In case you are not on Wes Clark's (excellent) mailing list (signup at www.securingmerica.com) you might have missed the latest desperate Republican smear attempt against 24 year Navy Vet, netroots populist champion and cancer survivor, "Fighting Eric" Massa. Massa has been running slightly ahead of Kuhl, who is distinguished only by his position as the very favorite Congressman of both President Bush and Karl Rove. Read Clark's letter below for the details on the latest attempt by Kuhl's campaign henchmen to smear Massa, his Navy service and even his battle against cancer. As much as anywhere else, the voters of New York's 29th district are hurting thanks to the Bush/Kuhl economy. They need new policies, new ideas and progressive economic solitions -- not endless smears, old politics and a failed economy. Send them a message by showing support for "Fighting Eric" Massa. Please read Wes Clark's great letter and also check out www.massaforcongress.com
Sadly, it has come to this. I've written to you about my good friend Eric Massa many times. Eric is running in New York's 29th congressional district, and he needs our help now.
He's being swift-boated.
Randy Kuhl and his cronies are attacking Eric's service, contending he didn't obtain a high enough rank. That would be a ridiculous argument even if they didn't deliberately leave out the fact that Eric nearly died of cancer while in uniform, cutting his brilliant career short. How do I know? I was there.
We can't let these despicable attacks defeat Eric. Please join me and contribute to Eric's campaign today!
http://www.actblue.com/...
Just yesterday, Don Davidsen, one of Randy Kuhl's biggest fans, wrote a shameful letter to the editor and sent it to several newspapers in New York. He questioned Eric's fitness to serve in Congress because of his military experience. Mr. Davidsen would like you to believe that Eric Massa left the Navy without obtaining a high enough rank.
It's absurd.
Eric Massa was my personal Military Aide when he fell ill, and I am the one who ordered Eric, against his will, to leave his post and seek the medical attention that led to his eventual diagnosis -- a diagnosis that saved his life. Was Eric's military career cut short? You bet it was. Does this make it right for Randy Kuhl and his ilk to shamefully attack Eric for his service to our nation?
No.
We cannot back down to these attacks. Eric needs our help to fight back now. Contribute today!
http://www.actblue.com/...
This kind of treatment of our veterans makes me fighting mad, but it's hardly a surprise, because when it comes to attacking veterans, it's tough to compete with Randy Kuhl. Randy has a zero (that's right, zero) rating from the Disabled American Veterans, and just this year voted against healthcare for our soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and against expanding the GI Bill. This isn't the kind of leadership that we need in Congress.
We need Eric to bring real change to Washington. Unlike his opponent, Eric supports our veterans, and has received the endorsement of several leading vet's organizations including VFW, VoteVets, and IAVA. We came so close two years ago. You can put Eric over the top in these final weeks.
Help Eric Massa fight the Right-Wing attacks against his service to his country.
http://www.actblue.com/...
Randy Kuhl and his supporters seem to think that swift-boating veterans is OK. They're wrong. It's a disgrace, and I am asking for your help to put this type of vile political behavior to an end once and for all.
Sincerely,
Wes Clark