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AD WATCH: Carney’s clean hit
Congressman Chris Carney (D-10) used a recent TV ad to paint a searing portrait of Republican Tom Marino as ethically suspect to the extreme.
The 30-second spot is nothing if not harsh. But after carefully reviewing the facts, we find it to be worthy of our highest score, SQUEAKY CLEAN. It is the first ad to be awarded this score.
[Click here to read more about our AD WATCH fact-checking series and the different scores.]
The ad, embedded at bottom opens with a narrator asking simply, and ominously:
What’s Tom Marino hiding?
The ad goes on to note that while U.S. Attorney, Marino provided a reference for Louis DeNaples’ gaming reference even his office was investigating the wealthy businessman (it does not mention DeNaples by name, but rather refers to him only as a “convicted felon”). The ad continues:
Marino says he was authorized to give the felon a reference, and has a letter to prove it. But, he refuses to release the letter. Why give a convicted felon a personal reference unless you wanted to work for him? In fact, Marino did—for a quarter-million dollars a year.
Marino’s campaign has called the ad “misleading.” But it has not provided any specifics as to how the ad is misleading, and the facts are difficult to dispute. Marino, who now acknowledges a long-standing relationship with DeNaples, does not deny giving DeNaples the reference for his gaming application. He told a radio talk-show host in April that he had authorization, and his campaign manager, speaking for Marino, said a letter documenting that would be released.
The ad hit the airwaves before Marino said last week he didn’t have authorization to release the letter—and before an Associated Press report indicated it may not exist.
And Marino has not denied making just cents shy of $250,000 as a private attorney for DeNaples, a sum documented in his financial disclosures. Only Marino himself knows if he provided the reference specifically to get work later. But Carney’s campaign is not explicitly saying that’s the case—it’s only raising the question.
As to DeNaples, some may question referring to him as a “convicted felon,” since he pled no contest to conspiracy in a 1978 fraud case. But as long as a judgment is entered and a sentence stipulated by a judge—as it was in this case—the law views a no-contest felony plea as equivalent to a disposition of conviction.
Sometimes, facts condensed to 30 seconds of TV time just sound bad.
September 20, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Tags: AD WATCH, Chris Carney, PA-10, Tom Marino
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Bill Greenlaw
Sep 20th, 2010
Bottom line:
“Misleading”:
-A nice way to describe Marino
-An inaccurate way to describe this ad
Ouch
Sep 20th, 2010
This is reason #1 why you need to vet your candidates before getting behind them for election. The NRCC was quick to back Marino but has been apparently blindsided by these revelations. Had they done their homework they could have either gotten to the bottom of this and had an effective response to blunt these charges or gone with another candidate entirely. What a disaster. This election should be a referendum on Carney’s voting record, but instead they made the biggest mistake possible: they’ve allowed the incumbent to make it a referendum on the challenger instead.
The Lizard
Sep 20th, 2010
Good observation from Ouch. Unfortunately for Ouch, the NRCC and Republicans in general, running a “generic” Republican against a “generic” Democrat only gets you so far down the road. Looks good in early polling, but the generics now have names, faces, baggage and, in the case of Marino, a tongue he just can’t seem to keep from tripping over. Marino can’t raise money, is sitting on the Social Security “third rail” with his remarks about cutting benefits, and he left public service to go to work for a felon – convicted or not. Carney’s voting record, regardless of your political persuasion, looks good next to this.
Washington Insideouter
Sep 20th, 2010
Unfortunately, the truth is, the NRCC KNEW about Marinos baggage and supported him anyway. Why? Because that’s who was pushed to them by the political insiders. “Won’t be an issue”, says Jerry Morgan. “He’s the guy, it’s his turn” says Pat Salano. That’s what happens when the “good old boys network” is your “ears on the ground”.
And what do the voters get? Losers like Mike Castle, Lisa Murkowski, Arlen Spectre, and last election cycle in the 10th district, Dan Meuser. Well, this year is the wake-up call thanks to groups like the Tea Party who want true conservatives, not the same old same old.
The primary in PA was to early to catch the true wave of voter discontent, and if Marino wins, he will be the beneficiary of that discontent, and he just mauy get in through no fault of his own, but if the R’s don’t win this seat, it will be entirely his fault (and those who pushed him to the NRCC).
Sam
Sep 21st, 2010
I was with you for most of your response Washington Insideouter, until you gave credit to the tea party. They aren’t doing a better job of picking candidates without baggage than the establishment.
The primary in the 10th wasn’t about true Conservatives vs non true Conservatives. All of the candidates were Conservative, but the Old Boys network for some reason thought that voters wouldnt care about Marino’s multitude of issues (that have nothing to do with his political views). Those guys will be to blame if the Republicans cant win this easy pick-up.
Vote AGAINST Carney
Sep 21st, 2010
Can someone please prove to me that Marino ever said that he had a letter from the DOJ giving him permission to give a reference? I believe the Carney campaign and his supporters are twisting what was said. Marino has said that he was cleared by DOJ to go to work for DeNaples after he left the DOJ… nothing about a reference.
What is wrong with an attorney making a living? I know plenty of lawyers who make much more than $250,000 a year.
About DeNaples… can anyone tell me how many jobs he has created in NEPA? Now, how many jobs has Carney created?
Malcolm Derk or David Madeira would crush Carney in November but the GOP has Marino. Carney isn’t going to lose because the voters want Marino; he is going to lose because the voters are sick of our Representative acting like a conservative while he is in his conservative district but voting like a crazed liberal while in Washington.
Vote AGAINST Chris Carney on November 2nd.
Ada
Sep 21st, 2010
I agree with Vote against Carney. Carney has voted with Peolsi’s agenda too many times. Fact: he voted for the 862 billion stimulus, FactL he voted for cap & trade, factL he approved taxpayer funding of planned parenthood, Fact: he voted for taxpayer funded abortion by voting for Obamacare, fact: he voted for TAR. CARNEY=LIBERAL. no mistake about that.
Bill Greenlaw
Sep 29th, 2010
Letter or not, this Marino acted improperly (even the Bush administration wanted him out):
2002: Tom Marino, appointed by the Bush administration, is sworn in as U.S. Attorney for Middle District of Pennsylvania.
2004: Federal investigation into felon Louis DeNaples begins. The case is assigned to Marino’s office.
Dec. 2005: Marino writes personal reference for the casino application of Louis DeNaples who is under investigation by his office.
Jan. 2006: A Justice Department official (in the Bush administration) includes Marino on a list of “problem” prosecutors and tells a colleague she is “not sure about” him.
Sept. 13, 2006: D. Kyle Sampson, the chief of staff to then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales (appointed by President Bush), places Marino’s name on a list of U.S. Attorneys the department “should consider pushing out.”
Nov. 2006: Sampson places Marino’s name on another list of targeted prosecutors.
Jan. 2007: Marino discloses relationship with felon Louis DeNaples to the Justice Department and is ordered to withdraw from the active investigation into DeNaples. Investigation of DeNaples transferred to US District attorney office in Binghapton, NY.
Aug. 21, 2007: The Allentown Morning Call breaks news that Marino had served as reference on felon’s (Louis DeNaples’s) casino application and was forced to withdraw from probe.
Aug. 24, 2007: The Allentown Morning Call reports that Marino will resign, three days after story breaks about his withdrawal from probe and the reference he provided for Louis DeNaples.
Oct. 2007: Marino resigns
Jan. 2008: Marino goes to work for Louis DeNaples, making $249,999.96 a year.