THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9610310318
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: DECISION '96
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 74 lines
A controversial political advertisement aimed at shepherding conservative Outer Banks Christians into the GOP fold has been pulled from the airwaves.
The Dare County Republican Party decided to remove the commercial Tuesday, but the commercial was aired as late as Wednesday morning.
The 30-second spot, which aired on WNHW-FM in Nags Head and WOBR-FM in Wanchese, was paid for and authorized by the Dare County Republican Party, and had been on the air since Friday.
From the ad:
``The Democrats seem to get hung up on rights for non-believers. Homosexuals. Rapists. Killers and assorted criminals rather than God-fearing people.
``That's why I'm voting mostly for Republicans . . .''
WNHW owner Ken Mann said he had received a number of calls from listeners concerning the ad.
``I would guess a lot,'' Mann said, when asked the number of calls. ``Not just here, but at my house,'' Mann said. ``The majority were concerned with the concept of the ad, but some were positive. Most of those who called professed to be Christians.''
Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr., a Democrat, expressed outrage at the ad.
``After hearing those ads, I'm proud I'm a Democrat,'' Owens said. ``I know a lot of good Republicans who don't agree with the ad being run. This generates hatred, and that's not what Dare County is all about.''
Owens, who is seeking re-election against Republican challenger Steve Sawin of Kill Devil Hills, called the commercial, ``Washington, D.C.-type tactics.''
``We're not used to that kind of politics in Dare County,'' Owens said.
Sawin said he has received a number of phone calls from Republican and Democratic voters angry about the ad. He also said he had called Owens to apologize for the commercial.
``I'm pained by this advertisement,'' Sawin said. ``Two days ago, I called Bobby Owens and apologized. I've gotten lots of calls, including one from a 70-year-old man who was personally hurt by the ad.''
Sawin added, ``I am personally not in favor of any ad that hurts people's feelings, especially innocent people who are not subjecting themselves to the political process.''
Dare County GOP Chairman George Embrey said Wednesday that several party members composed the commercial. ``But the final writing was done by me,'' Embrey said.
Under Federal Communications Commission regulations, radio stations have the option to run political ads, or they may decline. However, if they choose to run ads, they must run all ads, as long as they are not deemed libelous.
Embrey said the decision to pull the commercial was not made because of criticism from members of both parties. Rather, he contends it was part of a political strategy.
``I actually expected to get some negative comment Monday or Tuesday,'' Embrey said.
While he expected some negative fallout from the ad, Embrey did not expect it to have an adverse effect on Republican candidates.
Embrey, a former Washington correspondent for The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, said the ad was aimed at conservative Christians and Reagan Democrats.
``A lot of conservative Christians feel cut off from the process,'' Embrey said. ``We have to find a way to let them know they should be part of the political process and vote.
``This is simply part of our strategy to reach out to those conservative Christians and get them involved in the process.''
Of Dare County's 15,578 registered voters, 8,302 are registered Democrats, 4,816 are Republicans and 2,451 unaffiliated. Five voters are registered Libertarians.
``Our biggest problem as Republicans is voter apathy,'' Embrey said. ``Republicans are being told week after week after week that their presidential candidate doesn't have a chance. Our main effort is to get Republicans, Reagan Democrats and conservative Christians out to vote.''
KEYWORDS: POLITICAL ADVERTISING by CNB