SC congressman calls for opponent to take ad down, calling it ‘patently false’
U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson’s campaign called a new 30-second ad his opponent is running, which says he hasn’t held a town hall in years, “patently false,” and wants her to take it down.
In a statement, the Wilson campaign called on Democrat Adair Ford Boroughs to take down the ad, and argued he participated in at least 15 town hall events since early 2019.
“Congressman Joe Wilson believes this seat belongs to the people, and that’s why his constituent service and outreach is second to none,” campaign spokesman Mark Knoop said in a statement. “Adair Boroughs must take down her blatantly false ad from the airwaves and explain to voters why she’s deliberately misleading them. Voters want the truth - not desperate and dishonest politicians who will say anything to get elected.”
In the ad, which was first posted online on Tuesday, claims that Wilson does not show up to take questions from members of the district.
“If there is a parade of photo op, Joe Wilson is there, but he hasn’t held a town hall in years,” the campaign’s ad states.
It goes on to talk about Wilson’s support of drug an insurance companies, which have donated heavily to his campaigns in the past.
“Wilson voted to cut their taxes, to let them raise your premiums and gut protections for preexisting conditions,” the ad states. “No wonder he won’t take your questions. Joe Wilson sold you out, so vote him out of Congress.”
Wilson’s campaign refuted the claim, pointing to several virtual, telephone and in-person events he’s held over the last year and a half with constituents in South Carolina’s second congressional district, which includes parts of Richland, Lexington, Aiken, Barnwell and Orangeburg counties. All but two of the 15 events were held digitally or over the phone, with the only in-person town halls being hosted by the Irmo Chamber of Commerce.
Boroughs’ campaign criticized the meetings Wilson did hold.
“Pre-arranged bus tours with private meetings the public cannot attend, ribbon cuttings and pre-screened telephone calls the public cannot dial into are the participation trophies of American politics and its why people are so disillusioned with career politicians like Joe Wilson,” campaign spokesperson Stephanie Justice said in a statement. “If he’s held town halls, he’s kept them pretty secret from the public.”
This story was originally published September 25, 2020 at 10:20 AM.
