Watch this video, then take a look at three key points about the spot which appear below it.
The ad begins with an image of the U.S.S. Cole appearing on screen. Then the voice of James Sander is heard, eventually joined by his image replacing that of the U.S. Navy ship targeted by terrorists Oct. 12, 2000, in the Yemeni port of Aden.
"When a terrorist tried to attack us on Christmas Day, I was reminded why I'm willing to risk my life for America's security..."
Superimposed upon the image of the fresh-faced young man are the words "Iraq War Veteran" above what one must presume is his hometown, "Columbia, Missouri." Not surprisingly, that description isn't quite as honest as one would hope from a group seeking to influence the voting public.
According to Sander's Linked In profile, however, he moved to Missouri sometime before August 2009 to attend the University of Missouri after working for Allan Branstiter III, a North Dakota state senate candidate and member of President Barack Obama's Organzing for America.
As a veteran who served overseas for more than three years, I won't pick on or disparage Sander for his service in the Armed Forces. I will, however, highlight the fact that, according to his profile, he served in an accounting position at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, far from any battlefield where he might be expected to risk his life."...and why we need to stop sending billions in oil money to countries with ties to terrorism, but Congressman Blunt voted against the bipartisan energy bill that could cut our dependence in half."
Aside from the fact that the statement is a non sequitur in and of itself, anyone with at least a pea-sized brain knows that no single group can claim more credit than the Democrats now in Washington, D.C., for damaging our nation's energy security and opportunities for energy independence. We could cut our dependence in half by simply allowing experts in the nation's oil and gas industry to do what they do best without government interference.
"Congressman, it's time to put America's security ahead of your own politics."
When you realize that Missouri Secretary of State Robin "Coakley" Carnahan is the candidate this ad is intended to help, you need look no further to know the direction these Vote Vets folks want to take the country. And it's NOT to to the right!
