VoteVets group pours big money into Tennessee race - FORD Benificiary!

[FrenchieCat]

By TOM HUMPHREY

An organization of U.S. military veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan is spending $480,000 in Tennessee to air a TV ad - more than any group not affiliated with a political party - that criticizes American policy in Iraq.
Though VoteVets Action Fund does not endorse any candidate in the U.S. Senate race, the chairman of the group, Jon Soltz, said that the contest between Bob Corker and Harold Ford Jr. is a major reason that Tennesseans are being targeted in the "issue advocacy" ad.
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The Tennessee race is the hottest race in America," said Soltz. "Our soldiers are asking the citizens of Tennessee not to be silent and to demand a change of course in Iraq."
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The ad features four veterans who served in Iraq, including Soltz in the Tennessee version, plus retired U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark, who has campaigned for Ford, a Democrat.

A similar ad is being aired nationwide, Soltz said, as a response to a Republican-sponsored ad that shows a picture of Osama Bin Laden and suggests that election of Democrats would lead to more terrorism.
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That amount is also more than is being spent in election-oriented ads in Tennessee by any out-of-state group not affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic political parties. The runner-up is National Right to Life PAC, which has spent $244,955 to help Corker, the Republican nominee, with radio ads and direct mail.
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/politics/article/0,1406,KNS_356_5116006,00.html

We can't give up on Tennessee.......we really just can't.

[Vexatious Ape]

1. Your right

We can't give up on Tennessee, or any Southern state. I live in suburban Atlanta, and have seen the almost complete disappearance of Bush04 bumper stickers. I know it's anecdotal but it has to mean something.

[Ecumenist]

2. Well now, THAT'S what I want to hear!!!

Hot DAMN!! I knew that genuine vets felt that way about the state of the Union and the very existence of our country and the planet...

[dmosh42]

3. Best donation I ever made!

I sent money to this group a couple months ago, when they had the ad about the useless flak jackets. Since then their ads have had a terrific impact by presenting those real live vets, telling it like it is. It really put a reversal on the Repub incumbents who are claiming they supported the troops.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Thank you!

We can not let the polls influence this race. The Republicans and their media "count" on this.......and even at DU, they may be right to continue to sing about how the polls are trending Corker. This is how they win....they get us to think that they have already won.

I for one will not give up on Ford till the votes are counted! :patriot:

[Auntie Bush]

15. Then they will steal/switch the vote...which will be explained away

as the polls leaned Corker (when they really didn't) so what did you expect?

Rethugs will use the polls as cover for election theft. Count on it!

[SharonAnn]

4. You're right. We're doing everything we can on the ground here.

It's a really tough race with lots of "subtext" in the campaign (racism).

Harold Ford, Jr. is more conservative than I would like, but he's far, far better than Bob Corker who's just another Republican Bushbot clone.

Harold Ford, Jr. is wicked smart and I think he really cares about what's happening to all of us in Tennessee and America.

[KKKarl is an idiot]

5. ..

I have listened to Harold Ford. He looks like he could be destined for great things if he pulls this race off.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Well,

What I hate is that almost everyone is pronouncing Ford DOA.....and it is this that is going to do him in! Maybe depress his turnout and donations to his campaign! He was polling a point or two under Corker, and all of the sudden the Zogby poll came out with him 10 points behind :wtf: almost magically, and ever since, the media has only referred to this particular poll, and Democrats act like Tennessee is going to a funeral; Ford's!

[Jai4WKC08]

10. Right you are, Frenchie!

It's all about GOTV now. If Tennessee Dems will just be sure to vote, Ford can win.

A lot of Repubs may say they'll vote for Corker in a poll, but when push comes to shove, will they go to the trouble of voting? I'd bet real money that many won't. Corker is crooked and sounds like a weanie, and I think most people know that in their hearts.

Don't think for a moment the Repubs aren't worried that their voters won't turn out like they hope. They've got Michelle Malkin and a bunch of rightwing bloggers trying to swiftboat one of the Iraqi vets in that ad.
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/006272.htm
They've been working on the guy for a while in MO, his home state, because he made an ad for Claire McKaskill too. But he is a real vet who saw combat in Iraq, regardless of the extent of his wounds. Fuckin' chickenhawks to decide what kinds of wounds are "real" or not. But whatever. Fact is, nothing they can say negates the message of the ad. And most people know that in their hearts too.

[ChiciB1]

11. I Disagree... It Just makes Me More DETERMINED Not To Let

them win. GOTV!!

[FrenchieCat]

13. I hope that many, many voters are like you, out there in TN!

Cause this particular victory would provide a message that would be very useful to Democrats for some time! A loss will let us know just how many backwards step this country has taken since 2000! I pray for the former!

[ChiciB1]

14. Me Too! n/t

[KingFlorez]

8. This race is not over, Ford can still win

Tennessee Democrats must turn out in big numbers, especially African-Americans, the base is necessary here.

[durtee librul]

9. Having been raised in AL

and experienced the unrest in Selma and Montgomery first hand in the 60's, that ad with the 'call me' tagline revolted me and I would like to think that any THINKING person in TN would feel the same way. Low doesn't describe that ad.

I sincerely hope Ford can win there. He was one of the first ones to questtion port security and illegal immigration in his ads and has been making 'waves' ever since.

I wish him luck and hope he beats the crap out of Corker and I hope the RNC never even sees it coming.......

Support Bichon rescue - visit http://www.sprauction.org / for the annual fundraising auction.

[Lars39]

12. K&R

"Our soldiers are asking the citizens of Tennessee not to be silent and to demand a change of course in Iraq."

[Ethelk2044]

16. TN Voting

I hope this will help the dems in TN

[Lars39]

17. Me, too, Ethelk2044.

Welcome to DU! :toast: