Dole Ad Fabricates Audio Of Opponent Yelling "There Is No God"

Falling behind in her reelection race, Sen. Elizabeth Dole has uncorked one hell of a charge: The Democrat running against me is godless.

Dole's 30-second ad, which is running on television in North Carolina but has not (understandably) been promoted by the GOP, uses a September fundraiser co-hosted by 40 people, including a representative of the Godless America PAC, to falsely accuse Democrat Kay Hagan of being an atheist herself.

The end of the ad features a picture of Hagan with a female voice yelling "there is no God!" -- the clear implication is that the voice is Hagan's. In fact, the Democratic candidate is a Sunday School teacher and an elder at her Presbyterian church.

The Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday morning that Hagan's campaign is seeking a "cease and desist" order against Dole's new attack.

"A leader of the Godless Americans PAC recently held a secret fundraiser in Kay Hagan's honor," the ad begins, showing some ominously blurred footage, ostensibly of the event in question. The ad then quotes the group's Ellen Johnson making atheist claims on two cable news shows. Summing up, the spot asks: "Godless Americans and Kay Hagan. She hid from cameras, took Godless money. What did Hagan promise in return?"

Two weeks ago, when the National Republican Senatorial Committee launched a similar attack, the Fayettville Observer described it as "the nastiest, most misleading, negative ad of the campaign."

Watch:

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If the spot reeks of desperation, it's not hard to understand why. According to the Pollster.com average of all surveys taken for the race, Dole fell behind Hagan in the polls in mid-September, with her position worsening ever since.

UPDATE: The Hagan campaign has issued two response ads, as well as a prepared statement to be delivered by Hagan herself.

State Senator and U.S. Senate Candidate Kay Hagan

Remarks as prepared

October 29, 2008 press conference

* Thank you for coming today. I know this was called at short notice, and I appreciate you being here for this.
* Let's get right to it. Elizabeth Dole should absolutely be ashamed of herself.
* I don't know what things were like when she grew up in North Carolina, but the North Carolina I was raised in would NEVER condone this kind of personal slander.
* I can't begin to tell you how upset I am that she has attacked my Christian faith.
* She's been in Washington for too long, gotten too close to George Bush and the special interests and this is what she's become.
* I am appalled at these tactics. This is politics of the worst kind, and it's been rejected by North Carolinians at every level. This is so unbecoming of the woman she claims to be.

* I have taught Sunday school. I'm an elder in this church, where the Hagan family has attended for over 100 years. I go on mission trips. I was raised going to Sunday school and church every week. And I raised my children that way.
* On Christmas Eve, we attend the 11:00 evening service, then early on Christmas mornings, my children and husband and I go to the Bell House and cook breakfast for the residents there. My family, my community and my church are the anchors of my life.
* If Senator Dole wants to pass judgment on my faith, that's her right - but it's not what my faith teaches.
* This is a fabricated, pathetic ad.

* I am outraged...That is not my voice at the end of the ad, and I do not share their beliefs.
* This was an event with nearly 40 hosts, including an ambassador and a sitting U.S. Senator (John Kerry).
* We have already contacted our lawyers and are proceeding with a cease and desist order sent to Elizabeth Dole.
* This kind of politics should not be tolerated.
* The politics of George Bush won't create one new job, lower the cost of health care, or do one lick of good for North Carolina.
* At their core, Americans aren't Democrat or Republican, red or blue - they're Americans, plain and simple. We ALL love our country, and we all value the role of faith in American life.
* Shame on anyone who says differently.
* Congress just had to bailout Wall Street, workers' retirement savings are out the window, people are genuinely concerned about keeping their job in this tough economic climate, and Elizabeth Dole is trying to talk about ANYTHING but the issues.
* This attack speaks volumes about her personally and politically, but more importantly, it speaks to the lack of leadership she's shown on behalf of North Carolinians. At this critical point in American history, why isn't Elizabeth Dole talking about what she's done for North Carolinians and what she's planning to do if re-elected?
* This is exactly why people in North Carolina are supporting me - I have real, concrete proposals to help fix what's broken in Washington and advocate on behalf of working families. I've been talking about the issues and ensuring North Carolinians know what real leadership looks like.
* Elizabeth Dole is just relying on the same old, tired rhetoric that divides people instead of bringing them together, and that's the last thing people in North Carolina want right now.

Comments

[wordvarc]

"People identify with the aggressor....at first...until they have time to wake up and use their mind and senses." (Fred...Also known as Freud.)

The arrogant elitist self-enriching rovian doublespeaking neocon RNC/GOP is doomed. They've yelled "Fire" in the theater of politics, economics, and international relations and had us trampling ourselves.

A new party is needed to step up to the realities and challenges of today.

[reasoniskey]

The boy who cried wolf is about to receive his just reward.

[ksmagenta]

Vile, nasty, and disgusting. Liddy Dole has joined the ranks of Michele Bachmann and Ann Coulter.

I just made a donation to Kay Hagen, and I encourage others who are as equally disgusted to do the same. There is no place in MY America for these sleazy tactics.

[athenasword]

I also made a donation to Kay - I can't vote in NC, but I can vote with my cash! I just can't stand any more gutter politics.

[ciabrat]

Same.

[commmaven]

As a Dem, I used to respect both Elizabeth and Robert. What a sad commentary on both of their legacies. Hateful, to say the least

[WilliamP]

I'm an atheist and I find this sickening. Dole openly accuses her opponent of possibly being an atheist, or at best simply having ties to an atheist group. What's wrong with that?

Would Dole put herself in an ad, giving her approval, if that ad portrayed her opponent in a negative light, accusing her of associating with Muslims? I doubt she would for fear of looking like a bigot. What makes this ad acceptable?

And why does Hagan try to distance herself from atheism? I doubt she would be so quick to distance herself from the accusation that she was Hindu.

What's so wrong with atheism? And why aren't people upset that she's insulting atheists?

[WireDolly]

Bingo. Colin Powell said it best: "the question is not 'is he a Muslim', but so what if he is?"

Or isn't? Why should it make a difference if you have any invisible friends, or who they are if you do?

Pete Stark, an atheist HoR member from here in CA District 13, just got my vote (again). At least I know he's not going around spreading religious crap.

[Myshkin57]

I am upset. I am an atheist. But I'm not just upset because I am one. I'm upset because it appeals to the type of bigotry and anti-intellectualism the GOP has been exploiting for years. It exemplifies almost everything that's wrong with this country.

I have no problem with people having whatever religious beliefs they want to have, even if I think that they're wrong. It doesn't make them good or bad. What I do have a problem with is ignorance and intolerance in the name of religion. I have even more of a problem with people who stir the pot and try to encourage this type of bigotry. This is a truly vile ad. I donated to Hagan the minute I saw this and I encourage others to do so as well.

[SickStan]

Fellow atheist here. I'm offended that Liddy Dole thinks that 1) she can suppress voters with this false charge and 2) the implication that atheism is qualitatively evil. I can't say that Dole believes any of it, but this appeals to the cultural splitting that occurs with fundamentalists, who see the world in terms of good vs. evil. Liddy Dole wants to attach labels to people to push them into one category or another -- she doesn't want people to weigh the balance of the candidates POLICY merits.

I happen to think that most Republicans are evil, but that's because the balance of their deeds are craven, self-serving, and hypocritical, not just because they are Republicans. Some Republicans are actually good people.

[My2CentsToo]

Wow she's desperate. She should say that isn't her voice endorsing that commercial. Oh what a tangled web we weave......

[breakspear]

Well, it appears Elizabeth 'Slander' Dole will be another 72-yr old fool to lose next Tuesday, as John McCain is the other one. good riddance to them too. and let the door hit you.

[wordvarc]

More w styled immoral, unjust, unethical rovian RNC/GOP doublespeak.


Democrat Kay Hagan, the Democratic candidate, is a
Sunday School teacher and an
Elder at her Presbyterian church.

.

[ncmom1]

You know the comments about Kay Hagan being Godless really doesn't affect me one way or the other but what does make me mad is that stupid ad makes us in rural north carolina look like ignorant inbreds. It's bad enough that the rest of the country thinks this and here she is confirming it. If anything she owes US an apology for portraying an inaccurate picture of a pretty cool people

[provgrays]

Libby Dole:

Using God to furthur her own political ends.

[stayinsouth1981]

I wonder what she did with the bust she had commissioned for the Red Cross headquarters. Clara Barton, she is NOT!

[Cinnamonape]

Isn't this a perfect case of "using God's name in vain" (self-vanity)? Using "God's name for craven political purposes"?

It seems to me that it is LIBBY DOLE that is diminishing God...violating God's commands...showing that she doesn't fear God's wrath and vengeance by blaspheming and "bearing false witness".

Just who is indicating they don't believe in God here? Or perhaps Libby things that she has made a deal with something that will protect her from God?

May God's will be done on Tuesday through the wisdom of the people!

[Cinnamonape]

At least George W. Bush knew better to attach his name to this sort of sleeze when his underlings sent out the robocalls suggesting that "John McCain has a black child". I hope that the people of NC have learned a lot about the consequences of accepting these late campaign cheap shots since then.

But Libby seems to think that she can even defame and slander a Sunday School teacher by calling her an "godless" atheist. That's about as low as things can go.

"Libby Dole...how can she sleep at night? And I APPROVED THAT MESSAGE!"

[MikeCanada]

I can't believe that Elizabeth Dole is running this ad. I thought she would be like her husband, and lose gracefully.

[dengal]

would jesus have run that commercial?
I think not - I dont get it, they do all these outrageous things in the name of christianity that arent christian at all.

[Americatortures]

I wonder what Dole thinks about the ISSUES in her race??? Nah..never mind...she probably hasn't thought about them yet in this campaign cycle!!!

[Americatortures]

I wonder if the restaurant owner would throw out a table of the following women: Sarah Palin, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Liddy Dole and Michelle Bachman...all talking about Godless candidates and non-American Congressman...and the Patriotic parts of America...the things they know the most about????