I got the google news alert on Saturday that the DCCC was running an IE ad on behalf of the
Boyda Campaign and I sent it to my friend who is working on the campaign. What I got back was the greatest response - "No way?! Cool!"
Here is the Ad
There have been several diary posts on this notably by Kos himself:
DCCC Plays in New Races
and
DCCC Springs Suprise Ad
But what has happened since then is a slew of stories and responses to it. Notibly a response this morning from the Ryun Campaign in an email that claimed:
"Now my opponent has accepted the help of Democrats in Washington, DC. Together, they are running false attack ads against me regarding my support for the troops.
The fact is, I have used my seniority on the House Armed Services Committee to improve pay, benefits, equipment and training for our troops every year.
I also used that seniority to bring the Big Red One back to Kansas. Now Kansas has 10,000 new military jobs and our economy will be improved by $500 million a year.
But, that's the type of dishonest campaign my opponent's running, and it is why I have to run television and radio ads that let the voters know exactly where my opponent stands. "
Interestingly, Ryun was the one who voted against the Troops in 2004 when he agreed to let insurance companies sell expensive policies on bases nation wide - prompting an investigation from Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger (a republican).
According to the Lawrence Journal World
"A Pentagon official told U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun that the government needed to overhaul rules governing the sale of private insurance policies on military installations because soldiers were getting scammed through unscrupulous sales tactics.
"In response, Ryun, a Kansas Republican, and two of his colleagues wrote that no changes were necessary to the rules."
Also, while Ryun claims that he brought the Big Red One back to Kansas - he also got the Parsons Military Plant on the Cut List. Notably, when they redrew the Kansas Districts back in 2002 - Ryun tried to draw Parsons OUT of his district. So I guess he's just helping bases of towns he likes?? I'm not really clear. Either way, for someone to be on the House Armed Services Committee and have ANYTHING in his district end up on the cut list is not only a void of leadership its also pathetic and Kansas deserves better.
Similarly, Ryun claims that Boyda and the DCCC have "teamed up" when in reality when I talked to my friend on the campaign not only did they not know about the DCCC Ad Buy they hadn't seen it until today when it was posted to YouTube.
What Mr. Ryun may not know is that under federal law Boyda can't have anything to do with the DCCC or with the ads they are running - and that's exactly what happened according to my friend who didn't know anything about it. Duah, Jim. Didn't you see Ken Mehlman on the talk show circuit talking about how he can't talk to Corker's campaign and that's how the RNC didn't know about the ad?? (cause it was the NRSC that did the ad, fool)...
Anyway - There was another google news alert that came up that alluded to the fact that Bush may be making a surprise visit to Kansas to GOTV some R's. I don't know if this is true - and its kinda vague - but here's what it says:
"Republicans said they saw no evidence that Mr. Ryun was in trouble and suggested that Democrats were trying to rattle them. Still, the Republican Party began running advertisements to defend five more incumbents, in states including Colorado and New York, who are showing signs of slipping. And President Bush on Saturday began another series of swings into what had been solidly Republican territory to help generate more enthusiasm and raise money to help pay for the late advertising and voter turnout push."
Either way - Boyda is the right Change for Kansas. She's far more in touch with the daily lives of Kansans - she's in the coffee shops and talks to everyone - she loves the state - to hear her talk about it on the campaign she's the candidate, she says the talking points just like all of them do - but when you're alone with her one on one and she is talking about Kansas what you find is that her love for it is stronger than the talking points and the perfect words. She loves riding her bike through the Flint Hills and her appreciation for the beauty and the people themselves took my breath away. While she won't admit to it or really discuss it to an auditorium it goes back to her faith. I think she has a strong sense of faith in God and that's great but what means the most to me is that she has a very strong sense of faith in people.
Ryun loves God and I respect that he does and I'm grateful for it - but when it comes to the people you don't see him in Kansas unless he's campaigning. Oh you'll see him wondering around Lawrence from time to time but Mass St. isn't his district and Signs of Life can't vote for him.
Remember when he knocked doors in the gated community in Pittsburg?? Yeah me too. What about Parsons? What about Garnet when they wanted Rails to Trails program to be funded?? Where is Ryun for the regular people?
Boyda's passion for the smaller issues - pocketbook policies - is important because those are the ones that Ryun doesn't get and I honestly believe it might be because he's manipulated by his party on everything else. It isn't his fault he just can't stand up to them. And that's why Boyda will be perfect - because she's not afraid to stand up in opposition to her own party and for what's right for Kansans.
Boyda is the right change for Kansas. Elect her and you'll see the 2nd District change for the better and you'll see the kind of loyalty and devotion to all people - not just those in a gated community.
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