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Summarized by Janus Wilkinson
Ads For Mormon Candidates Run Afowl of Scout Rules
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- Utah Congressional candidate Derek Smith and
Utah Attorney General hopeful Mark Shurtleff are having to edit their
campaign ads after learning that their use of Boy Scouts in the ads
violated Boy Scout policy.
The two Republicans' staffs were hurrying to either edit out the
merit badge-laden boys, or pull the ads entirely. Laurie Sullivan,
Smith's press secretary says it was just an innocent misunderstanding
and that they had thought getting parental permission to use the
Scouts was all that was needed. Scout officials say the Boy Scouts'
tax-exempt status bars partisan political involvement by its members.
In Utah, about 150,000 boys participate in Scouting programs -- 90
percent of them via units sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Smith and Shurtleff are members of the LDS Church
also.
Ally Isom, campaign manager for Shurtleff says, "It was an honest
mistake, Mark was a Scoutmaster for 20 years. The Scouts mean
everything to Mark. He is a firm believer in mentoring youth and
getting involved."
Therefore, it seemed only natural for Shurtleff to pose with members
of his troop. Shurtleff's campaign staff -- like Smith's -- thought
obtaining parental permission was sufficient.
Once they learned it was not, the staff next called the campaign's
advertising agency, Strategy Group of Ohio, and ordered a quick
redesign of the spots.
Source:
Campaigns Hustling To Fix Ads, They say use of Scouts was a misunderstanding
Salt Lake Tribune 14Oct00 T2
By Bob Mims: Salt Lake Tribune
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