As you may have seen, Kagro X has posted our just-released VoteVets TV ads on the front page today. With that, I’d like to take the time here to offer some more background on this morning’s launch.
We’re launching three new ads today, all in important swing states. And one of those ads--airing in North Carolina--is one you’ll probably recognize.
This is what went out to the media:
VOTEVETS.ORG’S MILLION DOLLAR DAY
Group launches Ads on John McCain in Virginia, New Mexico; Ad on Senator Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina; Direct Mail In a Number of States
Washington – As part of its education program on public officials’ records on veterans and troops issues, the largest group of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans is today launching $1.3 million worth of television and radio advertising, and direct mail, across the country. This brings the total spending by VoteVets.org this year on communications to $2.5 million.
VoteVets.org announced it will begin running $350,000 in Virginia TV ads on John McCain and his missed vote on the GI Bill and $40,000 in New Mexico radio ads on his votes against increased funding for veterans care, and $200,000 in ads for North Carolina on Senator Elizabeth Dole’s vote against Body Armor for the troops. Roughly another $700,000 will be spent on direct mail that exposes votes by Senator McCain, and other public officials’ record on troops and veterans issues.
And here are the ads:
GI Bill: John McCain
In Virginia, the ad on McCain and the GI Bill will run in the Washington, DC, Richmond, and Roanoke market for two weeks. In the ad, war veteran Jason Bensley talking directly to the camera says,
"When John McCain was about my age, our country paid his way through college. But when a new GI Bill came up in Congress to help today’s vets go to college, John McCain, you skipped the vote for a political fundraiser in San Diego. I used to respect you Senator McCain. But with your seven houses and lobbyist friends, you’re just a Washington guy now. Vet to vet, Senator McCain, when you put money from your rich friends ahead of vets like me, how is that ‘Country First?’"
In New Mexico, we’re running a radio ad about John McCain. You can listen to it by clicking below:
John McCain and Veterans’ Care: English
John McCain and Veterans’ Care: Spanish
In New Mexico, the radio ad will run on stations statewide, focusing on those with a largely Hispanic audience. Iraq veteran Romeo Rocha says in the ad,
"When my nation called, I served America, with pride and honor, in Iraq. Me and the millions who served in Iraq and Afghanistan never asked for much in return – just that politicians would keep their end of the bargain, and provide troops with the care we were promised, when we came home. But John McCain hasn’t upheld that promise. Time and time again, John McCain voted against more funding for veterans care, that would be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes. Placing corporate profits ahead of American veterans? That’s not America First. Call Senator John McCain at 202-224-2235 and ask him to support Senate Bill 3527, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform Act of 2008, and keep America’s promise to our veterans."
And finally, this one never gets old:
Body Armor: Elizabeth Dole
In North Carolina, VoteVets.org is running an ad for two weeks featuring Peter Granato, Iraq War Veteran. In the ad, Granato fires shots from an AK-47 through the kind of flak jacket troops were given early on in the war, and modern Body Armor, featuring (Stand Alone Protective Insert (SAPI) plates. The shots go through the older vest, but are stopped by the newer armor. Granato explains that Senator Elizabeth Dole voted against funding to give American troops the newer armor. Dole did so twice, voting against an amendment offered by Senator Christopher Dodd in 2003 (S.Amdt. 1817), which would have appropriated $300 million for needed equipment for the troops, including proper Body Armor, and an amendment by Senator Mary Landrieu (S.Amdt. 452) in the same year that would have appropriated $1 billion for equipment, also including Body Armor, as Landrieu made clear in her press release on the amendment at the time.
In addition, VoteVets Chairman Jon Soltz had this to say:
"Some elected officials have been friends of troops and veterans, with their votes, and others have not. We have always said that we would hold public officials accountable when they did not vote in the best interest of troops and veterans, and today we are keeping that promise," said Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran, and Chairman of VoteVets.org. "We fully expect that these politicians will cry foul, rather than own up to their votes and their record. Sometimes, the truth hurts, and politicians across the board now know there is a cost to voting against troops and veterans. We’ll be there to make sure Americans know the truth."
If you can, please help keep these on the air!
Also available at VetVoice