WASHINGTON - Can George Flinn beat this rap?
The independent expenditure committee set up by 8th Congresssional District Republican Ronald Kirkland's brother has begun airing an ad in Memphis, Jackson and Nashville markets attacking Flinn's hip-hop themed FM 107.1-KHXT radio station.
It also says Flinn can't vote for himself in the election because he's not a resident of the district. Tennessee law doesn't require residence within a Congressional district before an election.
"Would you vote for a Memphis politician who doesn't even live in our district for Congress?" a woman's voice asks in the 30-second ad. "How about a radio mogul whose station promotes gang violence, drug abuse and insults women? Well, George Flinn is that man."
The ad concludes: "You are not our neighbor. You don't care about our youth. And you don't share our values."
Kirkland's brother Robert set up an independent expenditure committee to work on behalf of the campaign and produced the latest ad. Federal election law prohibits independent expenditure committees from coordinating with a candidate's own committee, and the brothers have agreed not to communicate until the race has ended.
The 8th District race to replace retiring Democrat John Tanner is one of the most-watched contests this election year. The GOP candidate will face state Sen. Roy Herron in November. Stephen Fincher is the third GOP contender in the race.
Flinn owns the 107.1 radio station whose web site on Tuesday pictured a man extending his middle finger as well as a picture of Flinn himself. The web site describes the station as having "the most unique and exclusive position in the Memphis market. Hip-Hop Music is the message music of the 21st century and HOT 107.1 brings the culture and style of the new millennium to Memphis radio."
Flinn spokesman Paul Ciaramitaro called the ad "a desperate attack by the brother of a politician who hides and lets others do his dirty work while he tries to cover up his liberal record.
"Ron Kirkland directed bundles of campaign cash to some of the most liberal, pro-abortion politicians in Washington while they were foisting Obamacare upon the country. Worse, Kirkland cheered the socialist stimulus bill when it became law. Ron Kirkland ought to stand up and face his liberal record, fight for himself and denounce his brother's illegal campaign tactics."
"George has been forthright about his residence and his radio interests from the outset of this campaign," Ciaramitaro continued. "The ad is cherry-picking one station out of over forty. It's a station to which George doesn't listen. Robert Kirkland conveniently fails to mention the Christian or children's radio stations that Dr. Flinn also owns."
Robert Kirkland's spokesman, Brad Greer, responded: "We are proud to support Ron Kirkland who has chosen to sing in his church's choir rather than promote the harmful music Flinn's station pushes. Flinn now touts that he also has Christian stations. We suppose Flinn will make a buck with any type of music that sells. Sad.
"The Kirkland's and I live here in this district and will continue to legally promote Ron's candidacy in an exercise of free speech. We are proud to call the 8th congressional district our home, and its residents our neighbors."
my God, i thought you were going to chip in with some decisive insght at genuine end there, not leave it