Daily Kos

AZ-Sen: Kyl's At It Again

Thu Oct 05, 2006 at 09:31:20 PM PDT

Last week I diaried about a Jon Kyl commercial (R-AZ), where the Senator tries to distance himself from Bush (and his own record) by stating he's a strong advocate for Social Security. He also reminds us he didn't support W's energy plan because it's "good for oil companies but a lousy deal for the public." It should come as no surprise, as I documented by highlighting his record, that he's consistently voted against Social Security and for Big Oil. Historically, Kyl is rated about as low as you can get by senior watchdog groups, and about as high as you can get by energy interests.

He's at it again. You can check his recent ad here, but the eye-opener transcript follows the flip.

Kyl: The issue of our times is security. Deadly terrorists pose a mortal threat to our nation. They reject tolerance, crush decent, and justify murder in pursuit of political power. [They] imprison women in their homes, and even deny young girls a chance to go to school.

Now, I could go on ad nauseum about how "reject tolerance" and "crush decent" are a pretty fair description of Kyl's party and his president. But notice how, as in the earlier commercial, Kyl tries to connect himself to causes he could care less about (because he's got little else). Here it's his concern for "security," which might lead one to believe he's a strong advocate for our fighting men and women. And then his heartfelt concern for women and girls. Similar to his two-faced comments about Social Security and energy in the previous ad, his voting record here belies any such concerns. Let's just jump right into the record, shall we? And I should note, I've only gone back a few years - track this guy for a decade and you'll need your Pepto-Bismol.

On veterans issues:

S2725 (2006), "Tax Rate Extension Amendment," to support health care for veterans. Kyl: NO

S2020 (2005), "Funding for Veterans," for counseling, mental health programs, and related services for vets. Kyl: NO

S1937 (2005), "Health Care for Vets," self-explanatory. Kyl: NO

How `bout his strong support for women's issues?

S403 (2006), "Teen Pregnancy Education," self-explanatory. Kyl: NO

S244 (2005), "Unintended Pregnancy," funding to expand access to preventative health care services that reduce unintended pregnancies. Kyl: NO

S3 (2003), "Partial-Birth Abortion," to prohibit it. Kyl: YES.

S625 (2000), "Violent Protestors," prevents violent abortion clinic protestors from filing for bankruptcy to avoid paying civil damages or criminal penalties. Kyl: NO

S2549 (2000), "Military Abortions," killed program that allowed servicewomen to use military facilities for abortions. Kyl: YES.

Yes, he's been such a huge supporter of veterans' and women's issues. I can't wait for his next ad - the one saying how he's been tough on the pharmaceutical companies!

Just one last question, Senator: That place you talk about? The one that imprisons women and doesn't allow girls an education? I can certainly see why you were a cheerleader for Bush's Iraq invasion. Oh, wait, wrong country. Can you say Saudi Arabia?

Tags: Arizona, Senate, Jon Kyl, Jim Pederson, AZ-Sen (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

Permalink | 17 comments

  •  Disappointed in Pederson's campaign. (11+ / 0-)

    Kyl's trying to run from his record, and Pederson should be making those connections - loud and often.

    "One cannot be pessimistic about the West. This is the native land of hope." Wallace Stegner

    by Mother Mags on Thu Oct 05, 2006 at 09:33:54 PM PDT

  •  Jon Kyl (3+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    rasbobbo, Mother Mags, ca democrat
    Bad for Arizona.
    Bad for America.

    McCain ultimately corrected himself after Sen. Joe Lieberman whispered in his ear.

    by Lahdee on Thu Oct 05, 2006 at 09:35:47 PM PDT

    •  I received an email tonight from Harry Mitchell's (2+ / 0-)

      Recommended by:
      Lahdee, ca democrat

      campaign that says he is up 3 points over JD Hayworth. Good news, hope AZ can keep that trend going.

      "One cannot be pessimistic about the West. This is the native land of hope." Wallace Stegner

      by Mother Mags on Thu Oct 05, 2006 at 09:46:53 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Me too! (2+ / 0-)

        Recommended by:
        Lahdee, Mother Mags

        I got that message too .. good news. But I found the poll was from early Sept! Why didn't this come out earlier? And why have subsequent polls shown this? Sadly, I'm taking this poll with a grain of salt. Show me another one with Mitchell out ahead ... please!

        Change the world. Ask questions.

        by AstroCook on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 01:30:46 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Me too! (0+ / 0-)

        I got that message too .. good news. But I found the poll was from early Sept! Why didn't this come out earlier? And why have subsequent polls shown this? Sadly, I'm taking this poll with a grain of salt. Show me another one with Mitchell out ahead ... please!

        Change the world. Ask questions.

        by AstroCook on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 01:39:24 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Yeah for Harry (0+ / 0-)

        Gives me hope for when I phone bank in Tempe on Saturday.

        McCain ultimately corrected himself after Sen. Joe Lieberman whispered in his ear.

        by Lahdee on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 06:03:27 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  Zowie! Kyl is opposed to "deadly terrorists" (2+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    ScienceMom, emeraldmaiden

    They are the very worst kind of terrorists.

    Replete with "misstatements" and elisions and retracted and redacted and revoked assertions.--Carl Bernstein on HRC's record.

    by Dump Terry McAuliffe on Thu Oct 05, 2006 at 10:05:00 PM PDT

  •  the nail in Pederson's campaign coffin (2+ / 0-)

    Recommended by:
    emeraldmaiden, redcardphreek

    I got that sinking feeling when I saw Kyl's ad featuring the bipartisan group of Arizona county sheriffs speaking in support of Kyl's border policies.

    Anyone who lives here knows that's a HUGE issue lately, and from a purely political viewpoint, I'm afraid that ad is going to play really well.

    And no, I'm not a "concern troll."  I'm voting for Pederson and urging everyone I know to do the same.  I just hope he's got some tricks up his sleeve in the home stretch to boost his numbers and turnout.

    You tell me that it's gospel, but I know that it's only church--Tom Waits

    by Flagstaff Ian on Thu Oct 05, 2006 at 10:11:44 PM PDT

    •  Yes, the immigration/border issue (1+ / 0-)

      Recommended by:
      YoyogiBear

      is disproportionately important here. Important, true, but I don't see the border wall being helpful. If the Republicans believe so much in supply & demand, and market forces ... why not cut off the demand? Punish the people that hire illegals. Streamline the process for immigration, without compromising security. It can be done.

      -8.00, -7.08

      It isn't easy being green.

      by emeraldmaiden on Thu Oct 05, 2006 at 10:18:02 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Absolutely. Let's think about this as (0+ / 0-)

        job creation, cultural exchange, and international diplomacy. Not a level of fear-mongering that ends up creating the very problems they fear. The Republicans clamor on about more penalties and higher walls, instead of, as you say, addressing the issue here. They get to look tough because the realistic approach can't work for them, the business community being their base. And fucking walls don't work, we know that. Most "illegals" come through existing border crossings where we already have walls. I think it was AZ's governor, Napalitano, who said, "Show me a 20-foot wall and I'll show you a 21-foot ladder."  

        But I haven't heard anyone talk in those terms - the Republicans strut tough, smearing the Dems as weak on immigration, forcing them to show themselves tough too - or at least "not weak." I'd like to see someone talk about celebrating this border and the opportunities it presents.  

        "One cannot be pessimistic about the West. This is the native land of hope." Wallace Stegner

        by Mother Mags on Thu Oct 05, 2006 at 10:35:47 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  ahh, but no Arpaio (0+ / 0-)

      I have lived in Arizona my whole life and that ad would have been so much more powerful with Sun City's favorite sheriff.

      In the end they could have been actors for all I know, I have never heard of a single one of them.

      •  That's certainly the crowd these ads (0+ / 0-)

        are playing to. (And those by Hayworth - Be very afraid! Mitchell voted against English Only!) Those sheriffs in the Kyl border ad look like they all come from cowyboy central casting. Lotsa big belt buckles, jeans, and handlebar mustaches.  

        "One cannot be pessimistic about the West. This is the native land of hope." Wallace Stegner

        by Mother Mags on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 01:58:42 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  A new ad? (0+ / 0-)

    Did I see another new ad by Pederson tonight?

    It was another ad focusing on the Iraq war .. and it highlighted a few soldiers from the war. And again linked Kyl to Bush and the war.

    It seemed to have a slightly stronger tone than the last one. Pederson seems to want to keep up the fight, at least on TV.

    Change the world. Ask questions.

    by AstroCook on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 07:29:17 PM PDT

    •  Good, haven't seen it yet. (0+ / 0-)

      He shouldn't allow Kyl to escape his sorry record.

      "One cannot be pessimistic about the West. This is the native land of hope." Wallace Stegner

      by Mother Mags on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:23:51 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Saw it again! (1+ / 0-)

        Recommended by:
        Mother Mags

        I saw the ad a second time when watching Letterman.

        Mother Mags, I've noticed a lot of whining about how Pederson is running his campaign in the last few days .. lackluster, no standing for anything, blah, blah, blah. It is so easy to lost focus here. We (or maybe I) need more people like you who remind us that Kyl is rotten, Pederson offers good change and that is the goal here. Keep up the good work ... they (the Pederson folk) are watching (Go, Jim, Go)!

        Change the world. Ask questions.

        by AstroCook on Sat Oct 07, 2006 at 09:47:31 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

Permalink | 17 comments