The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is running its first television commercial attacking Republican nominee David Young in Iowa’s third Congressional district. I don’t know exactly when the ad went up on the air, because I haven’t seen any official announcement from the DCCC, nor is the video on their YouTube channel yet. I saw it for the first time today during the lunchtime newscast on a Des Moines-based station. Bleeding Heartland readers in southwest Iowa, please let me know if you’ve seen the spot on an Omaha/Council Bluffs station.

Since I didn’t catch the ad on video yet, I don’t have an exact transcript. The gist was that David Young is a Washington insider who will “never work for you,” only for special interests that want to do bad things like eliminate the Department of Education. When possible, I’ll update this post with the ad and its script. It was very cookie-cutter in style.

Ater the jump, I’ve posted a statement the DCCC released today, mocking Young’s new television ad for promising to bring “Iowa reality” to Washington.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has reserved television time in IA-03, but to my knowledge, they are not on the air yet against Democratic nominee Staci Appel. CORRECTION: The NRCC started running its first tv spot against Appel on September 4. Click here for details.

UPDATE: Added the video and transcript below.

“Ugly,” an independent expenditure ad the DCCC launched on September 4:

My transcript:

Male voice-over: After 20 years in Washington, [graphic shows photo of David Young next to words DAVID YOUNG 20 YEARS IN WASHINGTON],

David Young says,

[view shifts to Young speaking during an episode of Iowa Public TV’s “Iowa Press” program]: “I’ve seen the ugly in Washington, D.C. I’ve been caught by its trappings.” [words appear on screen: “I’VE BEEN CAUGHT BY ITS TRAPPINGS”]

Voice-over: Caught by its trappings. [Graphic shows a drawing of the Capitol; “I’VE BEEN CAUGHT BY ITS TRAPPINGS” remain on screen]

Maybe that’s why Young wants to give more tax breaks to big corporations and billionaires. [Image of Young appears against backdrop of New York City skyline, with bags of money moving across the screen. Words on screen: DAVID YOUNG: $200,000 IN TAX BREAKS FOR MILLIONAIRES In smaller print, AP, 4/11/14, CTJ, 4/02/14]

And pay for it by slashing funding for schools and eliminating the Department of Education. [Image of school bus in front of elementary school appears (playground visible next to school, which is flying an American flag). Words near top of screen: DAVID YOUNG: CUT EDUCATION BY $4 BILLION Department of Education, 7/14/14]

Because David Young got caught up in Washington, he’ll never work for Iowa. [Image of Young with off-center visuals of NYC skyline and Capitol building; DAVID YOUNG: HE’LL NEVER WORK FOR YOU]

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising.

Like most of the DCCC’s output (as well as ads produced by the National Republican Congressional Committee), this spot is neither subtle nor memorable. Every election year I wonder whether this type of attack ad is becoming less effective.

Statement released by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on September 4:

Washington Insider David Young released a laughable new TV ad where he claimed to have his finger on the pulse of “Iowa reality” despite his 20-year career in Washington. Following is a statement on his new TV ad from the DCCC’s Brandon Lorenz:

“The reality is that David Young has owned two homes in Washington D.C. and hasn’t lived in Iowa in more than 20 years, which is why he didn’t know that you could buy a home in Iowa for $70,000, and why he said he wanted to eliminate the Department of Education, which would cut funding for schools, all while giving tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations,” said Brandon Lorenz of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “The reality is Iowa voters are going to reject a Washington insider like David Young, whose vision is to reduce opportunity for Iowa students so that the wealthy and big corporations can get a tax break.”

BACKGROUND:

Young has Been a Washington Insider for 20 Years.  From 1993 to 2013, Young earned at least $1,571,586 from his salary and travel expenses with the U.S. Senate. [Secretary of the Senate, accessed 7/10/14]

July 2008: Bought Three Story DC Home for $1.275 Million. In August 2008, a Deed was filed with the DC Recorder of Deeds. In July 2008, Young bought the three story row house for $1.275 million. [DC Office of Tax and Revenue, accessed 6/23/14; Deed, 8/13/08]

December 2000: Bought Second DC Home for $308,554. In December 2000, Young bought the two and a half story row house for $308,554. [DC Office of Tax and Revenue, accessed 6/30/14]

Young Expressed Shock that He Could Buy a Home in Van Meter for $70,000. In May 2013, Young expressed his shock that he could buy a home in Van Meter, Iowa for $70,000. “Did you know you can buy a four-bedroom house in Van Meter for $70,000?” Young said. [Des Moines Register, 5/26/13]

Young Embraced Republican Budget, Saying it was a “Good Thing.” In 2014, at fundraiser with Congressman Paul Ryan, Young said the Ryan Budget “moves the ball down the field […] and that’s a good thing.” [Associated Press, 4/11/14]

Republicans Budget Proposal Would “Reduce Taxes for the Wealthy.” “House Republicans will revive Rep. Paul Ryan’s lightning-rod proposals to slash the federal safety net, beef up military spending and reduce taxes for the wealthy in a budget unveiled Tuesday – an election-year calling card that Democrats are poised to use against the GOP.” [Los Angeles Times, 4/01/14]

Republican Budget Would Cut Corporate Tax Rate by 10 Percent. “That plan would collapse the current seven individual tax brackets into two and lower the top individual rate from 39.6 percent to 25 percent. The corporate rate would also be slashed to 25 percent, from its current 35 percent.”  [The Hill, 4/01/14]

Young: I Would Get Rid Of The Department Of Education “As We Know It.” In 2013, when asked if he would get rid of the Department of Education Young responded:”I’d get rid of it as we know it, of course, but, you know, I would.” (Polk County GOP Picnic, Des Moines, IA, 9/7/13)