Tulsa World: 'Misleading' molester ad denounced by Adelson

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'Misleading' molester ad denounced by Adelson
The mayoral candidate's record on crime is questioned.

With his wife, Julie, nearby, Democratic mayoral candidate Tom Adelson denounces an ad by his Republican opponent, Dewey Bartlett Jr., during a press conference Tuesday at a River Parks playground near 18th Street. STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World

By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer
Published: 10/21/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 10/21/2009 11:52 AM

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

Read a letter from Tom Adelson’s attorney asking local media to stop playing Dewey Bartlett Jr.’s latest campaign ad.

Mayoral candidate Tom Adelson said his opponent Dewey Bartlett Jr. has taken his campaign into the gutter with a new "misleading, downright false" TV ad implying that Adelson is soft on child molesters.

"I deeply resent the defamatory attack from the Bartlett campaign," Adelson said during a news conference Tuesday at a River Parks playground near 18th Street.

"I was just shocked. It's sickening and grotesque," Adelson said of first viewing the commercial.

"This is a person, as you know, who last time he ran for mayor, his campaign tactics were called 'despicable' and certainly will stoop to any means," Adelson said.

"I think it's the nastiest ad I've seen in about 10 years," he said.

The commercial opens with a colorful playground of children playing and a voice-over stating: "Nothing that the Tulsa mayor does is more important than keeping families safe. That is why Tom Adelson's record on crime is troubling."

Then a suspicious-looking man in a hooded sweatshirt sneaks up on the park, lurking

behind a tree, and the color ad goes to black and white.

The ad goes on to state that "Adelson voted against the death penalty for twice-convicted child molesters, the worst of criminals. He wouldn't even let the jury give child molesters life without parole."

Adelson, a Democratic state senator, said he voted against a 2006 bill that would have allowed the death penalty for twice-convicted child molesters because it was unconstitutional. The legislation ultimately was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2008.

But Bartlett, a Republican, said that at the time of the vote there was never any discussion about the constitutionality of the bill.

"Tom had an opportunity to vote on the side of the child and didn't do so," he said in an interview after Adelson's news conference.

Bartlett said his ad brings up a "very relevant issue because the mayor is by charter the manager of the city and thus the leader of the Police Department."

Adelson said the bill also never took away the jury's ability to send repeat offenders to prison without the possibility of parole.

"That was always the law, and my vote had no impact on ensuring that repeat offenders go away for life," he said.

Adelson said he supported "chemical castration" for the worst offenders, and he thinks they ought to stay in jail forever.

Bartlett's ad goes on to say that Adelson voted for budget cuts to the state Department of Public Safety.

Adelson said the vote Bartlett is talking about was unanimous.

"This year in a budget crisis we've had cutbacks among every agency, and I think it's unfortunate that Mr. Bartlett thinks this is political opportunity rather than recognizing we're in one of the worst fiscal crises since the Great Depression," he said

Adelson said Bartlett will "do and say anything" to be mayor.

"Shame on that campaign. It's a disgrace to the city," he said.

Adelson said he and his wife are the proud parents of four children and like all parents "we care nothing more above all else than the health, safety and security of our kids."

Adelson said he has coauthored a law that gives increased investigative authority to police in cases of suspected child predators and another to strengthen the law involving Internet child porn.

Adelson said he challenged Bartlett at a debate last week to run clean campaigns but Bartlett refused.

Bartlett said "actions speak louder than words" but would not say whether he will stop the negative ads.

Bartlett said his ad is truthful, unlike Adelson's ad against him involving Great Plains Airline, which accused him of a criminal offense.

"For him (Adelson) to suddenly attempt to act holier-than-thou is laughable," Bartlett said.

Adelson's attorney Jim Connor sent a two-page letter to media outlets demanding they not run the Bartlett ad, saying it is "not just sleazy and disgusting politics, it is false and defamatory."

Adelson said Connor will be contacting Bartlett's campaign as well.

P.J. Lassek 581-8382
pj.lassek@tulsaworld.com

By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Tulsa mayoral candidate blasts TV ad's content," which was published on 10/20/2009.

	Report Comment wotko, Sapulpa (10/20/2009 4:19:27 PM) One politician is no different from another. They all make similar but different promises with no intent of keeping them. Lying, gossiping, mudslinging and ease of corruptability are all "skills" listed on their resumes.
	Report Comment irwindale, Tulsa (10/20/2009 4:21:33 PM) ...whoever wins gets to wash the steps of the BOK building.
	Report Comment beau3985, Tulsa (10/20/2009 4:27:55 PM) And I thought the other pics of Adelson were horrible, this one takes the cake. He looks stoned out of his mind. On a serious note, who is Adelson to talk about ad content? That guy has done nothing but gutter snipe since this campaign started.
	Report Comment Oilsooner, Tulsa (10/20/2009 4:29:46 PM) I could not be more tired of the mudslinging in this race. I am voting for the independent solely because of the childness exuded by these two candidates!!
	Report Comment Oilsooner, Tulsa (10/20/2009 4:30:20 PM) *childishness
	Report Comment LocalBoy, B.A. (10/20/2009 4:30:43 PM) May the best weasel win...
	Report Comment LocalBoy, B.A. (10/20/2009 4:31:33 PM) The loser gets a spot on the B.A. school board...
	Report Comment iflyfast, At an airport somewhere in the Tulsa area (10/20/2009 4:34:16 PM) So is Adelson the pot or the kettle in this election??
	Report Comment LocalBoy, B.A. (10/20/2009 4:34:21 PM) Does Tulsa really need a mayor that can not construct a proper sentence? And he volunteers in the schools? Groan...
	Report Comment oddy, Santa Fe/Tulsa (10/20/2009 4:36:02 PM) I think you would have to admit that the kid thing is a new low. Perkins is looking better all the time.
	Report Comment JED, Tulsa (10/20/2009 4:41:22 PM) I'm voting for the Independent, Perkins. I'm tired of all of the mudslinging. Plus, I think Perkins could some new ideas and energy to the office.
	Report Comment Davy Crotchety, Tulsa (10/20/2009 4:44:17 PM) This is awful, Dewey. If this is your idea of a campaign, you can keep it.
	Report Comment lufkin, (10/20/2009 4:45:11 PM) Is Adelson on drugs.The picture show a man who appears on his last legs.
	Report Comment AP, Tulsa (10/20/2009 4:47:26 PM) Give me one good reason to vote for either independent and I'll do it. I am not going to vote for either Adelson or Bartlett. If I don't have a good reason to vote for either of the other two candidates, I am not voting. A good reason to vote for a candidate is not because that candidate is the lesser of evils or because I don't like the other guys. I need a reason, guys. I need a reason to vote, or I'm not voting at all.
	Report Comment jsludge, tulsa (10/20/2009 4:47:55 PM) what is "chemical castration?"
	Report Comment Charley, (10/20/2009 4:47:57 PM) ...Tommy said, I am the Pot. I can call a kettle, BLACK, if I want to. Those dumb Tulsans won't know the difference. The dumbocrats are in favor now... I'll throw anything I want at the Dewey guy.... he's a redub & that makes him a loser. Nobody knows Perky, so he's a wash-out as well...
	Report Comment Fruits&Nuts, (10/20/2009 4:52:53 PM) Perkins can't do any worse than these guys, so I am going with him. Hopefully, the council will act better with the mayor if they don't feel they have to make a show for their own party. Please Tulsa, don't give us one of those two political idiots.
	Report Comment rdhm, (10/20/2009 4:54:53 PM) Was the ad paid for by the people who hold the turnpike bonds? They love Dewey! He knows how to make them money! But no one knows who they are, it is all a big secret!
	Report Comment Webmeister, Tulsa (10/20/2009 4:59:27 PM) Who will win the Race to the Bottom of the political cesspool? Dewey, Jr., or Adelson? Dewey just pulled into the lead. Temporarily........
	Report Comment Ex-Marine Viper, Sand Springs (10/20/2009 4:59:50 PM) It would be nice if they stuck to the "real" issues facing Tulsans. Being in Sand Springs...I'm glad I do not have to decide... It's like going to Fair Meadows...olds are 3-5 and pick-em....
	Report Comment DirtyWhiteHouse, (10/20/2009 5:01:59 PM) The only thing I needed to see was that you tube vide of this guy with a picture of obama on the wall behind his desk.. That's an AUTOMATIC NO VOTE!!! Anybody who is a supporter of that liberal wack socialist agenda with the commie czar friends and anti-military bent does NOT deserve to get my vote!
	Report Comment WhoseLeft, Tulsa (10/20/2009 5:04:46 PM) Dewey, you've finally run as a Republican. You've picked up on the Rove and Lee Atwater techniques, now we have our own WILLIE HORTON ad right here in River City.
	Report Comment Jinxed, CA (10/20/2009 5:09:51 PM) all i know is that senior vice president/chief nurse executive for St. Francis Hospital had a bartlett sign in front of her yard so i won't be voting for him! and since tom has a picture of obummer on his wall, i won't be voting for him either. picking a candidate is so easy these days.
	Report Comment ThatGuyWho, Tulsa (10/20/2009 5:11:32 PM) This goes to show how STUPID Dewey thinks his base is... To fall for a disgusting ad like this is beyond me. The sad thing is though, some people will see it and take it as truth. Horrible.
	Report Comment focuses, (10/20/2009 5:12:55 PM) The Dewy Bartlett add is not acceptable under any circumstances. The Dewy Bartlett add insinuated another human being condones child molestation. And yes I viewed the add and find both Dewy Bartlett and he add unacceptable.

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