The head of Oklahoma's public television network said recent negative campaign attack ads by Senator Scott Pruitt took news reports out of context. "Although OETA reported facts in the story ... neither the reporter nor the news anchor drew any conclusions nor did they state in any way that the claims made in the Hiett ads were false," OETA Executive Director John McCarroll stated in an email on July 18th. McCarroll indicated Pruitt's most recent attack ads distort reports by the public network's newscasters. He said OETA reports were taken out of context in Pruitt commercials. "We've seen one misleading attack after another by Scott Pruitt," said Speaker Todd Hiett (R-Kellyville). "Now, Mr. Pruitt has been exposed for dishonest and malicious attacks. Unfortunately, what we're seeing from Pruitt is the last gasp of a desperate campaign. I'm saddened that Senator Pruitt would stoop to this new low, and he shouldwithdraw his negative attack ads immediately." Earlier this week, Pruitt began running a second negative and misleading attack ad that misrepresents statewide media sources -- including OETA and The Oklahoman. Last week, Pruitt launched the first negative ad in the Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary race when he attacked the accomplishments of the new Republican majority in the state House of Representatives. Posted at 7/20/2006 10:15:00 AM