Channel won't air Democrats' ads

Saying Democrats didn't back up claims critical of Republicans, a cable channel official decides not to air the spots.

TALLAHASSEE - Florida Democrats tried to launch a modest TV attack against Republicans Wednesday, but a cable news channel refused to air the spots, calling them "inflammatory" and questioning their accuracy.

The two Florida Democratic Party ads criticizing Gov. Jeb Bush and House Speaker Johnnie Byrd are based largely on news accounts.

One accuses Bush of "threatening" Republican lawmakers to approve a malpractice bill. The other criticizes Byrd for soliciting campaign contributions in special sessions with a picture of the Plant City lawmaker, the words "stop unethical fundraising" and the speaker's office phone number.

"I just think it's inappropriate to put allegations on the air that we cannot confirm the accuracy of," said Bob Brillante, managing partner of Florida News Channel, who personally pulled the ads off the air.

He said Democrats failed to back up claims in the ad, such as a reference to Bush using "threats of reprisals and strong-arm tactics" and Byrd holding fundraisers while the Legislature was in session.

"That's news to me," Brillante said.

Bush's hardball approach with senators has been outlined in e-mails, including one bearing the governor's name. The governor disapproved of an e-mail written by a deputy chief of staff who endorsed the idea of unseating some GOP senators.

Byrd has never disputed that he has hosted or supported legislative fundraisers during special sessions.

Florida Democratic Party chairman Scott Maddox said Brillante was "ignorant of the facts" and accused the station of bowing to pressure.

"There's nothing factually inaccurate in the ads whatsoever," Maddox said.

Most people in Florida will never see the ads anyway. The Democrats bought $500 worth of air time on a cable news outlet that reaches 400,000 homes. The station is not available in Tampa, Miami, Orlando and other major cities.

When Florida News Channel refused to air the ads, Maddox said, the party rushed the ads on Tallahassee's Comcast cable system, which agreed to run them.

Frank Watson, general manager of the news channel, said Democrats paid $500 for 21 spots over a three-day period. "I thought it was a statewide kind of thing," Watson said. "I'm surprised we're the only one."

Bush has clashed repeatedly with senators in his party over medical malpractice, and Byrd solicited large campaign donations from lobbyists for a political committee that can accept unrestricted "soft money" donations. Byrd is a candidate for the U.S. Senate but he can't spend that money on a federal race. He says he will stop raising soft money now that he's running for the Senate.

Bush's office asked Democrats to help him solve the malpractice issue.

"Eighty percent of Floridians understand there's an access to health care crisis in the state," a statement said. "The Democratic Party would certainly do well if they joined him in addressing this important issue as soon as possible."

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