GOP Ad Ties Elizabeth Warren to OWS, Violence, Drugs

By Rachel Rose Hartman, The Ticket

10 November 11

n a preview of a likely strategy to link Democratic candidates with the Occupy Wall Street movement, the conservative group Crossroads GPS released an attack ad Thursday taking aim at Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren. The spot quotes Warren--a longtime consumer advocate who helped create a new federal agency to oversee consumer lending policy--voicing support for Occupy Wall Street. It then goes on to explain that such backing equates to support for people who advocate drugs, violence, trashing public spaces and radical policies.

In the new Crossroads ad, Warren is heard saying of the Occupy Wall Street protesters, "I created much of the intellectual foundation for what they do" and "I support what they do."

"Intellectual foundation for what?" the voiceover in the ad then asks.

You can watch the commercial below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNxez4ddpa0

And in a standard campaign reply to attack strategies, Warren's campaign has begun citing the ad in a fundraising pitch. "We will not--and cannot--allow attacks from [Republican Sen.] Scott Brown and his allies to go unanswered. We need your help to fight back," campaign manager Mindy Myers wrote in an email to supporters.

The anti-Warren spot is one of five television ads Crossroads is releasing this week attacking Democratic senate candidates. In addition to the Massachusetts ad buy, the group is airing commercials in Missouri against Sen. Claire McCaskill and Virginia against Democratic former Gov. Tim Kaine for their ties to Barack Obama and records on government spending. An ad in Montana accuses Sen. Jon Tester of selling out his farmer roots for a career in Washington. On Friday, the group plans to release another ad in Nebraska--where Democratic incumbent Ben Nelson is still weighing whether to seek re-election.

All told, the package of ads cost $1.8 million.

Crossroads GPS and sister group American Crossroads are a new type of political fundraising group made possible by the 2010 Citizens United v. FEC that can raised unlimited amounts of money--making them major players in the 2012 race.