Perry McGriff, the Democratic candidate for the Florida Senate, is taking legal action over an attack advertisement endorsed by his opponent, the incumbent Republican Sen. Steve Oelrich.
The advertisement, from the Republican Party of Florida and endorsed by Oelrich, says that McGriff “wants laws to protect illegal immigration.”
But Eric Conrad, deputy campaign manager for McGriff, said the quote in the ad’s last seconds is a misstatement out of context.
Conrad said the misstatement was taken from a speech McGriff delivered in which he said the federal government should be in charge of immigration issues.
The McGriff campaign is taking action against the Oelrich campaign, the Republican Party of Florida and any television station airing the advertisement. Since this is not a candidate advertisement subject to the Federal Communications Commission “no censorship rule,” an organization such as the Republican Party of Florida does not have a “right to command the use of broadcast facilities.” This is based on a 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Columbia Broadcasting System Inc. v. Democratic National Committee.
McGriff said if the government doesn’t do something about illegal immigration, it will cost state and local governments.
“Immigration is a priority that needs to be taken by the federal government because it needs to be consistent from state to state,” McGriff said.
Four televisions stations, WCJB, WGOX, WGLF and WNBW, which cover Florida Senate District 14, were hand-delivered cease and desist letters Sunday, Conrad said.
Oelrich’s campaign declined to comment.
