‘Wide Stance’: TV Commercial Spoofs Craig Hearing to Address Ag PACs

Despite wingtips viewed under a bathroom stall door, a new commercial airing on CNN in Minneapolis isn’t about Larry Craig’s “wide stance,” but that of American kids, who are increasingly obese. Kevin Diaz at The Big Question points out the spot by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine which runs Wednesday only and shows agribusiness lobbyists passing money — not making passes — under stall walls. Politicians, says the narrator, get PAC money from corporations producing fatty foods.

“In turn, Congress buys up millions of dollars of these products and dumps them on our schools. Companies get rich; kids get fat.”

The ad targets Minnesota’s senators, both members of the agriculture committee, which takes up the issue of nutrition programs in the farm bill next month. Sen. Norm Coleman, Diaz points out, got $389,366 from agribusiness PACs since 2000, while Amy Klobuchar received $21,800.

adMN is an ongoing review of communications created to shape Minnesota’s campaigns and culture.