Wanted: GOP's anti-Cranley 'Taser' ad

A still photo of the National Republican Congressional Committee's "Taser" ad.

When they know that they're about to release an over-hyped stinker of a movie -- say, Snakes on a Plane -- movie studios will refuse to screen it to movie critics. If they can get it to opening weekend before the critics get ahold of it, they surmise, they can often recover their investment before word gets out and the movie tanks at the box office.

That's what the National Republican Congressional Committee is doing with its latest horror flick, which features a 7-year-old girl getting zapped, Frankenstein-style, with electricity.

"TASERS! 7-YEAR-OLDS! 50,000 VOLTS!" the ad's graphics exclaim.

The ad is referring to a non-binding resolution last year, sponsored by Charterite Councilman Christopher Smitherman, what would have asked the Cincinnati Police Department to change its policy on the use of the stun guns on children under 11. Democratic Councilman John Cranley, who is opposing Republican Steve Chabot in the 1st District congressional race, voted against the resolution and in support of the police policy.

That's remarkable because most of the attacks on Cranley have been that he's "turned his back" on police. And it puts national Republicans on the same side as Smitherman -- a councilman one prominent Republican officeholder famously called "a smart-mouthed little punk" -- and against the Cincinnati Police.

The ad also alleges that Cranley took money from campaign contributors with business before City Council, but the supporting fine print flies by so quickly it's difficult to know what the GOP's talking about.

The NRCC is the only campaign running ads in Cincinnati -- local or national -- that has refused to release its ads to the Enquirer. (Sometimes, campaigns will even make their opponent's ads available so they can be fact-checked.) NRCC spokesman Ed Patsu cited "policy."

If you have a digital copy of the ad for an upcoming "Ad Watch" feature, please e-mail gkorte@enquirer.com.

UPDATE (Thursday, 9:37 a.m.): The Cranley campaign has graciously provided a copy of the ad. Look for a fact check in the Enquirer in the coming days.