Busy Signal for Political Smears

Political candidates and their surrogates should not be allowed to get away with anonymous telephone attacks during campaigns. The worst examples during the Los Angeles mayoral primary were an impersonation of county Supervisor Gloria Molina that slammed Antonio Villaraigosa and another automated call that amounted to an anti-Semitic slur against Steve Soboroff. A bill, SB 3, introduced on election day by Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte (R-Rancho Cucamonga), would close a loophole that allows political phone bank operators to get away with these anonymous attacks.

Automated calls are not covered by campaign disclosure laws that require mailers, newspaper ads, radio commercials and television ads to reveal who paid for the message. Brulte’s bill would extend the requirement to phone calls made on behalf of candidates or ballot propositions. And the identification must not be just some benign-sounding “Citizens for Good Government,” which tells voters nothing. Fairness demands proper disclosure.

Brulte’s proposed “truth in telephoning” act is scheduled for consideration Wednesday before the Senate Elections and Reapportionment Committee. His two previous attempts at similar legislation failed, but Brulte is counting on outrage over the disgraceful cheap shots during the mayoral primary to propel this measure into law.

Angelenos still do not know who paid for the deceptive phone calls aimed at Soboroff and Villaraigosa. SB 3 would at least help voters in the future to lay responsibility where it belonged, and to cast their ballots accordingly.