Utah politics and that line is that while we'll create negative advertising we won't speak ill of the other candidate. We'll try and talk about what is wrong with their programs, their strategies, their issues. And what you find in that one with innuendo about homosexuality and other Utah values... It becomes a lot more an attack on the individual."

Because the GOP ad was paid for with soft money, the Derek Smith campaign was not consulted before it aired. That's in accordance with Federal Election Commission rules. But there are some who have criticized Smith for not publicly disavowing the GOP ad. Matheson hopes to capitalize on that sentiment with a new ad released last week.

MATHESON: "I was always taught to respect everyone, including an opponent. But this time Derek Smith has gone too far. These kinds of personal attacks are what's wrong with politics. Announcer: We know Jim Matheson. We know his family and his values. And we all know these negative attacks are wrong -- and yet they continue. This year Utah voters can elect someone with integrity and character. Jim Matheson, a Congressman who will make us proud."

Analysts note that the Matheson ad attempts to take a high road, which assumes most voters don't like negative ads. But it’s not clear whether Matheson's strategy will outweigh the questions raised by the Republicans. As Dennis Alexander tells his students: Negative ads are like car crashes. They do get people's attention. I'm Vince Pearson, KUER News.

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