Republican Tricks

Oct 24, 2006

Dear Friend,

This Halloween, Republicans are all tricks and no treats.

In the past three weeks, Republicans have aired deceptive television ads in at least four states attacking candidates endorsed by Council for a Livable World.

Fighting fire with fire, the Council has created its own ad, calling out the Republicans for their attempt to distract voters before the November 7 elections. Click here to view the ad!

In Iowa, the GOP calls us an “ultra liberal group”; in Montana we’re “extremists” and “radicals”; and in Minnesota and Ohio we’re similarly referred to as a “radical group.” But extravagant claims require convincing evidence, right? Not so, for the Republicans.

The ads claim that we advocate $130 billion in defense cuts, that we want to close Malstrom military base in Montana, and for an encore, that we advocate negotiating with the Taliban!

These claims are sleazy and false.

Halloween is approaching; take a look at our response to these cheap attacks. Click here to view the ad, and contribute $35, $50, or more to the Council to spread this ad!

For its “proof,” the GOP used a time machine to dredge up ancient positions. A 1999 proposal to cut $130 billion from unnecessary Pentagon programs over a 10 year period was distorted into a $130 billion cut this year – and the Republicans failed to mention that a substantial portion of these cuts were actually implemented by the Pentagon.

Similarly, the Council has never advocated closing the Montana base – although we do support cutting unnecessary military bases, a position shared by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the Republican majority in Congress.

But perhaps most outrageous is the misrepresentation that we have a leader that advocated negotiating with the Taliban. The reality is that in the run up to the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, a Board Member who is internationally recognized expert on negotiations recommended combining carrots with sticks to persuade the government of Afghanistan to turn over Osama bin Laden. The Bush Administration ignored this advice, and bin Laden is still at large.

But, don’t just take our word for it, check out the non-partisan Annenberg Political Fact Check’s analysis which calls the NRCC’s mudslinging “false and misleading.”

Council for a Livable World helps candidates respond to underhanded attacks like this. We are sure to see more of them in the next two weeks, and we need your help to get out the truth.

This Halloween, don’t let Republicans get away with scaring voters with misleading attack ads.

Contribute $35, $50, or more to the Council and help us fight back!

Sincerely,

John Isaacs and Guy Stevens

P.S. The more people who know about these sleazy attacks, the less effective they will be. Help spread the word by forwarding this e-mail to four of your friends and relatives.