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["Sil Greene" <quack AT ibiblio.org>]

Hmmm.   You're right, in that this ad's message seems a little confused;
but without a transcript in front of me I'd be foolish to spout off about
it just from your description.


So, just because we're on a 'definitions' thread, I thought I'd chime in
with something that might help:

"Special interest

"A hidden stake of one party, that is not revealed when relevant
information is disclosed by that party.

"Also used to refer to overt lobbying or political efforts of groups
affiliated by a common interest, such as industry groups,
environmentalists or various social groups such as one advocating for
immigrants, financeurs or veterans. Generally any loose affiliation of
interests for the purpose of influencing political debate, affiliated
outside a party structure or within a political group, might be described
as a special interest group.

"The label is often attached to a group whose political agenda seeks
advantage for that group with proposals that otherwise have no direct
benefit for the entire political body."



(Based on first and last paragraphs, I'm not sure breast cancer survivors
qualify as a special interest.  They're not exactly pushing for something
that doesn't benefit the body politic.)

--s



Jeremy Portzer said:
> So, this morning on the radio I heard an attack ad against Richard
> Burr.  (Presumably it was sponsored by Bowles, but I don't know for
> certain.)  The ad was criticizing Burr's record on breast cancer
> research; it was narrated by a breast cancer survivor and claimed that
> Burr had voted against any and all funding for such research.  Ok, fine,
> seems like a valid point.
>
> But what really got me is at the end of the ad, the narrator said
> something along the lines of "vote against Burr; don't elect a candidate
> controlled by special interests."
>
> Now, if you are a supporter of breast cancer research and making your
> sole decision to vote based on which candidate would further that goal,
> ISN'T THAT A SPECIAL INTEREST ?!?!
>
> How/why did the author of this ad have the gall to spend the whole spot
> talking about their one goal -- not electing someone who would not
> further their particular interest -- and then claim that the candidate
> *is* beholden to special interests.  WHAT?!
>
> And if they were trying to insinuate that Burr's stance *against* cancer
> research was due to a "special interest" -- what interest is that?  I
> haven't ever heard of a "Citizens for Breast Cancer" anywhere!
>
> Craziness.  The ad was making a very good point with me until I heard
> this idiotic part.
>
> Jeremy
>
> --
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