“Politics as usual”
Ad sponsor: Jared Polis campaign
Producer: The Campaign Group
Type and length: 30-second TV spot
Airing: Districtwide
In the first candidate-sponsored attack ad before the 2nd Congressional District primary, the Polis campaign chides Joan Fitz-Gerald for negative campaigning and her ties to oil-and-gas interests.
Claim: “Joan Fitz-Gerald’s resorted to a negative campaign attacking Democrat Jared Polis.”
Fact: The ad was paid for by Colorado Counts, a new 527 political organization, and continues to air. The Fitz-Gerald campaign has distanced itself from the negative ad attacking Polis’ support of charter schools and revamping the No Child Left Behind Act.
Claim: “Negative ads run by oil lobbyists — no wonder.”
Fact: Steve Adams, a former AFL-CIO chief, heads the 527 group that paid for the negative ad attacking Polis. Fitz-Gerald has long had the backing of major unions in the state. Adams’ employer, Colorado Communique, lobbies for oil and energy interests at the state level.
Claim: “It was Joan Fitz-Gerald who sponsored a law to increase oil- company profits.”
Fact: In 2002, Senate Bill 141 would have increased oil-company profits by requiring landowners and royalty holders to share the cost of transporting and processing natural gas with energy companies. Fitz-Gerald signed on to the bill as a co-sponsor but was not the main sponsor.
Claim: “And Joan Fitz-Gerald is the only candidate to accept thousands from big-oil, special-interest PACs.”
Fact: While technically true, no candidate in the race is free from oil money. Fitz-Gerald has accepted at least $35,000 from oil-and-gas interests this season, according to financial disclosures. Polis has invested hundreds of thousands of his personal wealth in oil and gas companies, reaping undisclosed profits from them.
Claims are: MOSTLY FALSE
Jessica Fender, The Denver Post
