Oberweis under fire for campaign ads

March 1, 2006 (WLS) -- Republican Jim Oberweis is once again under fire for his campaign ads. Oberweis is running for Illinois governor.

Two of Oberweis' ads use phony newspaper headlines to attack Republican front-runner Judy Baar Topinka. The Topinka camp is crying foul, but Oberweis says his ads are based on fact.

Two years ago, Oberweis apologized for a controversial immigration ad featuring him in a helicopter flying over Soldier Field. Now, he admits it was probably ill-advised to make up newspaper headlines for the latest round of ads in the race for governor. However, he is standing by the content of the ads even though Topinka says the allegations are dead wrong and the ads should be taken off the air.

The Oberweis campaign made up the headlines that accompany actual newspaper stories about alleged misconduct or inside political deals by the state treasurer's office that Topinka ran for the past 12 years.

One ad shows the Chicago Tribune masthead with the words "Investigation Into Topinka." But the headline for the 2003 story cited by Oberweis was "Campaign probe of Topinka launched; U.S. subpoenas workers' records."

A second ad displays the Journal-Register with the words, "Attorney General Blocks Bad Deal." But the headline that ran read, "Hotels' debt deal blocked; Attorney general cites U of I study."

Oberweis defends the content of the ads, which is based on the news accounts, but he admits the fake headlines under real newspaper logos Is probably a mistake.

"We will in the future ads be sure (it's) a headline or not a headline," said Oberweis.

"This is just fraudulent. It is deceiving to the public," said Topinka.

Topinka's lawyers sent letters to TV stations around the state: `There is nothing wrong with tough campaigning or tough ads. But these ads cross the line into falsehood. And we strongly urge you to require the Oberweis campaign to substantiate the charges before you run these ads.'

"This is something that is very unique and it's rare in its stupidity and deceitfulness," said Topinka.

ABC 7 is airing the ads based on the FCC's political advertising rules for qualified candidates. The rules declare stations cannot edit, reject, or require changes on the basis of content. As for Oberweis, he is accusing Topinka of manufacturing the headline flap to cover up the content of the ads.

"We have to end the culture of corruption in Illinois that's been going on for far too long. Four former governors during my lifetime in Illinois have been indicted or served time. This stuff has got to stop and has to stop now," said Oberweis.

Bottom line on the ads: Topinka did approve a loan settlement favorable to a political insider on a Springfield hotel deal. She now admits she should have handled it differently. Also, her office was investigated for alleged political corruption and document shredding, but no one was ever charged. Law enforcement officials have not said if the cases are closed or still open.

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