Checking Sali's ad claims

BOISE -- The race for U.S. House District 1 seat is heating up with just weeks to go until Election Day. The campaigns are hurling lots of accusations in their television ads.

Our latest Ad Watch takes a closer look at Congressman Bill Sali's newest ad.

Our first Ad Watch focused on Walt Minnick's claims against Sali. Now the tables have turned as we look at one of the latest ads to hit the airwaves.

"Some politicians sure dance to hide their liberal ways," said Sali commercial.

You have probably seen this ad on the air.  A political commercial put out by the Republican incumbent against his Democratic opponent about serious issues.

"Campaigns are serious and the issues are serious, but you know we need to make sure that you know we kind of keep our bearings about us, and I think the approach that we took, it gets the right message across but it's entertaining and a little light-hearted about things," said Bill Sali.

"I think that these are very serious times.  People are worried about the economy.  They are worried about paying their bills.  They are worried about keeping their homes, and to have a political ad like just doesn't strike the right tone about what is happening today," said John Foster, Walt Minnick spokesperson.

Tone aside, is the commercial accurate? We put the message to the fact test.

"Walt Minnick poses with a shot gun, but the NRA rates him a risk for gun owners," states Sali commercial.

That is true.  The National Riffle Association recently gave Minnick a ‘D’ grade, while Sali got an ‘A.’

"For statements he's made and questionnaires he's filled out, they know he is a danger for those who want protection of gun rights," said Sali.

"That was politically motivated, Walt is promoted by the American Hunters and Shooters Administration.  He's an avid outdoorsman and a lifelong hunter.  He owns seven guns.  We are not worried about the NRA's endorsement," said Foster.

Another issue is the ad is taxes. 

"Walt Minnick talks jobs, but his tax ideas would cost an Idaho family $2,200 a year and kill jobs too," states Sali commercial.

That is false.  This is a stretch.  A 2003 Minnick newspaper editorial that Sali uses as his source for this claim makes no mention of any tax plan, let alone a tax increase.

“I think he has made it clear that he wants the tax cuts that we had under President Clinton.  He opposes the Bush tax cuts.  Logical conclusion is he wants to go back to the Clinton rates and that will raise by $2,200 a family in Idaho,” said Sali.

“Again that's just not true.  Walt Minnick supports tax cuts for the middle class,” said Foster.

A third accusation is leveled against Minnick in the Sali ad.

"He claims to back drilling but was part of a lawsuit to block drilling," states Sali commercial.

The claim is debatable.  When we asked to see the lawsuit cited in the ad, Sali sent us one that had nothing to do with oil drilling.

"You know what, campaigns are fast and furious, I accept responsibility that we don't' have the right citation there, but the facts I stand by - we are correct about that," said Sali.

It is a fact that Minnick served on the Wilderness Society's governing council when that organization filed lawsuits against drilling.

"Walt was on the board of the Wilderness Society for a long time and he wasn't the most popular guy.  He is always advocating for them to move toward the middle and over time you have seen them do that," said Foster.

Sali finishes the ad saying Minnick is too liberal for Idaho.  But both candidates say they stand for conservative values.