The scene is from a television ad, paid for with tax money and made by consultants close to Hollywood producer Rob Reiner. It aired across California this winter, touting the benefits of preschool. "When kids go," the narrator says, "we all benefit.""We all benefit" is one of those great socialist slogans.No word still yet on whether Rob Reiner and his friends sent or send their children to non-magnet public schools.
The release of the ad, and two others, by a state commission Reiner heads coincided with his launch of a ballot initiative that would tax the rich to fund preschool for all California 4-year-olds.
Although Reiner did not directly approve the spots, their timing and substance highlight ties between the public commission and his private political campaigns and raise questions about whether the state-funded commercials were used to boost the initiative's prospects.
State law generally prohibits the use of public funds for campaign activities. Reiner's campaign attorney said the ads were legal and not political.
Monday, February 20, 2006
TV Ads Put Focus on Rob Reiner
The L.A. Times reports: