Pubdate: Fri, 01 Nov 2002 Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX) 54458 Copyright: 2002 San Antonio Express-News Contact: http://www.mysanantonio.com/expressnews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/384 Author: Sherry Sylvester, Staff Writer, Rebeca Rodriguez, Staff PERRY CAMPAIGN YANKS SPOT ATTACKING SANCHEZ A controversial campaign ad linking Democratic gubernatorial nominee Tony Sanchez to the drug dealers who killed federal agent Enrique Camarena has been taken off the air, but outraged San Antonio Democrats insist Gov. Rick Perry should apologize. The commercial, which features two former DEA agents who say the drug dealers involved in Camarena's murder laundered millions of dollars through Sanchez's thrift, was scheduled to be removed from television stations around the state Thursday, according to Perry spokesman Ray Sullivan. "The ad has been up for a week now. It's run its course, and has reached the point of diminishing returns=A8 Sullivan said. He resisted suggestions that the ad was being removed because of pressure. The ad has produced several newspaper editorials and an outcry from some Hispanic leaders who say it inaccurately links Sanchez to illegal drug dealing while unfairly stereotyping Hispanics. "He insults one of our own with seedy TV images that attempt to ridicule who we are with cheap, false attacks=A8 local labor leader Jaime P. Martinez said. Henry Rodriguez, of the League of United Latin American Citizens, called the ad an "insult=A8 and demanded that Perry apologize. Sanchez has said that he and officials at his thrift knew nothing about the money laundering and no one in his business has been connected to the DEA agent's murder. Sullivan called the ad "successful=A8 saying it was designed to educate voters about Sanchez's bad choices when his bank became involved with an international drug-laundering scheme. The San Antonio Police Officers Association joined Perry on Wednesday in San Antonio when he staunchly defended the accuracy of the ad and dismissed charges that it stereotypes Hispanics. But Dan Ramos, a Democratic activist who is also with LULAC, charged that Perry's Hispanic law enforcement supporters are "Tio Tacos=A8 or "Uncle Toms=A8 who are not part of the Hispanic community. "Police officers are in their own culture" Ramos said. "I am speaking to you from the community=A8Sgt. Rene Rodriguez, president of the local police union, responded sharply. "The fact that he would use a slur like that is a type of reverse discrimination=A8 Rodriguez said. "Mudslinging is part of the political process, but we try to stick to the issues=A8. Rodriguez said the local police union endorsed Perry because of his positions on law enforcement and questions about Sanchez's past. Meanwhile, the Bexar County Law Enforcement Officers have endorsed Sanchez. One of their members, Sgt. James Hutmacher, recently appeared in a Sanchez ad disputing the DEA commercial. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek