First, Dan Seals tried to attack Congressman Mark Kirk -- the author of watershed legislation to end America's dependence on foreign oil -- for causing higher gas prices by giving away free gas. The campaign stunt backfired, snarled traffic for miles and ended with a $2,000 fine from the Lincolnshire Police Department.
Then, Dan Seals tried to attack Congressman Kirk -- an 18-year Navy combat veteran who saved the North Chicago VA and is endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC -- for not supporting veterans. The campaign stunt backfired when Tammy Duckworth arrived in a taxpayer-funded vehicle.
Now, Dan Seals is trying to attack Congressman Kirk on veterans again -- this time using an Iraq war veteran -- just after Kirk received an "A" rating from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. You'll notice the ad doesn't say who the veteran is -- just some unidentified "Illinois Iraq Veteran." Credit goes to the Daily Herald for digging up that the new Dan Seals spokesman is a 25-year-old Peoria-native named Caleb Wilson.
So what's the problem this time? The Chicago Tribune reports:
Last June, the Peoria Journal Star reported that Davis wore a black T-shirt proclaiming "Investigate 9/11@911truth.org" while sitting at a table at a Peoria library where books, fliers and DVDs supporting conspiracy theories about the 9/11 attacks were on display. The organization argues the government's version of the terrorist attacks is fraudulent and offers a "Top 40 Reasons to Doubt the Official Story" and an "Official Coverup Guide."You got it folks -- Dan Seals' new campaign spokesman believes the U.S. Government murdered 3,000 Americans on September 11th.
Kirk, who was in the Pentagon when the airplane crashed into it on 9/11, called on Seals to stop airing the ad.
"I am disappointed that you would center your campaign on a spokesman who believes the U.S. government murdered nearly 3,000 of its own citizens," Kirk said in his Monday letter to Seals.
And here's the most amazing part. What was Dan Seals' response?
Seals spokeswoman Elisabeth Smith said she didn't "really see what is so controversial" about using Caleb Davis in the ad.
Excuse me? You don't see anything controversial about saying the U.S. Government was behind the attacks of 9/11? You don't see anything controversial about claiming the Pentagon blew up from a bomb -- not a plane -- and that the Twin Towers came down from demolition munitions planted by our own government?
That leads me to today's poll question. Is this just Dan Seals' third campaign screw-up or has Dan Seals exposed himself as the far leftist fringe conspiracy theorist we all feared he might be?
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26 comments:
If this isn't the lowest point yet I don't know what would be. Seals and his disgraceful team need to be held accountable for this TV spot by everyone in this district who call themselves Americans. It's not a surprise, TA, since Seals and his mentors like Schakowsky and co. come from that farthest left in our nation. But this is off the charts not tolerable. I sincerely hope that Mark Kirk takes the gloves off and exposes Seals for what he is - NOW. Enough of the passive campaign rhetoric. Enough of trying to talk about issues that matter. It's clear that Seals and his staff can't be civil or truthful on any level. But this Peoria guy in the disgusting TV piece needs to be silenced, hopefully today. Reading your post and reading this in today's Tribune has just soured my day and it's only 7 a.m. Defeating Seals and getting rid of him and his followers forever is more important than ever. Oh yes, TA, you might also be aware of Seals helpers who are out in force at ever early voting place in the district. How many ways can you spell goons from the city and other places, thanks to the machine at work for him, courtesy once again of his 9th district buddies and mentors. What an ugly 20 days in front of us.
I was shocked to read the Tribune story this morning on the pup. I posted over the weekend when I saw the ad with this so called veteran attacking our Congressman. Now is the time for the gloves to come off. This is the Tenth District not Chicago. Congressman Kirk needs to act now to defeat this idiot today.
My friends are telling me they have gotten up to a dozen mailings from the Patroit Majority on Kirk's stand which is an outright lie. This campaign is in the gutter and Mark had better get out and tell his true record of service to the residents of the district.
I can't wait for Sunday's debate. The gloves need to come off and defeat the pup once and for all.
There is little doubt who Seals is, what he is, and why it is urgent that we all pick up the pace and make sure that this guy is gone forever. There is a lot we all can do to help get out our vote on November 4. It's easy to spot the freaks and geeks who have been imported by Seals to get busloads of people to the early voting sites. Now is not the time to take anything for granted. I am sickened by the post here today and what I read in the Tribune. There is a place in hell reserved for this guy and all that he represents.
I saw the commercial last night. The TV was on MUTE (I hate commercials) The FIRST thing I noticed was that the young veteran was wearing his U.S Army uniform shirt - green with those flaps on the shoulders.
According to military regulations, it is ILLEGAL for a service member to wear his uniform when involved in any protest, march, political activity, etc.
interesting . . .
Anon 9:35- that's a good catch, maybe, but there isn't anything distinguishing on the shirt to indicate its actually a uniform shirt, if it is. I would think anyone would have a hard time making an issue if there isn't any identification on it.
Clearly, I think if it's not his actual uniform shirt, they chose it to invoke the military feel- but it still doesn't look anything like if he was actually in uniform.
Dan Seals just became Mike Gravel.
I am as outraged and disgusted as all commentors this morning. One can only hope that Mark gets on TV, showing passion for his own proven record of commitment to our nation's Veterans. No more nice guy. That the Vet in the TV spot is angry makes it more convincing to believe his lies. You don't respond with kindness to something this disgraceful and false. I want to see a response AD disavoing this Peoria guy and showing some real passion and, yes, some anger. Seals needs to be ashamed of the damn lies on this issue and on the healthcare mailings done by a 527 in his name. There's a great Letter to the Editor in today's Daily Herald. I'd like to have some of the constituents speak alongside Mark on some TV spots. Enough talking about it, I hope someone can convince Mark to just do it. Time is short.
Listen to Mark Kirk discuss the Seals ad here.
Anon 11:19,
Quit whining and get to work. I've seen Kirk's ad on taxes four times now -- it's hard hitting and make people feel very very nervous about Seals.
Does the Seals ad make people stop and question for a minute? Probably -- but after reading the Tribune this morning, most normal people won't be paying much attention to that ad anymore.
Meanwhile, the economy teeters and Dan Seals talks about Iraq while Mark Kirk talks about the economy.
Political scientists will tell you the person who wins a campaign is the person who defined the issue of the campaign -- or the "political cleavage."
According to everything I see, the economy is the issue -- if Mark Kirk defines it as the issue, there is no need to waste time reponding to an ad on Iraq.
If mark kirk is so bad to vets, why couldn't the seals people find a more credible spokes person? They obviously didn't do their homework. I think this is another example of the sloppy campaign seals is running.
Dan Seals was an unemployed carpet bagger.
Now he is a kook.
Someone should deliver a box of tin foil to the Seals HQ.
Sorry TA. Those are not "attacks" on Kirk by Seals that you listed. They are outright "smears."
Fitting that the vet comes from Peoria, well outside of the 10th Congressional District. Now we have outsiders telling us how to vote and to vote for someone who lives outside of the 10th.
Louis G. Atsaves
Most people I've talked to think that vet ad is over the top and not credible. I bet the Tribune takes a shot at it in its endorsement.
I agree. That "vet" looks like a white supremacist. I guess you could say he looks angry -- I happen to think he looks bug-eyed wacko...much like Timothy McVeigh.
Hahahaha. I thought that was McVeigh!!! Did Tim have a brother??
Anon 11:29 get off it. I'm not whining. The response that TA has just posted is great. But who will hear it? If you think this hasn't resonated, guess again. Yes, it's the economy stupid. We know that. But voters are not as bright as the readers of this blog. They will respond to seeing our Congressman defend himself and all that he's done. We can agree to disagree. We'll know the results on November 5th, wont' we.
Yes we will, Anon 12:26. In the meantime, sit back at DCCC HQ, relax and enjoy the monumental implosion of the Dan Seals campaign.
http://www.il10votersforchange.com/
The fact that you posted this at 4am TA shows you are a rockstar and the 18 comments demonstrate how ready the grassroots is to see Dan Dumped.
Catwoman, on her mini-pravda, has dropped her optimism about Dan and now is congratulating him on his campaign, rather than predicting a win. This is the sign of a surefire loser.
20 days and lets make sure someone calls the animal rights groups so nothing happens to democat when catwoman loses it watching Mark win nov 4.
Thanks anon 1:10, but I will confess I finalized the vet post about 1:00 a.m., not 4:00 a.m. - I just scheduled it not to show up until later in the morning so it would show up for the a.m. viewers at Capitol Fax Blog. Doing this has a better tendency of getting noticed by Rich Miller and enticing him to link to TA, which adds to our viewership. No luck today with a link (I figured it was too partisan for Rich) but he did cover the story.
As Rich says, sleep is for the weak.
Anon 9:35,
A veteran is not a service member. The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is what punishes service members for attending protests in uniform, and it does not apply to veterans or reservists not on active duty.
I am a veteran, and I am offended by people refering to the guy in the Seals ad as a "vet" to imply that his service somehow doesn't count. I don't agree with his conspiracy theory, but he's as much a veteran as me (or Mark Kirk, for that matter). Anyone who hasn't served in the military should shut the hell up.
Anon 2:46,
Actually you are wrong. Reservists not on duty are still bound by the DoD and DoN's code of ethics -- which prohibit wearing the uniform for political purposes.
Also, I don't think anyone is denigrating his service. I heard Kirk on WLS this morning commend his service.
But the fact is, putting on the uniform doesn't absolve you of anything crazy or stupid the rest of your life. A vet that kills somebody is tried for murder. A vet that steals is tried for theft. A vet that believes the U.S. Government murdered its own citizens on 9/11 is entitled to the ass-whooping he deserves.
Anon 2:46
I don't think anyone meant to impy his service doesn't count. As a the daughter of a marine I understand that every veteran's service counts. I think the anger that is showing through here comes from many places - the first being that this young man was used by the Seals campaign to claim that Mark Kirk has "turned his back on Veterans" when nothing could be further from the truth.
I will admit that when I first heard this ad I was outraged. I firmly beleive that the Seal's campaign set this young man up - by not using his name in the ad and by feeding him mis-information about Kirk's record in order to draw political blood. With the information coming to light about his association with the 9/11 conspiracy group, I am even more appalled by the Seal's campaign. I have no doubt in my mind that they knew about this affiliation and they really didn't think it mattered. All that mattered to them was that they got a veteran to spew their lies about Kirk. They did not care about putting the young man in the center of a controversy, they did not care that his views would be judged harshly - they just did not care, anymore than they really care about veterans.
My dad relies on the VA hospital for his healthcare and needs quite a bit of care directly related to injuries sustained while he was in service. Mark Kirk fought to keep the VA open in North Chicago - to insinuate that he has turned his back on Veterans is just plain wrong.
I want to see a MSK ad on all the stations refuting the Seals ad about the Peoria guy as well as those outragous flyers sent out by the Patriot Midwest Majority who are anything but patriotic. STOP BEING A SUCH A NICE GUY. The democrats have always been scum but this stuff being sent out by people supporting Seals is gutter politics at its worst. Seals has no class whatsoever nor do any of the people working for him.
I want to see a MSK ad on all the stations refuting the Seals ad about the Peoria guy as well as those outragous flyers sent out by the Patriot Midwest Majority who are anything but patriotic. STOP BEING A SUCH A NICE GUY. The democrats have always been scum but this stuff being sent out by people supporting Seals is gutter politics at its worst. Seals has no class whatsoever nor do any of the people working for him.
Can I be an echo for Anon at 9:20?
"There is a place in hell reserved for this guy [Seals] and all that he represents."
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