September, 03 2009, 03:15pm EDT
LWV Urges Copycat Org. to End Misleading Health Care Ads
League of Women Voters Objects to Deceptive Advertising by “League of American Voters”
WASHINGTON
In a hand-delivered letter, the League of Women Voters called on the "League of American Voters"
(LAV) to "cease and desist" from using a name clearly designed to be
confused with the League's in order to disseminate misleading
information and block health care reform.
"The League
of American Voters health care ad makes misleading statements in an
inflammatory way," League of Women Voters President Mary G. Wilson
stated in her letter to LAV Executive Director Bob Adams. "Not only
does your ad distort the facts on health care reform, it does so using
a name that is deceptively similar to the League of Women Voters,"
Wilson said.
"We are not convinced that this startup group is a credible
organization with authority to speak on behalf of American voters,"
Wilson said. "They may have a legitimate-sounding name, but-until we
know who is funding the ads-there is no reason to believe that they are
anything other than another organization serving as a conduit for
big-money attacks on health care reform."
"This is typical of the kinds of things we are seeing from the
opponents of health care reform. Intentionally putting out bad
information to mislead, confuse and scare Americans," Wilson charged.
"This copycat group appears to be entirely inaccessible to the public.
We had to hand-deliver our letter because the group's website lists no
email address or fax number," Wilson said, pointing out that
the group's office address is shared with several lobbying groups who
were unable to locate LAV management or staff.
"The League is releasing the text of this letter to set the record
straight: The work of Mr. Adams' organization should in no way be
confused with the League of Women Voters," Wilson added.
"The League of Women Voters of the United States
has more than 150,000 members and supporters nationwide, and we are one
of the most trusted nonpartisan organizations in the U.S. Our members
and the public rely on us to share information responsibly and
accurately, because that is what we have done for almost 90 years,"
Wilson said.
"Make no mistake: The League of Women Voters believes quality,
affordable health care should be available to all Americans," Wilson
stated.
"The League of American Voters would best serve Americans by telling
the truth in their ads. Our democracy depends on honest and open debate
among real people, not misinformation from mysterious, inaccessible
organizations that get money from unknown sources to create national TV
spots in order to block needed health care reform," Wilson concluded.
Reporters interested in speaking to Mary G. Wilson should contact Martha Patzer at 202-263-1332 or mpatzer@lwv.org.
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, has fought since 1920 to improve our systems of government and impact public policies through citizen education and advocacy. The League's enduring vitality and resonance comes from its unique decentralized structure. The League is a grassroots organization, working at the national, state and local levels.
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