Stations Pull Ad Claiming Sherrod Brown Didn't Pay Tax Bill

Yahoo.com ^ | October 19, 2006 | WEWS

[reegs]

A television ad is causing controversy in the Senate race between Republican Mike DeWine and Democrat Sherrod Brown.

TV stations across the state, including WEWS, are no longer airing the ad sponsored by the Republican National Committee. At question is the accuracy of one of the key claims in the ad against Brown.

The RNC ad attacks Brown for what it says is a failure to pay an unemployment tax bill from 1993.

The ad is based on documents that show a lien was placed on an unpaid tax bill in 1993.

The Brown camp produced documents showing that the bill was paid four months later, but because of a clerical error, the lien wasn't lifted until last year.

The end result was that there was no 13-year delinquent tax bill, which is why many stations are no longer airing the ad.

"This is not a place where we can go legally or should go, but in this situation, since the ad was placed not by a candidate, not by Mr. DeWine but by the Republican Senate Committee, we thought it would probably be the best thing to do to encourage the ad be corrected," said WEWS general manager John Butte.

The RNC is standing by the ad. DeWine, who spoke to NewsChannel5 by phone, said if there is any controversy here, it's entirely Brown's fault.

"This was Sherrod Brown's mistake. He first didn't pay his taxes, then the state had to put a lien on and then he failed to file the proper paperwork to get the lien off," said DeWine.

Brown wasn't available for comment, but Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim Hagan, speaking for Brown, said that Brown applauds the decision to no longer air the ad and said even though DeWine didn't produce the commercial, he still should be held accountable for it.

[reegs]

More preferrable treatment from the lame-stream media for Sherrod Brown in the battleground state of Ohio.

[boxerblues]

"This was Sherrod Brown's mistake. He first didn't pay his taxes, then the state had to put a lien on and then he failed to file the proper paperwork to get the lien off," said DeWine.
Brown wasn't available for comment, but Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim Hagan, speaking for Brown, said that Brown applauds the decision to no longer air the ad and said even though DeWine didn't produce the commercial, he still should be held accountable for it.

He didn't pay when he should of nor did he file the proper paperwork to remove the lien but its Dewine fault for pointing it out.

Typical Dem response, its always someones else's fault

[libertylover]

TV stations across the state, including WEWS, are no longer airing the ad sponsored by the Republican National Committee. At question is the accuracy of one of the key claims in the ad against Brown.

Give me a break. Like they've ever been concerned about the accuracy of Democrat ads. I think what it is, they know it's true and they know it's hurting their candidate and so they're doing what they can to help.

[gridlock]

But what does this have to do with Mark Foley?

[TexasRedeye]

Actually, it is Carl Rove's fault!

[LS]

Don't misread this: it doesn't matter WHAT the station does, by pulling the ad, the ACTION now has become "mainstream" and newsworthy itself! The idiot Dems have shot themselves in the foot yet again.

[WhiteGuy]

He didn't pay when he should of nor did he file the proper paperwork to remove the lien but its Dewine fault for pointing it out.


Per a friend at the Dept of Job and Family Services -

The lien was filed against brown, not as a result of unpaid taxes, but on a late filing penalty. The taxes were paid as was the late filing fee, although both were considered "late."

The State of Ohio is very aggressive about filing liens, however, even after the tax bills are paid, the state does nothing to remove the lien.

Far too often, even after the proper paperwork is filed, and the proper fees are paid, the liens remain. In many cases for years.



I

[seasoned traditionalist]

Actually, it is Carl Rove's George Bush's fault!

Isn't EVERYTHING?

[mtntop3]

The tax was delinquent; the lien was not met until four months - four months - later. Brown allowed it to continue as a current account on the books through negligence, apathy, or incompetency - probably a combination of all.

This is a legitimate political aid getting to the core of Brown's competency to represent millions of citizens.

How in the hell can be be counted upon for defense of this nation and our families when he can not even simply see to the timely and proper resolving of his own tax-due??

For Brown and his staff to slough this off as "not his fault" makes for a metaphor of the whole liberal outlook: no accountability and sheer condescension toward mundane matters beneath their esteemed, lofty perch.