TV ad suggests newspapers support Inslee, most don’t

It’s always interesting to see which phrases get lifted from a newspaper article or editorial and used to rant or rave about a political candidate. This latest television ad in support of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee is certainly no exception.

“He’s a total Washingtonian,” boasts the ad about Inslee, lifting a few words from a recent Columbian endorsement editorial. Inslee opponents say the ad is misleading because it makes it appear as if Inslee was endorsed by the newspaper.

He wasn’t. The Columbian endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna.

In the Columbian’s endorsement of McKenna, the editorial board wrote:

“Jay Inslee is making a strong bid as Democratic nominee. He is a total Washingtonian, growing up in Yakima and serving both eastern and western parts of the state as an elected official. But his 13 years in Congress do not match McKenna’s eight years in the generally neutral attorney general’s office when it comes to seeking the state’s most powerful position.”

The ad, which was created by the Our Washington PAC, also includes cheery snippets about Inslee that have been printed in the Yakima Herald-Republic, The Tri-City Herald and The Herald in Everett. For the record, all of those newspapers endorsed McKenna.

The Olympian is also referenced in the ad. That newspaper did endorse Inslee.

Stevie Mathieu: 360-735-4523 or stevie.mathieu@columbian.com or www.facebook.com/reportermathieu or www.twitter.com/col_politics