4 ms·

Good question - we call this the "sham ad" problem. If an ad is of questionable origin and effectiveness, we'll investigate and even focus test it to see if it

Good question - we call this the "sham ad" problem. If an ad is of questionable origin and effectiveness, we'll investigate and even focus test it to see if it sways opinion. We have a group of 3 independent commissioners who would then vote on how to proceed. They are: - Lawrence Lessig (Harvard, Creative Commons, MayDAY Pac) - Richard Painter (George W. Bush's ethics czar) - Buddy Roemer (former Governor of Louisiana, has been both a D and an R)

wdewind 12y ago
Wow those are three highly politicized choices. I'd like to say they balance each other out, but Roemer is really an R, and acted like one when he was a D in LA. When Bush's Ethics Czar is the moderate of the bunch there are issues. I have to say that while I know it's difficult to find people qualified for such a job who don't have huge political ties, it's disappointing to see such heavily biased people be on a committee to make decisions like that.
- jim-greer 12y ago
  Richard Painter was not just Bush's ethics czar, but is a very respected law professor and ethicist. You can read some of his publications to get a better sense of him: http://www.law.umn.edu/facultyprofiles/painterr.html http://www.law.umn.edu/facultyprofiles/painterr.html http://wisconsinlawreview.org/wp-content/files/1-Nagy-Painter.pdf http://wisconsinlawreview.org/wp-content/files/1-Nagy-Painte... Buddy Roemer is also not an ideologue by any means.
  - wdewind 12y ago
    Yeah you know, you're right about Roemer, I read a bit more about him and I was wrong. Very atypical for an LA governor haha.
  - jtbigwoo 12y ago
    I think the criticism is reasonable, though. Roemer has been a self-declared Republican for 23 years. Painter seems reasonable and thoughtful, but when making political judgements it's tough to overlook his connection to the Bush administration. Centrist and liberal observers can be forgiven for being suspicious of a committee with two Republicans and a techno-liberal. I don't envy the people who had to organize this, by the way. Either you set up an odd-numbered panel and expect a bunch of criticism or you setup a even-numbered panel and prepare yourself for stalemates and ineffectiveness. (I suppose you could have a very large odd-numbered panel and hope that the law of averages helps you remain balanced.)

wdewind 12y ago

Wow those are three highly politicized choices. I'd like to say they balance each other out, but Roemer is really an R, and acted like one when he was a D in LA. When Bush's Ethics Czar is the moderate of the bunch there are issues. I have to say that while I know it's difficult to find people qualified for such a job who don't have huge political ties, it's disappointing to see such heavily biased people be on a committee to make decisions like that.

jim-greer 12y ago
Richard Painter was not just Bush's ethics czar, but is a very respected law professor and ethicist. You can read some of his publications to get a better sense of him: http://www.law.umn.edu/facultyprofiles/painterr.html http://www.law.umn.edu/facultyprofiles/painterr.html http://wisconsinlawreview.org/wp-content/files/1-Nagy-Painter.pdf http://wisconsinlawreview.org/wp-content/files/1-Nagy-Painte... Buddy Roemer is also not an ideologue by any means.
- wdewind 12y ago
  Yeah you know, you're right about Roemer, I read a bit more about him and I was wrong. Very atypical for an LA governor haha.
- jtbigwoo 12y ago
  I think the criticism is reasonable, though. Roemer has been a self-declared Republican for 23 years. Painter seems reasonable and thoughtful, but when making political judgements it's tough to overlook his connection to the Bush administration. Centrist and liberal observers can be forgiven for being suspicious of a committee with two Republicans and a techno-liberal. I don't envy the people who had to organize this, by the way. Either you set up an odd-numbered panel and expect a bunch of criticism or you setup a even-numbered panel and prepare yourself for stalemates and ineffectiveness. (I suppose you could have a very large odd-numbered panel and hope that the law of averages helps you remain balanced.)