Cross-posted at Mydd
Hi, folks. As many of you know, my Dad is
Jack Carter, who's running for US Senate in Nevada. We're back on the air. I'll have the TV ads below (YouTube links and transcripts), a little bit of the coverage that my Dad got on his recent campaign swing through rural Nevada with Brian Schweitzer, and tell you about a new feature on the
Carter Blog: "Outrageous Ensign Vote of the Day."
TV ads
The two TV ads that have been on the air are called "Independent" and "National Security." "Independent" is similar to the ones we ran earlier - my Dad with a gray background, speaking to the camera. Very simple. Here's the transcript (see it on YouTube here):
My opponent has supported the Bush Administration 96 percent of the time since he took office. He does not have an independent voice. He is Washington's voice to Nevada and not Nevada's voice to Washington.
I don't want to be one of the Democrats like my opponent is one of the Republicans. Representative government means that you represent the people in your state. You
represent them as an independent voice. He works for the Bush Administration and I'm going to work for you.
My name is Jack Carter, I approve this message, I'm running for the United States Senate and I sure would appreciate your vote on November the 7th.
The second, "National Security," has some footage of my Dad speaking directly to the camera, but also shows images that highlight Ensign's voting record. Here's the transcript (
YouTube link):
Whether intentionally or not, our leaders misled us about Iraq. We can't tell for sure because our Republican-controlled Congress has blocked investigations into the matter. We have taken our eye off of Al Qeada, forgotten Osama Bin Laden. I'll work to refocus our National Security on Al Qeada and direct threats to the United States. My name is Jack Carter and I will be Nevada's voice to Washington. I'm Jack Carter and I approved this message.
Campaigning with Brian Schweitzer
I was really excited when my Dad was going to do some events with Brian Schweitzer. I know he needs no introduction around here: he's become a model for a new kind of Democrat. He's a libertarian, Western Democrat, and we were happy to have him on our campaign roster. They went on a campaign swing through Northern Nevada, with events in Reno, Fallon, Winnemucca, and Elko. There was a great article out of the Elko Daily Free Press. Here's an excerpt (but you should really read the whole thing):
Carter said he is an independent person and doesn't base his decisions on party politics. He said he is a constitutionalist who believes the Constitution -- not the government -- protects people's rights.
"Encroachment on my freedoms is what really got me into this race," Carter said. "The government has got to be controlled. I will do my best to do that."
Carter said the Bush administration's "poor leadership," "ties to special interests" and "handling of the normal business of government," is taking the country down the wrong path. He said his opponent, incumbent Republican Sen. John Ensign, has "enabled" the Bush administration to do these things.
Carter and Schweitzer -- who both grew up in rural areas -- highlighted Carter's roots during the visit. Schweitzer said he and Carter are "gun-toting, pickup-driving, dog-loving, take responsibility for their actions, balance the checkbook at the end of the month, pay as you go, calluses on the hands, go to church on Sunday Democrats."
"Jack is the kind of Democrat we need to send to Washington, D.C.," Schweitzer said.
Carter said he was disappointed Ensign had declined to debate him in Elko.
Outrageous Ensign Vote of the Day
We've begun a new feature on the Carter Blog. Every day, we highlight a different vote that Ensign cast that went against the interests of Nevadans. We kicked off the feature with a vote he cast against equipment for the troops:
On February 2, 2006, John Ensign opposed S.Amdt.2737 to S.Amdt. 2707 to H.R. 4297, which failed on a 44-53 vote.
This amendment would have rolled back the Bush-Cheney capital gains tax cuts to purchase much-needed equipment for troops serving in the Middle East. We have some nice quotes on this amendment (don't expect this extra special service every day!) from the sponsor, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI):
"We have the responsibility to be responsible, not only give the troops what they need but pay for it so we do not increase the deficit," argued Sen. Reed on the Senate floor. "I hope we respond by supporting my amendment which takes care of the troops but does so in a responsible way by providing the resources to pay for this necessary equipment."
"This equipment is not new equipment, it is not transformational, it is the equipment they need. I commanded a paratrooper company in the 82nd Airborne Division. I can tell you the worst thing for morale is to have soldiers with poor and inadequate equipment. We owe it to them," Reed said.
We've started an OEVotD archive, which you can see
here.
Thanks for reading -- let me know what you think! And you can always help by donating here.
Sarah
You can always find more at the Carter Blog