POLITICO MAFIOSO: What They Are Saying About McCain Campaign's New TV Ad "Buyer Beware"

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has released two new television ads attacking primary rival J.D. Hayworth for appearances in an infomercial in which the former Republican congressman pitched “free money” government grants.

The ads seize on a 2007 infomercial Hayworth appeared in that encourages viewers to apply for government funds they don’t have to pay back.

The first McCain ad calls Hayworth a “huckster” in criticizing his appearance in the infomercial.

“J.D. Hayworth was paid to star in an infomercial promising free government money,” the ad’s narrator said. “It was a scam.”

The second ad criticizes Hayworth’s attempt to defend his paid appearance.
“'I always say about any product or service, one of the staples I learned growing up is ‘caveat emptor’ — ‘buyer beware,’” Hayworth said during a recent online forum, which the ad highlights before the narrator cuts in to say, “Pork-barrel spender. Lobbyist. Huckster. Voter beware.”

McCain goes after Hayworth This and That Online Blog

Arizona Sen. John McCain has taken it up a notch with another campaign ad that targets his opponent in the GOP primary.

McCain had already released an ad that in effect called former congressman J.D. Hayworth a “huckster” for his appearance in a “free money” infomercial.

McCain releases two TV ads, is accused of 'character assassination' - CNN

(CNN) - Arizona Sen. John McCain released two television ads Monday that continue to hammer home his opponent's past ties to a dubious company that aired infomercials promising viewers information about "hundreds of billions of dollars in government funding."

The company – National Grants Conferences – has been criticized by the attorneys general of multiple states for deceptive marketing and has an "F" rating from the Southeast Florida and Caribbean Better Business Bureau.

J.D. Hayworth, a former Arizona congressman, who appeared in one of NGC's infomercials in 2007, didn't shy away from his involvement with the company during an political roundtable broadcast live online last month.

"I always say about any product or service, one of the staples I learned growing up is 'caveat emptor' - 'buyer beware,'" Hayworth said. "I think that is a given in any commercial endeavor. I would certainly hope in this one."

The McCain ads call Hayworth a "lobbyist," "pork barrel spender," and "huckster," and offer another take on Hayworth's statement: "Voters beware."

McCain ad: No question Hayworth is a 'huckster'- The Washington Post

But the new ad uses more of Hayworth's own words against him. While the first ad appeared to leave the "huckster" label up for debate by posing it as a question, this ad dispenses with the question mark and includes the warning "Voter Beware."

That phrase is a spin on Hayworth's original defense of his appearance in the ads. "One of the staples I learned growing up is caveat emptor, 'buyer beware,'" he said in a video Webcast, part of which was used for the McCain ad. "I think that is a given in any commercial endeavor -- I would certainly hope in this one." (After that Webcast, Hayworth issued an apology for appearing in the ad, calling it a "mistake.")