Demos blast GOP tactics

As Democrats gathered Friday to decry what they call negative campaign tactics from GOP opponents, the Republican Party denounced their complaints as a "campaign stunt."

State Democratic Committee Chairman Wayne Holland Jr., flanked by about 25 Democratic candidates for federal, state and local races, said they had witnessed "grave offenses in decorum and honesty" by those targeting Democratic candidates in a "negative, misleading and often dishonest" way.

Some earlier this week told the Deseret Morning News that mailers containing "half-truths" about Democratic incumbents' votes and "unreasonable" promises have been sent to people in some Salt Lake and Ogden area districts.

Several mailers state they were paid for by the state Republican Party. But the Democrats think the mailers, which have similar wording and are used by several GOP candidates, were funded by Parents for Choice in Education, which receives money from national groups supporting vouchers and tuition tax credits.

House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, said he believed political action committee disclosures, which must be filed Tuesday, would back the statement.

But Jeff Hartley, executive director of the Utah Republican Party, denounced the claims in a written statement issued Friday.

"The allegation made by Democrats that our candidates are beholden to any special interest group is a laughable lie, a campaign stunt, and a desperate attempt by Democrats to create a smokescreen that will hide their incumbents' voting records."

In an interview, Hartley also said party leaders "don't take direction" from any contributors to the party about where those funds may be spent. And any cash that Parents For Choice in Education has given to the party will be spent as party leaders determine.

"Like many groups, Parents For Choice support us because we are right on the issues. They believe in what the Utah Republican Party and its candidates stand for," said Hartley.

Unlike federal campaign law, it is legal in Utah local races for groups or individuals to give money to a political party and then the party spend the cash as those groups or individuals wish. But Hartley said the Utah Republican Party does not do that.

Ultimately, Democrats urged voters to further examine candidates and ask questions to become better informed.

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