Wisconsin Democrats Slam Van Orden for Alleged FCC Rule Violation in TV Ad

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Democrats accuse Rep. Derrick Van Orden's campaign of skirting FCC rules in a recent TV attack ad, demanding consequences and stricter enforcement.

In a contentious move that has drawn sharp criticism, Wisconsin Democrats are accusing U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden's campaign of violating Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules in a recent television advertisement targeting his opponent, Rebecca Cooke. The ad, jointly funded by Van Orden and the National Republican Congressional Committee, is said to fall short of federal requirements for political broadcast content, reigniting broader concerns about the Congressman’s adherence to legal and ethical standards.

Ad Accusations: A Breach of Federal Rules?

At the heart of the controversy is an FCC rule mandating that a political candidate’s image must be displayed alongside a clear, printed statement identifying the candidate and authorizing committee for a minimum of four seconds at the end of a televised advertisement. The ad in question features Van Orden's image and the requisite statement but falls short of the four-second requirement, displaying these elements for only about 2.5 seconds.

Wisconsin Democrats have seized on this discrepancy, calling on television stations that aired the ad to charge Van Orden’s campaign the full price for the advertisements, as opposed to the discounted rates typically offered to political ads in the run-up to elections. William Garcia, chair of the 3rd Congressional District Democrats, underscored the call for accountability, stating, “Running attack ads without the required disclosures is the kind of sleazy, DC politics that we’ve all come to expect from Derrick Van Orden, and it’s time to turn the page.”

A Pattern of Controversy

This is not the first time Van Orden has come under fire for conduct perceived as disrespectful of rules and norms. His track record includes a series of incidents that have drawn public and media scrutiny, including crossing police lines during the January 6 Capitol riot, attempting to bring a loaded firearm onto a plane in Iowa, and publicly berating Senate pages and library volunteers. Democrats argue that these actions, along with the recent FCC violation, paint a picture of a politician who believes the rules do not apply to him.

Garcia's statement highlighted a recurring theme in the criticism of Van Orden: that his actions reflect a disregard for the principles of fairness and decency valued by Wisconsinites. "When you break the rules, there need to be consequences,” Garcia said, urging broadcasters to enforce the FCC's guidelines and charge the Van Orden campaign the full market rate for the ad in question.

Van Orden's Response: Shifting the Focus

The Van Orden campaign has pushed back against the accusations, with a spokesperson dismissing the claims as a distraction. Instead of addressing the specific FCC rule violation, the spokesperson accused Rebecca Cooke of involvement with a dark money group that supports defunding the police—a charge Cooke has previously denied. This tactic mirrors a broader strategy often employed by Van Orden and his allies: redirecting criticism and focusing on alleged misconduct by opponents rather than addressing the criticisms head-on.

Rebecca Cooke's campaign manager, Alex Obolensky, echoed the Democratic Party’s frustration, framing Van Orden's actions as part of a broader pattern of rule-breaking and disregard for the public's trust. “This is just the latest instance of Derrick Van Orden showing he thinks he’s above the rules and that they don’t apply to him as they do everyone else in Wisconsin,” Obolensky said, contrasting Van Orden’s tactics with Cooke’s focus on policy issues like healthcare access and economic relief.

The Stakes: Enforcement and Fair Play

Under FCC rules, any candidate failing to meet the specified requirements for televised political ads is not entitled to the discounted rates available within 60 days of an election. This regulation aims to ensure a level playing field by imposing financial penalties on campaigns that do not adhere to the transparency standards set by the FCC.

Garcia’s letter to television stations emphasizes this point, calling for immediate action to rectify the situation by imposing full-rate charges on Van Orden’s campaign for the offending ad as well as all future political ads leading up to the November election. The letter argues that failure to enforce these rules not only undermines federal law but also perpetuates a culture of disregard for fair play in political advertising.

A Broader Battle for Credibility

The allegations against Van Orden underscore the increasingly acrimonious nature of the race in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District. As both sides ramp up their campaigns, the dispute over the FCC rules violation adds another layer of complexity to a contest already marked by sharp ideological divides and personal attacks.

For Wisconsin voters, the controversy is yet another reminder of the high stakes involved as they head to the polls. With both sides digging in, the outcome may hinge on which candidate succeeds in convincing the electorate that they represent the true values of the district: integrity, respect for the rule of law, and a commitment to fair play.

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