Many diaries and FP stories have been posted about the real possibility of Democrat Charlie Brown winning in CA-04 (against carpetbagger, Tom McClintock.) But not as much has been written about the race in neighboring district CA-03 (Sacramento and east to NV border), where Bill Durston is giving Republican incumbent (another carpetbagger and career politician), Dan Lungren, a run for his money.
As Kos has noted in some recent Open Threads, this race is now tightening up to the point that Bill Durston has a real chance at victory in this traditionally Republican stronghold. And Dan Lungren is feeling the heat so much he's resorted to a total fabrication of Durston's position on the Iraq war in his mailings.
An e-mail sent today from the Durston campaign explains -
Sacramento, California - October 19, 2008 - "Crude, cowardly, and dishonest" are the words Dr. Bill Durston used to describe a mailer sent recently by his opponent, Dan Lungren, to voters in California's 3rd Congressional District. The 8 X 11 4-page mailer, which appears to have been hastily put together, attacks Durston's position on the military.The mailer states:
Durston says he will not vote to spend 'one cent' on our sodiers in Iraq unless the U.S. agrees immediately to pull-out. No supplies, no equipment...not 'one cent.
The source listed for this claim on the Lungren mailer is "Bill Durston official campaign website." Durston responded, "Dan Lungren knows that I've never had such a statement on my website, nor have I ever made such a statement." Dr. Durston's position on Iraq, which has been posted for months on the "Issues" page of the Durston for Congress website is as Bill Durston as follows:
As a Vietnam combat veteran, I am saddened to see our country involved in another war and occupation started on false pretenses. Like many other veterans, I support the sacrifices our troops are making, but I don't support sacrificing our troops. I endorse the plan for a responsible withdrawal from Iraq that is outlined in the June 2008 report of the Commonwealth Institute. As a U.S. congressman, I will not vote for any further funding for military operations in Iraq that is not tied to a prompt, orderly, and complete withdrawal of U.S. forces.
A link to the "Plan for a Responsible Withdrawal from Iraq" is included on the Durston for Congress website. Dr. Durston has repeatedly made it clear in speeches and discussions around the district that by "further military operations," he is referring to offensive military operations. In a speech that Dr. Durston gave on May 26, 2008, as the guest speaker at the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, Dr. Durston stated:
I believe that we can best honor our men and women currently in uniform by never sending them to risk their lives in a war started on false pretenses or a conflict for which there is no military solution; by outfitting them with the very best equipment when they must serve in harms way; by providing their families with support they need to ease the hardship of a spouse or a parent being taken away from the home; by providing them with the very best medical care when they return injured, either physically or psychologically; and by giving them all the education and training they need to transition back into civilian life after their military service is over.
Dr. Durston's Memorial Day Speech, including a Youtube video, is posted on the "Speeches and Articles by Bill" page of the Durston for Congress website. Also posted on the "Durston-Lungren Debates" page of the website are segments from the 2006 debate between Dr. Durston and Rep. Lungren covering the war in Iraq and veterans issues. In the segment on veterans issues, Dr. Durston argued for increased funding for services for veterans, while Lungren asserted that the status quo was adequate. The Lungren mailer, which is paid for by the Lungren for Congress Committee, contains numerous other innaccuracies in which Dr. Durston is misquoted or quoted out of context, including a line from his song, "War is Not a Game," which he wrote with the help of his daughter, Annie, in 2005, and which is dedicated to his father, Al, a World War II combat veteran, and his son, Jeff, who is a high school teacher. Durston was warned not to publicize the song during his political campaign, but decided to post it on his website after hearing Lungren say at a town hall meeting, with regard to the war in Iraq, "I'd rather be playing an away game than a home game." "I hope the Lungren mailer stimulates people to listen to the whole song," Durston said. In addition to being posted on the Durston for Congress website, copies of "War is Not a Game" may also be obtained from the Durston for Congress Office at 4146 Sunrise Boulevard in Fair Oaks. Dr. Bill Durston is a Marine Corps combat veteran of Vietnam, decorated for "courage and composure under fire." Durston volunteered for the Marines after graduating from High School at the height of the Vietnam War. Lungren never served in the military. He initially obtained a student deferment during the Vietnam War and later a medical deferment. Lungren has never provided records documenting that he was unable to serve in the military or that he even had a physical examination regarding his fitness for duty. Lungren's father was Richard Nixon's personal physician. Lungren has received a "zero" rating from Disabled American Veterans in 2005 and a grade "D" from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America in 2006. The Lungren mailer includes two unflattering pictures of Dr. Durston which were taken by a Lungren photographer who dogged Dr. Durston at the Asian Pacific Islander Public Affairs Association (APAPA) candidate's forum on Saturday, October 4, in Elk Grove . Though Lungren's photographer showed up for the event, Lungren himself did not. Lungren was listed as confirmed on the program, but the moderator announced that he was tied up in Washington DC on official business. In fact, however, Lungren had returned to the Sacramento area the previous evening, and he attended a fundraiser for wealthy contributors in the 3rd Congressional District following the APAPA forum.
{emphasis mine}
Please help Bill Durston fight Lungren's lies by donating at his campaign website Bill Durston for Congress or his Act Blue page