Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, September 13, 1994                   TAG: 9409130061
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KEITH MONROE LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ADWATCH

Title: Stand Up.

When: Scheduled locally through Sunday, Sept. 18.

Text:

Narrator, in voice of understated drama, says: ``In Vietnam, his bravery earned the Silver Star. When terrorists captured the Achille Lauro cruise ship and murdered an innocent American, he worked tirelessly to help launch the commando raid that captured them. He helped plan the rescue of American students on Grenada and helped freedom fighters end communism and bring free elections to Nicaragua. Ollie North -- always the courage to stand up for freedom. Today, the courage to stand up for Virginia families in the U.S. Senate.''

Video:

Montage of clips shows combat clips from Vietnam, pictures of medals, the Achille Lauro cruise ship, a flag-draped coffin, a New York Daily News headline: ``We Bag the Bums''; mug shots of four terrorists, amphibious ships landing on Grenada; a student kissing the tarmac of a runway, Contras on patrol, goose-stepping soldiers, Nicaraguan President Violetta Chamorro; Ollie North raising his right hand to take the oath before the congressional committee investigating Iran-Contra in 1987; North giving a campaign speech.

What's the message: The ad was unveiled during ``60 Minutes'' on Sunday to counteract claims, made earlier in the program by former National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane, that North lied to President Reagan and Congress about his role in an arms-for-hostages deal with Iran and clandestine efforts to aid anti-communist rebels in Nicaragua. "This is not somebody you want in public life," McFarlane said.

The spot paints North as a patriot who has fought for freedom at every turn. It is part of North's strategy of running on the Iran-Contra scandal, not away from it. The ad focuses on North's patriotic motivations and steers clear of questions about the the wisdom and legality of his actions, such as the unathorized diversion of arms sales profits to the Nicaraguan Contras. Finally, the ad asks viewers to see his Senate candidacy as an extention of his freedom-fighting efforts, this time for the rights of "Virginia families."

Factual errors: North was decorated in Vietnam, did play a role in capturing the Achille Lauro terrorists, in planning the Grenada operation and in aiding the contras. However, there are omissions such as the fact that North helped the Contras at a time when such aid was restricted by Congress and that North was convicted of three felonies (later overturned) for his role in Iran-Contra.

Keywords:
POLITICS