Help stop Hackett from getting "swiftboated"!

[ray of light]

Here's a little something you can do for Paul Hackett. Call Rep. Mark Kirk's office in Deerfield, IL at 847-940-0202 and request that Rep. Kirk immediately -- before the polls close -- publish a national press release correcting the lie in Rep. Schmidt's press release about Iraqi War veterans who are serving in Congress. If you're not aware what of what Schmidt said, she has a press release that is lying about Major Hackett's claim of being (potentially) the first operation
Iraqi freedom combat vet to serve in congress. Here's a link to the press release where she is swift-boating Hackett ===> http://www.jeanschmidt.com/PressReleasegrouptest.htm

Mark Kirk is a Naval Reserve intelligence officer. He served stateside during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was an air crewman over Iraq protecting the northern no-fly zone as part of Operation Northern Watch. Kirk never served "in" Iraq; he flew over Iraq, and that was 15 years ago.

If you call Kirk's office, be kind; they didn't ask for this unwanted press, but do ask them to do the right thing NOW. Here's a link to Kirk's site: http://www.house.gov/kirk/

You can also call Schmidt's office and complain about their dirty campaign tactics if you wish at 513-295-1960 and 513-575-0840 and ask how it's possible to have served in OIF before it even existed.

[noamnety]

1. I called and talked to Matt

He said they are well familiar with the press release, they've notified the Schmidt campaign that it's misleading, but they don't intend to put out a statement about it on their own.

I said I thought that made it look like they were deliberately going along with the misrepresentation. He sort of shrugged that point off.

It was a friendly conversation all around, but when it comes time for his reelection, if he doesn't put something out, it would be good if our Illinois friends make a point of reminding voters that he deliberately allowed the Republican Party to misrepresent his service.

More people should call.

[Ian David]

3. Will he make a statement about the release accusing Kirk of atrocities?

I bet if someone told him there was something going around about himself, he'd be hitting that email-list hard.


No, Spock. Let's not say anything until after the election.

[existentialist]

2. e-mails to Kirk

are presently being accepted only from e-mailers living in Kirk's home district, the tenth district of Illinois. I know because I tried.


Can DUer's that do live (and vote) in his district please contact him.

[noamnety]

4. I posted this in the Illinois group

with a link to this thread, so I hope a few will see and call - if you do, please mention (nicely) that you see this as an issue of integrity, if he's willing to allow his military record to be misrepresented to get other republicans elected, that's obviously something that will be brought up when he campaigns next.

[ray of light]

5. thank you. That's a great point.

While it's helpful for them to know we're all watching their actions and corruption in one district can hurt their perception even in their own district, it's a lot more helpful when their own residents beat the drum!

[noamnety]

6. Actually, if he doesn't make a statement about it

I believe some letters to the editor in his local area will be in order. And I will mention in mine that I called and was specifically told his office refused to make a statement refuting it.

[ray of light]

7. Here's a great link for LTE's bookmark it!

http://www.capwiz.com