Thank you to all who have contacted us with comments about The Daily Kos and our ad there.
One of the downsides of running for public office is that people ascribe motives for your actions without having any idea of the facts.
So, my final word on this subject is this:
The decision to take down the ad was not a political one, based on pressure from the right or anywhere else. I would have stood up to the right-wingers until kingdom come, if need be. I took down the ad when I began hearing from my constituents, who felt I was causing additional pain to the families of the four people who died... and possibly to the families of all of those who have died in Iraq.
It was a matter of my own principals, and my sensitivity to these families. I have 86,000 veterans in my district, and one of my primary goals... and I've stated his from the day I announced my candidacy... is to fight for them. The very last thing I would ever do is cause any American family who has lost a loved one additional pain. The desecration of those bodies was horrible, bringing the horror of Mogadishu back to the minds of many of my veterans. I would never, never be insensitive to them.
Many of you know that I come from a family with deep military roots, and I have been dedicated to supporting our troops and our veterans my entire life. I also believe that whenever a life is lost to violence... American or Bosnian, Somalian or Hutu, Palestinian, Israeli or Iraqi... mankind is diminished.
Based on that, I took down my ad. I knew it would anger some of my supporters, cost me contributions, and give the right some pleasure. But to me, the families and veterans I was hearing from were more important than the money.
I believe this race is about people, not money, and that's how I have conducted this campaign from the beginning. That's also how I will run my office in Washington.
Jane Mitakides