Knowlegis

Claims Dept: DSCC's 'Travel' ad on Dole

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:29:34 -0400

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's latest ad criticizes U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole for her her work promoting Senate candidates in 2006.

What the ad says: Dole is shown flying in a cartoon biplane with President Bush over a map of the country. Narrator: "Where's Elizabeth Dole been? Campaigning for George Bush's policies. In 2006, she traveled to Pennsylvania, Washington, New Jersey, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Tennessee, Michigan, Arizona, Ohio, Missouri, Virginia. Twelve states for Bush, while records show Dole spent only 13 days in North Carolina. The year before: Only 20 days. No wonder she's ranked 93rd in effectiveness. Elizabeth Dole. She'll travel the country for George Bush ... but she's not getting the job done for us. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising."

The background: In 2006, Dole served as head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, a Washington-based group that helps Republican Senate candidates get elected.

On behalf of the group, Dole visited the 12 states mentioned in the ad, according to contemporary newspaper accounts and an official e-mail from Dole.

There are no formal ties between the group and Bush, although the president would have benefited from Republican control of the Senate.

The Winston-Salem Journal recently analyzed tax-paid travel records, news releases and media coverage to determine how many days Dole spent 13 days in North Carolina in 2006 and 20 days in 2005.

Dole said the newspaper didn't count all the time's she's been to the state at her own expense, although she could not provide documentation of those visits.

The Congressional data service Knowlegis ranked Dole 93rd in the Senate in 2007 in its annual study of effectiveness.

Is the ad accurate? Mostly. The descriptions of Dole's effectiveness, the states she visited in 2006 and the days she spent in North Carolina are accurate. But it is misleading to say that Dole traveled the country for President Bush.

Claims Dept: DSCC's 'Mess' ad

bniolet — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:03:56 -0400

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is running a television ad that says Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole is out of touch and ineffective.

What the ad says: Announcer: "She’s part of the Washington mess. Elizabeth Dole voted with George Bush 92 percent. No wonder Elizabeth Dole’s ranked 93rd in effectiveness.

"She’s simply out of touch. Two years ago, records show she spent just 13 days in North Carolina. The year before, only 20 days. Papers call Dole an 'absentee senator,' 'ineffective,' a 'disappointment.'

"Elizabeth Dole. Just not getting the job done.

"The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising."

The ad flashes text echoing the announcer's claims and photographs of Dole, including a shot of her with President Bush.

The background: Washington-based news service Congressional Quarterly compiles yearly figures for how often senators vote with the stated position of the president. The 92 percent figure comes from an average of the yearly scores for Dole, though Congressional Quarterly researchers says that method is inaccurate. Based on its overall score through August, they say the correct figure for Dole is 88 percent. The effectiveness ranking comes from an annual study conducted by the data service Knowlegis. It ranked Dole 93 in the Senate for 2008. The ranking is based on analysis of criteria including news articles, bills, amendments, committee and caucus positions, campaign contributions and earmarks, according to Knowlegis.

The claim about her visits to the state is based on a story by The Winston-Salem Journal that analyzed tax paid travel records, news releases and media coverage. Dole said the paper didn't count all the times she's been to the state at her own expense and that the story punished her for paying her own way to North Carolina.

The quotes from newspapers were taken from unsigned editorials in The Asheville Citizen-Times and The Charlotte Observer that endorsed state Sen. Kay Hagan, the Democratic nominee.

Is it accurate? Not entirely. The methodology for calculating Dole's voting record is inaccurate. Using Senate records to track her visits to the state would not include times she paid her own way.

Claims Dept: DSCC's 'Bear' ad on Dole

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:24:57 -0400

A new ad from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee attacks U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole on a number of votes.

What it says: The ad shows images of Dole and an Alaskan landscape, including a brown bear. Narrator: "Why is Elizabeth Dole ranked 93rd in effectiveness? She voted for millions in pork, including Alaska's bridge to nowhere. But for North Carolina? She voted with George Bush 92 percent. Against raising the minimum wage time after time. Against helping families struggling to keep their homes. For the largest cut ever in student loans. Elizabeth Dole, fighting for ... Alaska? Definitely out of touch with North Carolina. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising."

The background: The ad makes several claims about Dole's voting record.

BRIDGE TO NOWHERE: Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens requested an earmark in the 2006 budget for the proposed $398 million Gravina Island Bridge, nicknamed the "Bridge to Nowhere" by detractors because it serves an island with just 50 residents.

In October of 2005, Republican Sen. Tom Coburn proposed an amendment to the bill that would have shifted $75 million from the bridge and another project in Alaska to the rebuilding of a bridge destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

The amendment failed, 15-82, with Dole voting against it.

Congress later stripped the earmark, but gave the state of Alaska an equivalent amount of money for any use it considered appropriate.

MINIMUM WAGE: Starting in 2005, Senate Democrats attempted to raise the federal minimum wage.

In March, Sen. Ted Kennedy proposed raising it by $2.10 over the following 26 months. As a counterproposal, Republican Sen. Rick Santorum proposed raising it by $1.10 over 18 months while exempting more businesses.

Either would have been the first increase in the federal minimum wage since 1997.

The amendments both came on a bill overhauling bankruptcy regulations. Both proposals could have complicated efforts to pass the overhaul, since House leaders had said they would only consider the bill if the Senate did not add unrelated amendments.

The Kennedy amendment failed, 46-49, while the Santorum amendment failed, 38-61. Dole voted against the first amendment, but for the second.

In October, Senate Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to raise the minimum wage by $1.10 an hour over 18 months. Dole voted against that raise as well.

After Democrats gained control of the Senate in 2006, they pushed the minimum wage hike again. Dole voted for the first, which was never signed into law. The wage hike was later included in an emergency spending bill that Dole voted for as well.

ENERGY ASSISTANCE: The fine print on the section of the ad on struggling families cites a vote on home energy asistance.

In 2006, Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine proposed spending an additional $1 billion in the 2007 budget for one-time assistance to people who need help paying their heating and cooling bills.

Dole voted against an amendment on the measure, which later passed by a voice vote.

Spokesman Dan McLagan said Dole objected to how the money would be spent.

"The vast majority of the package was aimed at cold-weather states," he said. "All this money was going to go to northern states for a winter that had been mild, versus southern states that had a hot summer."

In 2008, Dole successfully pushed another measure for more spending on the same energy assistance program. She received an award for her efforts from the National Fuel Funds Network, a nonprofit coalition of energy assistance providers.

CREDIT COUNSELING: In April, Democratic Sen. Patty Murray proposed spending another $100 million on foreclosure counseling this year.

At the time, Congress had already budgeted $180 million for credit counselors.

Murray argued that spending more to prevent homeowners from going into foreclosure was "a smart investment," although it would require suspending budget rules that require any new spending to be matched by an equal cut somewhere else.

Senate Republicans argued that they needed to investigate whether the money was being spent appropriately before budgeting more. If more was spent, they argued it should be done through the regular budget process, not an amendment.

The amendment failed 44-40, with Dole voting against it.

PREVIOUS CLAIMS: Washington-based news service Congressional Quarterly compiles yearly figures for how often senators vote with the stated position of the president. The 92 percent figure comes from an average of the yearly scores for Dole, though Congressional Quarterly researchers says that method is inaccurate. Based on its overall score through August, they say the correct figure for Dole is 88 percent. The effectiveness ranking comes from an annual study conducted by the data service Knowlegis.

Is it accurate? Some of the claims are true: Dole voted against a measure to strip funding for the "Bridge to Nowhere," her effectiveness ranking was 93rd, and she voted against more credit counseling for families facing foreclosure. Two other claims are missing context: She voted against raising the minimum wage and providing more energy assistance, though she later voted for both. In addition, the vote on energy assistance had little to do with foreclosure. The figure for her votes with President Bush is off by a few percentage points.

Claims Dept: Dole's response

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:39:52 -0400

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's campaign has a new ad responding to an earlier ad responding to an earlier ad from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

What the ad says: The ad begins with a clip from an anti-Dole ad: "'I'm telling you Liddy Dole is 93.' '93?'" It moves to a profile image of Dole and then images of people involved with the military, farming and law enforcement. Narrator: "Does Kay Hagan think we believe that? Elizabeth Dole's got firepower. She just received the Best of Congress award. She saved our military bases and thousands of jobs -- saved our farmers -- and gave sheriffs tools to fight illegal immigration." Person on a park bench: "She's dedicated her life to helping us." Dole: "I'm Elizabeth Dole, and I approved this message."

The background: The opening clip is from an ad paid for by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, an independent group legally prohibited from coordinating with Kay Hagan's campaign. It is not a Hagan ad, though Hagan has made the same criticism.

DOLE AT 93: The "93" criticism refers to an annual study conducted since 2005 by the Congressional data service Knowlegis. The study ranks members of Congress on their power.

After scoring in the middle of the pack the first two years, Dole's rating plummeted to 93rd when Republicans became the minority in the Senate in 2007.

Her rating was also low due to fewer mentions in the news media and service on less powerful committees on banking and armed services.

Dole's campaign says those committees are important to North Carolina, home to a number of banks and military bases.

BEST OF CONGRESS: Working Mother magazine named Dole one of the "Best of Congress" in August. The award is not a general look at effectiveness. It measures lawmakers' support for issues important to working mothers, including medical leave, and their support for "family-friendly" policies in their own offices.

Fifty lawmakers applied for the award. The magazine gave it to 24 of them.

MILITARY BASES: The U.S. Department of Defense announced a round of base closings and other changes in 2005 as part of a regular program begun at the end of the Cold War. The multi-year process is designed to be insulated from political pressure.

Some North Carolina leaders had feared the loss of thousands of jobs — something that never materialized. A number of politicians, including Dole and Democratic Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, have claimed credit for North Carolina's relative success, but there is no way to quantify how much each helped.

FARMERS: In 2004, Congress and President Bush approved a buyout of the Depression-era system of price supports — or quotas — for tobacco leaf. Cigarette companies financed the buyout, passing on the costs to consumers.

The buyout is designed to put $9.6 billion into the pockets of quota owners and growers over 10 years. Some farmers have used the money to reinvest in the crop, while others chose to change crops or retire.

Dole supported the buyout during her 2002 campaign and was a vocal advocate in Congress, along with other senators from tobacco-growing states.

SHERIFFS: Since 1996, the federal government has offered a test program for sheriff's deputies to investigate illegal immigration.

Though immigration enforcement is typically handled by the federal government, the goal of the 287(g) program is to start deportation proceedings on illegal immigrants who are arrested for non-immigration related crimes.

In North Carolina, a handful of sheriffs' offices, including Mecklenburg and Wake counties, have signed up for the program, which Dole has promoted.

The federal government pays for the cost of training deputies in immigration enforcement and grants sheriffs' offices access to immigration records.

Is the ad accurate? The ad implies incorrectly that Hagan's campaign sponsored the ad attacking Dole. It also omits any detail on the "Best of Congress" award, and there is no way to quantify her role in helping the state's military bases. Otherwise, it is accurate.

— David Ingram and Ryan Teague Beckwith

Claims Dept: Is Dole 92 or 93?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:14:45 -0400

A recent TV ad by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee questions U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's effectiveness and support for President Bush.

What it says: Two men are sitting on rocking chairs in front of an old country store. "I'm telling you, Liddy Dole is 93." "93?" "Yep, she ranks 93rd in effectiveness." "After 40 years in Washington?" "After 40 years in Washington, Dole is 93rd in effectiveness, right near the bottom." "I've read she's 92." "Didn't I just tell you she's 93?" "No, 92 percent of the time she votes with Bush." "What's happened to the Liddy Dole I knew?" "She's just not a go-getter, like you and me." A narrator then adds: "The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising."

The background: Dole has worked in Washington in the late 1960s, serving on the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Secretrary of Transportation under President Reagan and U.S. Secretary of Labor under President George H.W. Bush.

In 2002, she was elected U.S. senator from North Carolina.

In her first year in office, Dole voted with President Bush 98 percent of the time, according to an annual study of Senate votes tied to a clear presidential position done by Washington-based news service Congressional Quarterly.

Over the next four years, Dole's support of Bush declined to 85 percent, but her five-year average of support is 91.6 percent.

An annual study conducted since 2005 by the Congressional data service Knowlegis ranks members of Congress on their effectiveness.

After scoring in the middle of the pack the first two years, Dole's rating plummeted to 93rd when Republicans became the minority in the Senate in 2007.

Her rating was also low due to fewer mentions in the news media and service on less powerful committees on banking and armed services.

Dole's campaign notes that those committees are important to North Carolina, home to a number of banks and military bases.

"I've seen hundreds of senators come and go," argued her husband Bob at a recent event. "In both parties, I've seen good senators and I know how they work. You have a work horse and a show horse, and Elizabeth's in the work horse category."

As a side note, the ad subtly implies that Dole is in her 90s. She is actually 72.

Is the ad accurate? Yes, except for the implication about her age.

Claims Dept: DSCC on Dole's effectiveness

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:16:35 -0400

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, a Democratic group that runs independent ads in Senate races, is airing a TV ad attacking U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's effectiveness.

What it says: Portraits of all 100 sitting senators are shown as the camera zooms in on Dole. The ad then shows images of Dole speaking alongside high gas prices, a closed factory and the U.S. border. It ends with pictures of the Capitol and the Watergate, where Dole lives. A female narrator speaks: "A recent nonpartisan report ranks U.S. senators in terms of effectiveness. Where does Elizabeth Dole rank? 93rd. Senator Dole was ranked 93rd in effectiveness. Only six other senators ranked less effective. She can't fix gas prices from 93rd place or create jobs. And she sure hasn't fixed immigration from 93rd place. Elizabeth Dole. After 40 years in Washington, not as effective as you might think. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising."

The background: Since 2005, a Congressional data service called Knowlegis has ranked members of Congress on their power.

The nonpartisan company uses several measures: position in Congress, ability to indirectly influence colleagues through the media and actual effects on legislation. In 2007, it added the number and amount of earmarks secured.

In the first two years, Dole was in the middle of the pack, ranking 56th and 46th. But with Republicans in the minority last year, her effectiveness ranking plummeted to 93rd.

Because the Senate is run along party and seniority lines, Dole suffered as a first-term Republican, though others also elected in 2002 did not do as poorly, said Knowlegis cofounder Brad Fitch.

She fared poorly on the indirect influence measure, which tallies prominent mentions in major newspapers and stints on Sunday talk shows.

And she was hurt by her position on two committees — banking and armed services — that are not considered powerful but are important to North Carolina, home to a number of banks and military bases.

Dole did well on earmarks and her ability to pass legislation, however.

Knowlegis awards "sizzle points" as a bonus to high-profile senators who garner more attention than their colleagues, but it did not give Dole any for being a former presidential candidate, two-time Cabinet secretary and wife of a former senator.

"Almost every senator comes to the Senate with a pretty impressive resume," Fitch said.

Dole's campaign said that the ads were part of "an untruthful, negative and nasty campaign" by Democratic rival Kay Hagan, though the ads are being run by a third party.

"Senator Dole is a proven, effective leader for North Carolina while Mrs. Hagan only offers nothing but negative false attacks," said spokesman Dan McLagan.

Is the ad accurate? Yes, though even a senator with a higher ranking would have trouble fixing immigration or lowering gas prices on her own.

Dole ranked eighth of '02 senators

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:15:02 -0400

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole also ranks poorly compared to the rest of her class.

Of the nine senators elected in 2002 still in office, Dole is ranked eighth in power rankings put together by the nonpartisan Congressional data company Knowlegis.

Here's the ranks of her classmates:

Lamar Alexander: 32nd
Lindsey Graham: 60th
Saxby Chambliss: 61st
Mark Pryor: 62nd
John Cornyn: 80th
Norm Coleman: 82nd
John Sununu: 89th
Elizabeth Dole: 93rd
Lisa Murkowski: 96th

Except for Pryor, all of Dole's 2002 classmates are Republicans.

Knowlegis cofounder Brad Fitch said that comparing senators to others who took office in the same year is the best way to gauge their power, since seniority gives senators more power.

Dole hurt by party, committees

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:59:48 -0400

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's political party and committee assignments have hurt her power ranking.

According to the cofounder of Knowlegis, she dropped to 93rd place in the company's annual rating of U.S. senators in 2007 for three major reasons: 1) Democrats took power, 2) she no longer headed the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and 3) her committee assignments are relatively weak.

But Brad Fitch, who helped develop the formula behind the rankings in 2005, pointed out that they don't necessarily factor in everything.

As an example, he noted that Dole's positions on the Senate committees on banking and armed services did not win her many "power points," though both would be important in North Carolina, home to a number of banks and military bases.

Fitch said Dole did poorly on its measure of Sunday talk show guests and prominent quotes in major newspapers, but she did well on getting earmarks and adding amendments to major legislation.

Although he is sometimes lobbied to award her bonus "sizzle points" for being a Cabinet secretary, wife of a former senator and a former presidential candidate, he said a focus group of Senate chiefs of staff said those were not considered major bonuses.

"Almost every senator comes to the Senate with a pretty impressive resume," he said. "They're either a captain of industry, a high-profile House member or a Cabinet official as in Dole's case. If we passed out sizzle points for that, we'd be passing them out to everyone."

Dole's power ranking slipped in '07

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:47:51 -0400

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's ranking dropped drastically in 2007.

Starting in 2005, the software research firm Knowlegis ranked members of Congress on their committee positions, campaign finances and ability to amend legislation.

The first year, Dole came in 56th in the Senate, but she improved to 46th place in 2006. During those two years, the Senate had a Republican majority.

Two factors hurt Dole's ranking the following year, however.

First, the Democrats swept the 2006 Senate elections, winning a slim majority. And second, Knowlegis tweaked its ranking system slightly, taking into account earmarks and a "sizzle/fizzle" factor that takes into account scandals and outside political events such as the presidential race.

Breaking down Dole's score in 2007, Knowlegis ranked her poorly on leadership position (61st) and indirect influence (57th), but she ranked better on her ability to affect legislation (28th) and amount of money earmarked (42nd).

It also noted that she had "too few terms or years in office to have significant clout."

Is 93rd ad unfair to Dole?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:37:19 -0400

The Politico has a review of the new ad attacking U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

Josh Kraushaar of the political Web site's Scorecard blog notes that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's attack on the Salisbury Republican's effectiveness may be a little unfair:

Much of the rankings criteria, at first glance, are out of Dole's control. With Democrats in control of the Senate, only three of the top 22 most influential senators are Republican — and two of them are its presidential nominee John McCain and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. And with Dole only being a first-term senator, it would be hard for her to rank highly on the list no matter her legislative accomplishments.
Indeed, one would think that Dole's opponent, state senator Kay Hagan, would begin near the bottom of the list if she won the election.

On the other hand, if part of Dole's effectiveness ranking is due to her being a Republican, then presumably any generic Democrat would fare better, provided the party remains in the majority.

By way of comparison, Dole's colleague, Sen. Richard Burr, is also a first-term Republican, and he was ranked 69th in the Senate.