HUNTSVILLE, AL—
A political ad on television from Congressman Parker Griffith has some people up in arms, including the person the ad targets, Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks.Both Griffith and Brooks are vying for District 5's Congressional seat.
The ad has also ticked off a group that's unassociated with politics. Rocket City Rowing Club officials are so angered by the ad that they're holding a news conference about it Saturday. Parker Griffith says the ad has nothing to do with the rowing club.
In a television political ad, Parker Griffith's camp accuses Mo Brooks of being irresponsible with money.
The ad says, "Hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayers' money wasted on pork barrel projects and earmarks to buy votes, including $100,000 dollars for this boathouse."
Griffith explains, "It basically says that we think that using $100,000 of taxpayers' money without any input from the taxpayer is not a good idea and should stop."
Griffith says the ad is about Brooks using taxpayers money to benefit only a small part of the 5th Congressional District.
But, Rocket City Rowing Club members say they take issue with the ad's reference to the boathouse, which they use. Club members say Griffith has not only mischaracterized the boathouse, but their entire club.
"We need roads, we know our schools need money," Griffith said, "so this is really not about the rowers. I'm sorry that they're mad at me, but this has really nothing to do with them."
A Rocket City Rowing Club Spokeswoman says Griffith is distorting the club as part of his political agenda. She says they're holding a news conference Saturday morning at 10:30 at the boathouse on Hobbs Island Road to address the issue.
