Super PAC Launches Attack Ad on Lauren Boebert Featuring Theater Incident
Overview
A super PAC has launched an attack ad against Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert, highlighting her ejection from a theater during a performance of the musical ‘Beetlejuice’ in 2023. The incident has become a focal point in her reelection campaign.
The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC Efforts
The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC reported spending $1.5 million on ads opposing Boebert, who is campaigning for reelection in the upcoming November midterms. This information was disclosed in a Federal Election Commission filing. Newsweek reached out to both the PAC and Boebert’s campaign for comments.
The Theater Incident
Boebert and her male companion were removed from the ‘Beetlejuice’ performance in Denver for causing a disturbance. CCTV footage emerged, showing the congresswoman vaping and engaging in inappropriate behavior with her companion. The footage also displayed Boebert being escorted out while she gestured offensively to a theater employee.
The newly released attack ad uses clips from the CCTV footage paired with media headlines from the time.
The narrator states, “Beetlejuice is the ‘80s family classic. Also the show that Lauren Boebert was kicked out of for groping her date in a room full of children.”
The ad continues with, “Costs are skyrocketing in Colorado and politicians are failing us. If Lauren Boebert can’t be trusted in a room full of kids, then she can’t be trusted in the halls of Congress.”
Boebert’s Response
Boebert later issued an apology for the incident, acknowledging that she “fell short of my values” during that time. She explained that she was in the midst of a “public and difficult divorce,” which contributed to a “challenging personal time for me and my entire family.”
Clean Energy PAC’s Broader Campaign
It remains uncertain if the PAC used the entire $1.5 million for the Beetlejuice-themed ad or if they created additional anti-Boebert content. According to the Google Ads Transparency Center, this ad is the only content listed related to Boebert.
The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, a clean-energy-focused super PAC, had previously announced a $15 million plan to defeat Republicans opposed to renewable energy incentives in seven U.S. House races, including Boebert’s. Despite its focus on clean energy, the PAC’s ads rarely concentrate on energy issues; they generally underscore other aspects of lawmakers’ records. For instance, the PAC has targeted Indiana Representative Victoria Spartz regarding her healthcare record and alleged misuse of her office for personal gain.
Current Election Scenario
Boebert faces Democrat Eileen Laubacher in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. Recent polls indicate that Boebert holds a lead in the contest. This campaign adds to the ongoing scrutiny of her actions and political record as election day approaches.
Contact persons for this article include Newsweek editors Matthew Robinson and Tony Phillips.