Watch this election's most effective attack ad and help keep it on the air

[Clarkie1]

An important message from Wes Clark:

In February of this year, I joined the board of a remarkable organization, VoteVets.org, and I've been supporting them in every way I can. It is part of my personal commitment to help the "Fighting Dems" get elected to office this November.

The idea for VoteVets.org was very simple -- Iraq and Afghanistan veterans standing up for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. VoteVets.org's core mission is to support the veterans of America's most recent conflicts as they run for public office, and to ensure that no politician in Washington gets away with votes or words that hurt the troops and veterans.

Today, I am writing to tell you that they have really hit it out of the park.

Now airing in Virginia is a television ad that holds Senator George Allen accountable for his deplorable vote against giving our troops the proper body armor they need to keep them safe. This ad is the most powerful ad I've seen this election year, and I'm proud to be a part of it. I invite you to take a minute to view it.

www.securingamerica.com

VoteVet.org's new ad features Peter Granato, a brave American who served in Iraq in 2003. Peter went to war with an obsolete flak jacket from the Vietnam era because the Bush Administration and Republicans in Congress failed to ensure that he -- and thousands of others -- had the right equipment.

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) offered an amendment to give the Guard and Reserve $1 billion to procure additional equipment, including body armor, in April 2003. But every single Republican, including George Allen, voted to kill that amendment.

I cannot overstate the importance of that failure to support the troops. Young men and women continued to go into harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan without the right protection because the Republicans didn't think it was worth spending the money. Yet George Bush and the Republican Party were all too willing to pass billions of dollars of tax cuts for the wealthy.

This vote is a disgrace, and VoteVets.org has launched the bluntest ad of the entire political season to hold George Allen accountable for his foolish -- and deadly -- vote. Please watch it, and then let's keep it on the air.

If you donate to support this effective new ad, you'll also be asked to vote for where you would like to see the ad run next. VoteVets.org already has ads prepared and ready to go against every Republican Senator who voted to kill the Landrieu amendment. So go donate and vote, and have your say.

I'm proud that our newest veterans are standing up and speaking out to make sure the American people know who supports them and who doesn't. I am proud to stand with them. And I hope you will stand with us.

www.securingamerica.com

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. I saw that ad... it's good!

K & R

[orpupilofnature57]

2. That's Culpability, using media!! Excellent!!

[whistle]

3. This is the truth that needs to be broadcast, how about some ads

....addressing the Hummers that went into action with inadequate armour plates? Another republican and Rumsfeld cost cutting measure that cost 100s of American lives and wounded.

[wakeme2008]

4. Thanks I needed that letter for a Dem friend at work

After seeing the video, he had a problem with not knowing what else was in that bill. Per Clark it just sounded like updating of the Reserve eqipment.

[Clarkie1]

6. Here's the official record.

S.AMDT.452
Amends: S.762
Sponsor: Sen Landrieu, Mary L. (submitted 4/2/2003) (proposed 4/2/2003)
AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
To appropriate $1, 047,000,000 for procurement for the National Guard and Reserves.

TEXT OF AMENDMENT AS SUBMITTED: CR S4719

STATUS:

4/2/2003:
Amendment SA 452 proposed by Senator Landrieu. (consideration: CR S4590-4591, S4687-4690; text: CR S4687)
4/2/2003:
Motion to table amendment SA 452 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 116.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SP452:

SA 452. Ms. LANDRIEU proposed an amendment to the bill S. 762, making supplemental appropriations to support Department of Defense operations in Iraq, Department of Homeland Security, and Related Efforts for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2003, and for other purposes; as follows:

In chapter 3 of title I, under the heading ``PROCUREMENT'', insert after the matter relating to ``PROCUREMENT, DEFENSE-WIDE'' the following:
National Guard and Reserve Equipment

For an additional amount for ``National Guard and Reserve Equipment'', $1,047,000,000.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?r108:1:./temp/~r108762SOY:e2282:

[sampsonblk]

5. Effective Ad - Effective Work by Gen Clark

I really love the effort that General Clark is turning in this year. He is really focused on building the party and pulling this thing off.

Kudos to Wes Clark and Howard Dean - our two stalwarts of the year.