We can now assume the campaign for Governor is official by the ads on TV and radio. You know the routine — ominous music plays in the background while the record of one candidate’s negligence and failures are listed. The video versions show the failed candidate in unflattering back and white images. Then comes “springtime” with happy music, maybe even glorious music, a smiling face of the other candidate with families, elderly persons and hardworking people in the assembly line. Happy days are here! Vote for this person, they will bring about the best of times and cast off the tyranny of the worst of times.

I will say, while the ads irritate me, it is our responsibility as citizens to verify the claims made in these ads. In the interest of full disclosure, though hardly a surprise to anyone who reads my column, I have a horse in this race. I threw all my effort and volunteer time behind working for Dino Rossi ever since his official announcement last October. So, while I can see through the cosmetic and marketing gimmicks behind political ads, I can also speak for the truth of the claims of the ads.

When Gregoire’s ads attack the so-called “Dino Rossi budget” I wonder how many people know that the budget in question received bi-partisan support and was actually signed by then democrat Governor Gary Locke. It was 2003 and Rossi, who was the chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, wrote a budget that not only received bi-partisan support from 30 democrats and Locke, but it actually helped close a multi-billion dollar budget gap without imposing new taxes and while still protecting our most vulnerable citizens. This is a fact that cannot be changed by vague accusations or menacing music.

Another fact that should be checked is Gregoire’s claim of being tough on sex offenders.

Gregoire has offered no response to the campaign to pass Jessica’s Law, a tougher mandatory sentencing law against child molesters, which has passed in 30 other states. She has offered no statement regarding the Special Sexual Offender Sentencing Alternative (SSOSA), which gives preferential treatment to offenders who have a special relationship with their victim (family member, coach, minister, etc.) under the ridiculous notion that a tough sentence against someone close to the victim will further traumatize the child. Republicans have been working to throw out this unjust system for years to no avail. SSOSA has allowed 5,000 child rapists and molesters to escape prison sentences (which in my view makes the state responsible for re-traumatizing child victims by taking the side of the offender).

The Gregoire ads call her tough on sex offenders because of a tough sounding program she launched called “Operation Crackdown,” which added 50 sex offenders (out of 20,000 in our state) to a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) device. Republicans asked for a program to outfit all Level 3 sex offenders on GPS, numbering in the thousands. This motion, along with a motion to pass Jessica’s Law and overturning SSOSA have not been allowed a discussion by the majority party in the Legislature nor by the Governor. Again, these are facts, not vague statistics or claims using tricky language.

The most recent attack ads against Rossi attempt to align his name and policies to President George Bush by citing Rossi’s views on abortion, stem cell research and global warming. Every self identified voter who doesn’t like President Bush’s policies should be insulted by this attempt. It’s a transparent manipulation of Washington State’s decidedly left-leaning “blue” sentiments, without offering important distinctions.

Never mind that the ad is false. It claims George Bush and Dino Rossi are against stem cell research. They are not against the research itself and neither have attempted to make it illegal. They are against government funding of embryonic stem cell research because of the moral controversy surrounding the deliberate manipulation of human embryos for scientific research. Adult stem cell research has yielded far better outcomes and is not controversial. Failing to recognize such important distinctions like these is what gives politics such a bad name.

And as for both men being against Roe vs. Wade. Such apposition holds no weight in liberal Washington State, who legalized abortion before Roe vs. Wade was ever passed. Finally, the real issue at stake in the global warming debate, is pollution. Regardless of whether carbon emissions actually causes global warming, everybody agrees that reducing emissions is a good thing. Rossi’s transportation plan will do just that by encouraging alternative fuel sources in cars on the road beginning with converting all state-owned vehicles to hybrid or electric sources and removing sales tax from the purchase of all such vehicles.

Ah, distinctions between a complete human embryo and living cells that are dependent on a human being for life…who cares? In politics, all spoils go to the victor…at least one candidate in the race doesn’t seem to care about the means to their victory.

Federal Way resident Angie Vogt: vogt.e@comcast.net. For past columns and further commentary, visit www.soundupdate.com