Campaign Ad Attacking Congresswoman Mary Fallin Put To Truth Test

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

UNDATED -- Campaign 2010 hits high gear with a flurry of television ads.

In the Republican governor's race, one ad attacking Congresswoman Mary Fallin is stirring up some controversy.

AD: "Mary Fallin says she loves our Oklahoma values, however she regularly compromises those values..."

State Senator Randy Brogdon gives compromise a bad name in a new ad targeting his competitor, Congresswoman Mary Fallin.

AD: "Fallin voted for the trillion dollar Wall Street bailout." 

That's true. The congresswoman did vote for the $700 billion bank bailout in 2008. Her campaign says she did so after consulting with then President George Bush.

She says the nation was on the verge of financial collapse and "[the bailout money] for all its problems helped prevent that." 

But the Brogdon campaign doesn't just criticize Fallin for her vote.

AD: "She's accepted thousands in contributions from bailout beneficiaries."

The Fallin campaign calls this part of the ad "deceptive" because the LegiStorm website shown and sited as a source, references earmarks, not campaign contributions.

"You look at her ethics report, over a $120,000 campaign contributions come directly from PACs and individuals that benefited from her bailout vote," said Randy Brogdon, (R) Gubernatorial Candidate.

The Fallin campaign says Brogdon gives a specific number without specific evidence to back up the claim. 

The News On 6 did verify Fallin received a $5,000 contribution from the CEO of an Oklahoma bank that did receive bailout money. A spokesperson says that contributor is a long-time supporter and it's "ridiculous" to allege that influenced her vote.

AD: "She's requested millions in pork from the Obama stimulus."

The Fallin campaign claims there were no "traditional" earmarks in the stimulus bill, which she voted against. But she did request $8.5 million in stimulus money for Oklahoma National Guard projects in Oklahoma City and Braggs.

"You can't have it both ways. If you're not for the stimulus, I don't think she should be out requesting earmark spending from the stimulus," said Brogdon.

Fallin's campaign says it's not hypocritical at all. They claim the congresswoman is against wasteful spending, but once the bill was passed she wanted to make sure that some of the money was spent on worthwhile projects.

Congresswoman Mary Fallin's camp says State Senator Randy Brogdon is running a nasty and negative campaign that isn't based on truth. Brogdon stands behind his ad and says he's simply spreading the truth about the congresswoman's voting record.

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