Noem Supports more Transparency from Third-Parties...Except When They're Helping Her

 (October 23, 2010)-As South Dakotans are subjected to more and more negative advertising from secretive, out-of-state third-parties, Kristi Noem told The Argus Leader Editorial Board that she believes that third-party advertising needs to be more transparent. However, South Dakotans have yet to see Kristi Noem take a principled stand against third-party groups that are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in South Dakota on 100% negative advertising without having to disclose their donors. Noem claims that she has "no control" over third parties and isn't even legally allowed to converse with them.

Noem said, "Well I've always supported more transparency and I think when we talk about outside money being spent on elections, I think it's good to be transparent to know who's spending the dollars, who's coming in and playing. However. I can only speak on behalf of my campaign, because I certainly have no control over 3rd parties, and it would be illegal for me to even converse or talk to them."

 "Kristi Noem claims to believe in transparency, however, we have yet to see her ask shadowy out-of-state groups who don't have to disclose their donors to stop their 100% negative ad war on the airwaves in South Dakota," said Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. "It’s clear that these negative ads are meant to distract voters away from Kristi Noem’s record of warrants for her arrest and failures to appear in court. South Dakotans deserve to know who is trying to influence their election. If Kristi Noem truly believed in transparency like she claims, she would take a stand against this negative advertising from secretive out-of-state groups."

 In South Dakota, the third party groups currently running 100% negative advertising without having to disclose their donors include:

·         American Future Fund (Tied to racially-tinged Willie Horton ads  during the Bush-Dukakis election, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth during the Bush-Kerry election)

·         American Action Network (Founder implicated in Watergate, Organization Shares Office Space with Karl Rove's 'American Crossroads')

·         Common Sense Issues (Tied to the Abortion Ban referendums in South Dakota in 06 and 08)

Read the article here.