Anti-Casino Ad Draws Criticism From Issue 3 Supporters, Opponents

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Supporters of the Issue 3 campaign to build four new casinos in Ohio are criticizing a television ad that features burning buildings and imagery evocative of domestic violence.

The ad from the group Families Against Issue 3 states, "Casinos kill families...and communities as well."

Bob Tennenbaum, spokesperson for the pro-Issue 3 organizing group Ohio Jobs and Growth Committee, said the ad crosses the line.

"It's the most misleading, disgusting and despicable TV ad I've seen in a political campaign in Ohio, and I've been around political campaigns for 40 years. It's shameful really," Tennenbaum said. "It's things blowing up and things burning down. It's an apocalypse movie compressed into 30 seconds. Prostitution, guns, heaven knows what any of that has to do with Issue 3. If I were involved in it I would be apologizing to voters."

Families Against Issue 3 did not return NBC 4's repeated calls and emails.

The Ohio State University political science professor Paul Beck told NBC 4 television ads like the ad in question attempt to influence voter turnout.

"Both sides are extreme in either the positive or negative consequences," Beck said. "One way you get higher turnout is by scaring people."

One opposition ally did not attempt to defend the ad either. Rev. John Edgar leads the United Methodist Church's anti-gambling task force. He said the outrageousness of the ad takes away from the serious argument against Issue 3 that crime and gambling addiction will hurt Ohio families.

"That's disappointing, shouldn't be done... certainly doesn't help. We need people to talk about the reality of the issue: increased addiction, increased crime, undermining the local economy and killing off existing jobs," Edgar said.

Tennenbaum countered that Issue 3 supporters have dedicated money to law enforcement training and to treat problem gaming.

Former Buckeye quarterback Art Schlichter and his mother have become the public face of Families Against Issue 3, but the group has not disclosed its funding source. Because Families Against Issue 3 formed late in the campaign, the public will not know who is paying for the ad until after the election. NBC4 found Families Against Issue 3 spokesperson Tim Suereth received more than $12,000 in September and October from TruthPAC, the Issue 3 opposition group primarily funded by the owner of West Virginia's Mountaineer Casino. "I think they've taken advantage of Art Schlicter whose case clearly is tragic. But my guess is he doesn't know what this group really is and what it is is a front for the same West Virginia casino interests that have been fronting TruthPAC through this entire campaign," Tennenbaum said. TruthPAC spokesperson Sandy Theis denied funding Families Against Issue 3, but acknowledged the two groups work together. NBC4 called and emailed Families Against Issue 3 five times on Monday to give the group an opportunity identify its funding sources. They received our messages and replied briefly by email, but chose not respond with a statement. Edgar defended the Schlicters' role in working to defeat Issue 3. "They are not pawns. This is a family that has experienced firsthand the devastation of gambling," Edgar said. Tennenbaum said Families Against Issue 3 should be upfront if casino interests are paying for ad campaign attacking gaming. "That's what's so hypocritical about it. Basically, you have a group that's funded by gaming interests that's pretending it's against gambling," Tennenbaum said.

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