Hahn, Huey Denounce Super PAC's Ad

A political advertisement on YouTube depicting Los Angeles City Councilwoman and Democratic Congressional candidate Janice Hahn as a stripper caused an uproar on both sides of the political aisle Tuesday and Wednesday.

The ad, which was produced by super political action committee Turn Right USA, was quickly condemned by Hahn and businessman Craig Huey, her opponent in the runoff for the 36th Congressional District seat.

"Along with many other residents of the South Bay, I am outraged over this racist and sexist ad," Huey, a Republican, said in a statement. "I unequivocally denounce it … The ad was not authorized and not affiliated with my campaign."

In a statement on her website, Hahn called the ad "degrading to women in the worst way" and encouraged supporters to donate to her campaign to "send a message to Craig Huey and his cronies that the people … deserve better."

Additionally, Hahn's campaign said it planned to file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against Huey's campaign, alleging that the campaign and Turn Right USA worked together in violation of federal law, City News Service reported Wednesday night. Federal election law says that as long as they don't coordinate their campaign efforts with candidates, PACs can raise and spend as much money as they want.

Jimmy Camp, Huey's campaign spokesman, denied the allegation.

"There is absolutely no connection between the Huey campaign and [Turn Right USA]," he said. "I am offended by the ad. I am offended by the group. I think they're despicable for distracting the voters of this district with this crap."

According to Hahn's campaign, Huey ordered yard signs from CampaignLA, which listed a mailbox at a Gardena check-cashing establishment on Western Avenue as its address in a campaign filing in May 2010. Apparently, Turn Right USA currently keeps a post office box at the same location, according to a June 8 FEC filing.

"There are literally millions of post office boxes where Turn Right USA could have set up their phony political location," said Dave Jacobson, Hahn's campaign manager. "I'm not a statistician, but I think I have a better chance of winning the SuperLotto jackpot than these two pro-Huey political groups winding up in the exact same address by accident."

A spokesman from Huey's campaign said it ordered 100 yard signs from CampaignLA in March, but has not had any other contact with the organization.

CampaignLA now lists its location at a different Gardena address. LA Weekly reported that a person who answered the phone at that address denied any connection with the video.

In the same article, LA Weekly also reported that the video's producer, Ladd Ehlinger, said Hahn was "barking up the wrong tree" if she thought Turn Right USA coordinated with Huey's campaign.

City News Service contributed to this report.