02:51 PM CST on Thursday, January 12, 2006

By Jeremy Desel / 11 News

Several TV stations in Houston, including Channel 11, are refusing to air a controversial new political ad targeting Tom DeLay.

Why is the ad so controversial and who is behind it?

We see political ads all the time, inundated with them near election day.

So what is it about this political ad that's got so many peoples attention?

KHOU-TV

Tom DeLay

The ad is produced by a political action group called Campaign for America's future. Its co-Director is Roger Hickey.

"It is no wonder that he doesn't want people knowing or talking about those scandals. I understand that. What I don't understand is his ability to bully television stations into not running the ad," Hickey said.

In the ad, the group claims that Tom DeLay received tens of thousands in contributions from indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

But the statement that is causing all the trouble is,"$1 million from Russian tycoons to allegedly influence his vote."

"The problem with that sentence is no one gave Mr. DeLay a million dollars. And to say that he did receive a million dollars is essentially accusing him of criminal conduct and trying him via the press and via a TV ad," said DeLay's attorney Don McGahn.

DeLay's camp found out about the ad in advance and attorney Don McGahn sent a letter to all Houston television stations, including KHOU, questioning the ad's accuracy and threatening possible legal action if the ad were to air.

"You cannot maliciously make things up. You cannot state things that you know to be false," said McGahn.

KHOU reviewed the ad and decided not to air the ad in its current form. Channel 13 and Fox also chose not to run the ad. Channel 2 and the W-B say they're still evaluating the spot.

The group says its ad is running on cable in Houston.

"He is certainly trying to live up to his reputation as the Hammer," said Roger Hickey with Campaign for America's Future.

One interesting point is that even DeLay's attorney said that had the exact same ad been issued by a candidate during the official election season, it would be airing everywhere.

Stations are legally required to run ads that come from bonafide candidates.

Because this one is from a group, those rules do not apply.