Newspaper Refunds Ad Money To Al Franken
WASHINGTON (AP) - MoveOn.org has proven to be a headache for newspapers.
On Sunday, The New York Times said it erred in giving the liberal anti-war group a $77,508 price break on a full-page advertisement attacking Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq.
Now the Star Tribune, a Minneapolis newspaper, is refunding about $12,000 to Al Franken, a Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate, after undercharging Sen. Norm Coleman, for a full-page advertisement spawned by the one in the Times.
Franken is one of several Democrats vying to unseat Coleman.
The Star Tribune said it charged Coleman, R-Minn., around $20,000 for Tuesday’s ad, which criticized Franken for not condemning the MoveOn.org ad. Two months ago, according to the newspaper, it charged Franken around $32,000 for a full-page ad in the paper criticizing Coleman’s record on the Iraq war.
Star Tribune spokesman Ben Taylor said Wednesday that a new sales representative had incorrectly quoted the Coleman campaign the local retail rate, rather than the rate charged to national advertisers.
“The Franken campaign was charged correctly, but we decided, just to make it right, to refund the Franken campaign the $12,000,” he said. “But going forward, we will be charging the national rate.”
Taylor said the paper didn’t consider going back to Coleman and asking the campaign to make up the difference.
“He got quoted a rate and paid the rate he was quoted,” he said. “To go back and say you owe us more money didn’t seem to be the right way to go here. We thought, it was our mistake, and Coleman shouldn’t have to pay for our mistake.”
By contrast, MoveOn.org decided to pay the difference to the Times.
Also Wednesday, the House voted 341-79 to condemn MoveOn.org for the ad, which referred to Petraeus as “General Betray Us.” The Coleman campaign took out its ad a few days after a companion resolution passed the Senate.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
Aw fuck… Franken in the Senate??
COME ON MINNESOTA!!!! DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN!!!!
September 26th, 2007 at 4:46 pmAl Franken is a big fat stupid white man. He sucked on SNL too. Is MN so stupid as to actually elect this pot-head?
September 26th, 2007 at 5:16 pmC’mon MN, get the bratwurst out of your ears. This guy is a complete fraud.
Minnesota is looney, first they elect a wrestler as governor, then a muslim who sympathizes with terrorrists, al franken is par for the course.
September 26th, 2007 at 7:44 pmHey Minnesota…Get your shit together….How can you even consider voting for this dick slurping fag.
Come on now, his best character on SNL was “Pat” which lasted two skits too long. His other ventures were “Airhead America” and writing silly books. Now he wants to represent you in the senate…..
September 26th, 2007 at 8:24 pm