Tulsa World: Video: Fact-check on mayoral ads continues

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Video: Fact-check on mayoral ads continues

"Tom Protects Seniors" from Democrat Tom Adelson's campaign.

By P.J. LASSEK and BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writers
Published: 10/8/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 10/8/2009 4:27 AM

Tulsa Elections: Read bios of candidates for mayor, City Council and city auditor and view a map of City Council districts.

As the Tulsa mayor's race unfolds, the Tulsa World will periodically examine the truthfulness of the campaign ads put forth by the candidates. The general election is set for Nov. 10.

The ad: "Tom Protects Seniors"

Format: Television commercial

Paid for by: Democrat Tom Adelson's campaign

The message: "Senator Tom Adelson helped provide retirees tax relief. Then he wrote a law protecting seniors from predators. Tom's proven that as mayor he'll take on anyone who would harm our parents and grandparents. So, the AARP gives Tom its highest rating."

Fact or fiction?: Adelson supported a 2005 law that increased the retirement income that's exempt from taxes to $10,000 from $7,500. He was the lead author on a law that made financial neglect of vulnerable adults a crime and co-sponsored a law to crack down on nursing home predators.

Adelson received a high rating from the Oklahoma Aging Partnership Legislative Report sponsored by the AARP, the Oklahoma Alliance on Aging, the Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislative Alumni Association and the Oklahoma State Council on Aging.

The ad: "What's Tom Hiding?"

Format: Television commercial

Paid for by: Republican Dewey Bartlett Jr.'s campaign

The message: "What's Tom Adelson hiding from Tulsa? (Man with a brown paper sack on his head comes on screen.) That he's a Washington, D.C., liberal. Adelson backs Nancy Pelosi's European-style, government-run health care plan. (Black-and-white Pelosi photograph appears.) And Adelson was one of the earliest and strong supporters of President Obama, personally donating almost $100,000 to support Barack Obama. (Black-and-white photograph of Obama appears and bags of money pile up on screen.) When Gov. Henry passed historic tax cuts, Adelson demanded his $5,000 contribution back, calling Henry a traitor. Tom, take off the mask. Even the Tulsa World says Tom Adelson is liberal by Oklahoma standards."

Fact or fiction?: Adelson does not specifically advocate for a European-style, government-run health-care plan in the two citations given in the commercial.

The first citation is from a Jan. 26, 2004, letter in the National Review from Adelson when he was the state's health secretary.

In it, Adelson said the "United States spends more per capita on medical care than any other industrialized nation," providing examples from Great Britain and Europe, and yet "we are sicker here than in our peer countries."

Adelson points to the waste by commercial plans in administrative costs while saying that Medicare spends 98 cents of every dollar on medical care. He also said government should be credited with some health advances because of its investment in public health.

The second citation is from an April 2009 video interview with AARP Oklahoma that is readily available on the Web. In it, Adelson says everyone should have affordable health-care coverage and that private-public partnerships are needed to improve the system, but he also expresses support for acquiring insurance in the private market.

Pelosi's name is not mentioned in either of the citations.

Adelson did not give $100,000 solely to Obama, but the ad is using his own words against him when he misspoke during a KRMG interview in September. Adelson gave that amount to support Obama and numerous other groups that back federal-level Democratic candidates.

Adelson did not call Henry a "traitor" nor demand his $5,000 contribution back "when Gov. Henry passed historic tax cuts."

A May 17, 2006, Tulsa World article quoted Adelson, an Oklahoma senator, as saying indirectly about the governor: "I understand the historical observation is that we treat prisoners of war humanely, but we shoot traitors."

Adelson's comment and demand for his contribution return was in response to talk that Henry had cut a deal on Senate Bill 2022, a Republican-sponsored measure, without the Senate Democratic leader being involved in the discussions.

Adelson voted against the bill, which included a cut in the state income-tax rate to 4.9 percent from 6.25 percent, but the bill died in committee. It was never passed.

Elements of the bill were resurrected in House Bill 1172, which Adelson supported. It included the largest tax cuts in the state's history.

The statement that Adelson is "liberal by Oklahoma standards" came from a June 8, 2008, article by Tulsa World reporter Randy Krehbiel, who was giving a breakdown of state legislative contests.

Krehbiel was comparing Adelson with opponent Gary Casey, a political newcomer from the Ron Paul wing of the Republican Party. The statement was not made by the newspaper's editorial board.

P.J. Lassek 581-8382, Brian Barber 581-8322
pj.lassek@tulsaworld.com, brian.barber@tulsaworld.com By P.J. LASSEK and BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writers

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Tulsa mayoral ads: Fact or Fiction?," which was published on 10/7/2009.

	Report Comment messy, tulsa (10/7/2009 9:18:43 PM) Looks like the Tulsa World is in the tank for Adelson.
	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (10/7/2009 9:22:50 PM) So this article by TW is all about Adelson? Aren't 2 other candidates? Is TW for or against Adelson? I'm so confused.
	Report Comment ttr1975, Sand Springs (10/7/2009 9:23:32 PM) Attention Mayoral Candidates: Stop with the negative ads already. They are prompting me to do nothing more than to change channels. Period. Face fact - we are already going to have to choose from two "bottom of the barrel" candidates. Donate your advertising dollars to a worthwhile cause where it can actually benefit someone.
	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (10/7/2009 9:23:33 PM) I meant, "Aren't there 2 other candidates?
	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (10/7/2009 9:24:41 PM) I knew I should have thrown my stylish cashmere stocking cap into the ring!
	Report Comment JAX, (10/7/2009 9:27:19 PM) Too much negitive stuff.Why don't the candidates tell what they will or will not do for Tulsa.The Independent looks better all the time.
	Report Comment ProudTulsan73, (10/7/2009 9:28:17 PM) What are you all talking about? One of these ads is from Adelson about himself and the other is from Bartlett about Adelson. The TW analyzes the ads as they come out.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (10/7/2009 9:41:53 PM) Some of this is hard to muddle through even when found, if a person uses google. I don't even consider these ads when deciding who to vote for, they are only used to make themselves look like "angelic" beings. Like a politician could ever be angelic. . Thanks for breaking this down TW.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (10/7/2009 9:46:15 PM) TW is trying to help us make educated decisions on who to vote for. . As far as I know they are still backing Bartlett. I don't remember reading anything different.
	Report Comment Jacky, small town Oklahoma (10/7/2009 9:49:33 PM) I agree w/ ProudTulsan - this story talks about an Adelson ad and a Bartlett ad. Looks like Adelson is being more honest than Bartlett. Last week they had a story on another ad also. I was admiring Adelson when the ads first started because they were all positive ads talking about himself. Then the first Bartlett ad I saw was very negative towards Adelson. Pretty soon they were both getting negative. It would be refreshing for people to run based on their qualifications instead of using so much money and airtime to slam the opponent.
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (10/7/2009 9:53:21 PM) Most have decided who they'll be voting for next month. These ads, unless they revel a bombshell, will do nothing to sway the determined voter. However, for the last minute decision maker, who decides near or on election day, the owner of the juciest ad gets their vote. Enough already, lets vote now.
	Report Comment aint missbehavin, no thanks (10/7/2009 9:54:32 PM) heck...I like them.I say when the bell rings come out fightin......leave the bag to the unknown....stockings might be a better look anyway.
	Report Comment JAO, Tulsa (10/7/2009 10:00:51 PM) When are the candidates going to talk about their abilities and what they plan on accomplishing for Tulsa? So far, all I have heard is negatives about the opponent not the assets of the candidate.
	Report Comment TheWebGangster, Tulsa (10/7/2009 10:15:12 PM) Abilities?
	Report Comment IrishQuaker, Tulsa (10/7/2009 10:43:13 PM) Thanks, TW for breaking this down for us. Maybe the facts presented for all to see will discourage a campaign of negative allegations. Keep it up!
	Report Comment orly, Tulsa (10/7/2009 10:58:11 PM) these two need to find something else to do that's more productive
	Report Comment Rupert Shootman, Tulsa (10/8/2009 12:14:24 AM) What "wing" of the Democrat Party is Adelson? Why would you define Casey as being from a "wing" if you're not going to define Adelson's "wing," too?
	Report Comment Laurel & Hardy, Another Fine Mess (10/8/2009 1:52:07 AM) Wish I knew what they were really planning on doing, if elected. Neither one has given us any information.
	Report Comment FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (10/8/2009 2:27:19 AM) I'm beyond caring about any of this.
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (10/8/2009 2:37:42 AM) Thank You, I'm ready to vote. And have been fo rsome time now. Let's just do it now. I call on all TW posters to post who they are goin to vote fo rin their posts starting at 6:00pm today. Let's challenge the system. At 6:00pm, I will post my vote online. Anyone care to follow?
	Report Comment Javine Hill, (10/8/2009 5:22:00 AM) Would that negative campaigns were portents of leadership quality. The choices that Tulsans will have to make are familiar, more taxes or fewer services. How refreshing if candidates were proponents of value for tax dollars spent, of accountability, and of stewardship that withstood public scrutiny. Every election reaffirms the winning candidate's willingness to respect the civic trust, not a license to be fleeced without effective results.
	Report Comment Webmeister, Tulsa (10/8/2009 6:02:07 AM) A political ad is basically an advertisement. Exaggerations, half-truths, emotionalism, and hyperbole are the hallmark of American advertising. Why should political ads be any different??
	Report Comment olddude, tulsa (10/8/2009 6:23:16 AM) Both are politions,wish we had a candidate that had no ties to special interest.but like usual those who have the gold makes the rules.
	Report Comment Eagle 4, Tulsa (10/8/2009 6:36:01 AM) "...those who have the gold makes the rules." olddude has it right. Vote for the Kaiser's pawn...again.
	Report Comment Legal Citizen, . (10/8/2009 6:53:53 AM) Futureworld: "Anyone care to follow?" >> No.

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