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September 1, 2006

Anti-Laffey ad that angered immigrant groups off air

A controversial television advertisement attacking Cranston Mayor Stephen P. Laffey, the Republican challenger for U.S. Senate in Rhode Island, that drew the ire of immigrant rights groups is off the air.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee said today he contacted an aide to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which aired the ad on his behalf, and asked them to take if off the air.

But Chafee acknowledged that he couldn't say for sure whether the committee pulled it because of his complaint or whether it was already scheduled to stop running.

The committee has said that the ad had run its course, the Chafee campaign said later today.

Members of local immigrant advocacy groups complained that the advertisement was misleading and mean-spirited. They said it linked Hispanic people to the threat of terrorism.

The ad claimed that the city of Cranston's acceptance of Mexican identification cards can threaten American security. Chafee's opponent in this month's Republican primary is Laffey.

Chafee told a group that the ad was taken off the air when they showed up at his Providence office this morning to protest his failure to act.

The ad is not posted on the NRSC's Web page for Chafee video ads. It can, however, be seen here on youtube.com, a service where anyone can post and share videos.

For more background, read yesterday's column on the issue by Journal political columnist M. Charles Bakst.

-- With reports from Bakst and Journal staff writer Karen Lee Ziner.

Posted by Jack Perry  at 1:05 PM | Permalink

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