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Dear DSCC friend,
It's the eve of Halloween, and the Republicans are pulling out all of their dirty tricks. You've heard about the Republican 72-hour Task Force. They make it sound like a GOTV effort, but their real "task" is to launch a last-minute whisper campaign that preys on voters' fears and prejudices. They're trying to drown out all of the good things voters have heard about Democratic candidates with irrelevant, shameless, personal attacks that have no place in the public discourse.
I'm outraged! They think they won't get caught, but we must expose the truth and catch them red-handed. Because these tactics are un-democratic, un-American and unbecoming of someone who wants to represent the people of their state in the United States Senate. Our candidates and the DSCC are on the air, on the phones, and in your mailbox to make sure these tricks don't go unanswered. But, we need your help to make sure these tricks don't go unnoticed.
If you're as outraged as I am, please pass this message on and expose the truth behind this 72-hour Republican smear campaign. Our democracy is at stake. They must be stopped. And this is the kind of desperate fear-mongering and race-baiting Republicans are peddling to voters:
Minority Voter Intimidation in SC: In one of the most hotly contested Senate races in the country, state election officials and the NAACP are cautioning the public about a forged letter aimed at scaring minorities from voting. The fraudulent letter poses as a message from the NAACP and threatens voters with arrest if they show up to the polls and have outstanding parking tickets or have failed to pay child support. (AP, 10/30/04). This is the most blatant, unseemly voter intimidation tactic we've seen so far.
Tom Coburn in OK: Tom Coburn already offended Native Americans when he insisted that "most of them aren't Indians" (Altus Town Hall, 8/21/04). Earlier this month, he was challenged by civil rights groups to take down a race-baiting ad that targeted Hispanics and immigrants. He continued with his racially-charged campaign theme this week by claiming that black males "had a genetic predisposition to have less of a life expectancy." (AP, 10/28/04).
Mel Martinez in FL: Florida journalists have already called Republican Martinez's attacks on Betty Castor an "egregious abuse of the truth." (Tampa Tribune, 10/27/04). That didn't stop Republicans from taking out a full page newspaper ad this week suggesting that Osama bin Laden would vote for Betty Castor. (Star Banner, 10/28/04).
Pete Coors in CO: A stack of bumpers stickers sitting on a front desk in Republican Pete Coors' campaign headquarters reads: "All Sombrero...No Cattle...Ken Salazar." That's the kind of racial prejudice Coors supporters are using against fifth generation Coloradoan and Hispanic Attorney General Ken Salazar. (Denver Post, 10/29/04).
Jim Bunning in KY: The litany of embarrassing comments and erratic episodes from Republican Senator Jim Bunning, including his recent reference to "November 11th" in a discussion about the September 11th terrorist attacks (click here to see the video), have caused widespread concern about his fitness to serve a second term in the Senate. But the only way Republicans could deflect public attention away from Bunning's out of control behavior was to make up stories about Democrat Dr. Dan Mongiardo. They launched false rumors that he is gay by calling him "limp-wristed" and questioning whether "the word 'man' applies to him." (AP, 10/28/04). A candidate's marital status and sexual orientation are not valid campaign issues--especially when they have no basis in truth.
John Thune in SD: Following a criminal investigation into the state Republican party's mishandling of absentee ballots, John Thune's campaign was so desperate to gain traction that they issued a mail piece attacking Tom Daschle's wife. It seems like Thune can't run on his own platform or run against Daschle's admirable record--so he has to run against Tom Daschle's wife? It's clear nothing is out of bounds for this crowd of Republicans.
These personal attacks, fear-mongering tactics and bigotry have no place on the campaign trail—and they certainly have no place near the floor of the U.S. Senate. This method of campaigning is out of control and out of bounds—America deserves better from our leaders. These tactics must be exposed and stopped. Please, forward this message to a friend today and expose the truth.
We will do better by electing a Democratic majority to the Senate on Election Day.
Sincerely,
Anne H. Lewis
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