Democratic Senator Mark Udall's attacks on Republican Congressman Cory Gardner prompted The Denver Post this weekend to endorse Gardner and exclaim that "Udall is trying to frighten voters rather than inspire them with a hopeful vision," adding "[h]is obnoxious one-issue campaign is an insult to those he seeks to convince."
Texas Democratic nominee for governor Wendy Davis' attack ad using a wheelchair aimed at the wheelchair-bound Texas Attorney General and GOP nominee to replace Rick Perry Greg Abbott is widely regarded as the lowest blow of a low election season.
And on Friday night, Nevada Democratic Attorney General nominee Ross Miller attacked the surging GOP nominee for Nevada's AG Adam Laxalt, a Navy veteran of the Iraq war, for "pushing paper" while deployed in Iraq.
Laxalt is a graduate of Georgetown University and Georgetown University Law School. After law school he volunteered for the Navy and served his country as a Judge Advocate General. While in the Navy, Adam volunteered to serve in a combat zone in Iraq and was stationed at Forward Operating Base Camp Victory, where Adam’s team was in charge of more than 20,000 detainees during the Surge, keeping our troops and the world safer by assisting with the detention and prosecution of thousands of war criminals and terrorists. Adam was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal, and his Unit was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
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When during Friday night's debate Democrat Miller was pushed by the moderator on Miller's acceptance of tens of thousands of dollars of gifts while serving as Nevada's Secretary of State, Miller first filibustered and then tried to deflect the question by questioning the value of Laxalt's record in Iraq saying "it seemed like you were processing paperwork" while serving during the Surge in Baghdad. Laxalt immediately and rightly took strong offense, and asked Miller "if you have any idea what it is like to go into a war zone, in the middle of the Surge, in the most challenging time of the war." Laxalt termed the dismissal of his service in Iraq "appalling," and pointed out that Miller had no idea what he was talking about.
That was too kind by half. Miller's attack on Laxalt's service in Iraq is disgusting and indeed disqualifying, for it was a rare glimpse into Miller's value set, one that does not esteem military service in wartime. You can watch the exchange for yourself, beginning at about 38:45 of this tape of the debate.
Observe Miller's demeanor at this critical juncture of the debate, and his clumsy attempt to deflect the serious question about his accepting of gifts from various parties --the same issue that rightfully dogged Virginia's former Governor Bob McDonnell all the way to a conviction-- and you see a shifty, smarmy man who dives to a new low: attacking a veteran of a combat zone for serving there.
I recently hosted for dinner a Marine Corp JAG freshly returned from eight months at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan, and know another Army JAG on the front lines of the war there right now. JAGs serve honorably, at great personal risk to themselves, separated just as other service members are from their families, and are vitally necessary to the national security of the United States. Attacking one such combatant as a "paper pusher" disqualifies the attacker from serving in elected office.
I cannot fathom any Nevada vet, family member or friend of a vet or just simply a patriot voting for this Miller. I would be ashamed to have contributed to him much less work to get out the vote for a man dismissive of military service in time of war.
Seriously, I cannot imagine voting for him. Or Wendy Davis. Or Mark Udall. Or any Democrat this cycle for that matter. The country is sinking into multiple crises with an absentee landlord in the White House and a chaotic, feckless indeed incoherent policy abroad and a shambles of numerous schemes at home and corrupt agency practices everywhere.
The country needs a sharp U-turn, at every level, but especially in Colorado and Texas, and most especially in the Nevada Attorney General race.
Voters in the Silver State should send a very loud message that no candidate in the future ought to ever dare question the honorable service of any vet. Miller deserves to lose in a landslide, and he ought to have apologized before his handlers tell him to. You can help Adam Laxalt --the grandson of Ronald Reagan's great good friend Senator Paul Laxalt-- by contributing here or volunteering if you live in Nevada. Stand up for vets. Support Adam Laxalt.
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