Divided We Fail

Statement by Divided We Fail regarding negative attack ads by

presidential campaigns. 

Jeff Johnson, Divided We Fail Florida campaign manager:

"We are less than a month away from the Nov. 4 presidential election and

in the past few weeks, we've seen an increase in partisan bickering.

From the meltdown in Congress over the bailout plan that both sides

agreed was necessary to the increase in negative attack ads in the

presidential campaign, partisan bickering is once again standing in the

way of the issues that affect Floridians and all Americans every day.

"Frankly, we're spitting mad. Floridians are watching their retirement

vanishing before their eyes. Millions are struggling to pay for basic

necessities such as health care, and after two years, all our

presidential campaigns can talk about are scandals that are at least 20

and in some case 40 years old.

"This is just not acceptable. We're not asking the candidates to hold

hands and sing Kumbaya, we're asking them to focus on the issues such as

health care and financial security that impact the daily lives of

Americans."

Lori Parham, AARP Florida State Director

"While families struggle to stretch every dollar, the campaigns are

spending millions on advertising. That's a perfect opportunity for them

to tell voters the details of their health care plans, and to explain

how they will work across party lines to find real solutions. Instead

each campaign at least 50 percent of presidential campaign commercials

are nothing more than negative attack ads.

"The pundits and consultants might be telling them, this works, voters

love this stuff. But this is a historic election, in an especially

challenging economy. Voters want truth, they want substance. They don't

want to watch a mud-slinging contest."

Bill Herrle, National Federation of Independent Business - Florida

executive director

"Small business owners are struggling to access affordable health

insurance options, and we need a real solution to this crisis," NFIB/FL

Executive Director Bill Herrle said. "Over 40 percent of small business

owners say the presidential candidates have spent too little time

talking about healthcare, but now it's time for them to be held

accountable to the commitment to deliver meaningful reform."