After weeks of internal divisions and public controversy, the Livingston County Republican Party Executive Committee issued a statement Friday saying that all nine judicial candidates who responded to its endorsement questionnaire share the "core values" of the party.
"Based on their answers, we have found their statements of core values to be consistent with those of the Republican Party," the statement said.
I do have one correction that needs to be made.
On Friday, Wholihan declined to comment other than to say that he voted for the statement.
Actually my statement on "he voted for the statement" was "I didn't vote Nay." Take that how you wish.
Technically, the statement given in the press release would be issue advocacy if used in a broadcast ad. It did not use the "magic words" of endorse, support, for, elect, against, defeat, or reject. However, if this was federal and in a broadcast ad, this statement - "Based on their answers, we have found their statements of core values to be consistent with those of the Republican Party," - is viewed as an electioneering communication in support of those judicial candidates under the BCRA(McCain/Feingold) Act (unless it is a 527).
Technicalities aside - to the readers reading this, does that statement look like an endorsement?
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