'Rats sink to new low

News Release:
For Immediate Release: Contact: Dave Dahl Campaign
731-287-8166
October 11, 2004 www.VoteDahl.com
Dave Dahl denounces
Fitzhugh's attack of Republican voters

Dyersburg, TN- Today, Republican nominee for State House District 82, Dave Dahl, denounced a flyer distributed by Democrat State Representative Craig Fitzhugh that attacks Bush voters and mocks those who are mentally challenged (flyer included). "Hard-ball politics is one thing and everyone expects tough battles, but using those who are born with mental disabilities for political fodder is disgusting," said Dave Dahl on Monday from his campaign office in Dyersburg.

The flyers have been distributed for at least 2 weeks from State Representative Craig Fitzhugh's campaign office on the town square in downtown Ripley, which also serves as the Kerry-Edwards campaign headquarters. Dahl said, "At first I really did not believe that Fitzhugh and the Democrats would stoop to such gutter politics, but then people started bringing the flyer to me at the end of last week. I was shocked and disgusted."

Dahl said, "In my first campaign against Mr. Fitzhugh two years ago, the Democrats conducted a negative telephone poll on my then five year old adopted daughter because she was born in Texas and not in Tennessee. I guess I should not be surprised that Mr. Fitzhugh and his crowd would attack Bush voters and call them 'retarded.' This is how the Democrats do business." Dave Dahl continued, "The single minded plan for Mr. Fitzhugh and the Democrats in Tennessee is to attack Republican voters, attack those supporting Republican candidates and to ignore the real issues of the day: jobs, prescriptions drugs costs, education, security at home and taxes."

"This kind of reckless disregard for those who suffer from mental disabilities is much larger than any state representative race. This act is so atrocious and indecent that my campaign will be sending a copy of the Fitzhugh flyer to the United States Special Olympics Committee, the Special Olympics International Group and state and national advocacy groups who work with and support special needs children and adults," said Dahl.

Dahl concluded, "My heart goes out to the millions of families who have children and loved ones with special needs. To have their family members mocked in this manner is inexcusable and wrong from any perspective. These kinds of issues cross all political and social boundaries. I call on Mr. Fitzhugh to issue a public apology."

Here's all of Fitzhugh's contact info followed by my e-mail I sent.

Please feel free to send all or part - I think it spells things out!

rep.craig.fitzhugh@legislature.state.tn.us

Capitol Address
Representative Craig Fitzhugh
33 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37251
Phone: (615) 741-2134
Fax: (615) 741-7041

District Address
Representative Craig Fitzhugh
135 S. Alpine St.
Ripley, TN 38063
Phone: (731) 772-8978

To whom it may concern,
I want to let you all know - and especially Mr. Fitzhugh - how disgusting I think it is that you people have the nerve to exploit and demean people with disabilities (especially children) in order to advance your political agenda. The advertisement you produced stating that "Voting for Bush is like running in the Special Olympics - Even if you win, you're retarded." is a perfect example of the vile, warped mentality and reckless disregard for people whose cause you claim to champion. It is completely shameful.

You should be ashamed of yourselves - but I suspect you're not. I fully understand it's an election year, however your entire party's platform is one of shallow, short-sighted and baseless rhetoric. We are at war - a very necessary war, regardless of how you try to paint it. You claim that Iraq was a "diversion" from the war on terror - yet you seem to ignore the facts that terrorists are flocking to Iraq to take us on and that we have not had an attack on American soil since 9/11.

I suppose you'd rather fight the terrorists on our soil but on THEIR terms? That's what you'll get if john kerry is elected, I assure you. Your party set us up for 9/11 - that has been proven time and again. You choose to bury your heads in the sand rather than confront a gathering and strengthening enemy dedicated to our destruction. You're socialists - evidenced by the dozens of members of the democratic party who are also members, contributors, or advocates of the American socialist party.

America rejects your socialism, however. You openly advocate a system that encourages complacency and propogates a mindset of increasing dependence on more and more over-reaching government programs that serve only to undermine our role on the world stage as THE leader and chief proponent for prosperity, safety and security across the globe.

Here's an analogy you should consider: Republicans and Conservatives want to build a stairway for success, show people who need a helping hand the way, and tell them if they take it step by step - they can make their way to the top. You liberal, pandering democrats want to take the weak and lazy by the hand, carry them down a sidewalk to their own private elevator, and tell them they are entitled to the free ride up. That "free ride" comes at the direct expense of those of us who work hard contributing to a stronger and more prosperous America. I'd ask you if that makes any sense - ANY SENSE - whatsoever, but I suspect that to you, it does.

How in the world can you knowingly contribute to this? I challenge you to prove me wrong - because I know you cannot. My only hope is that before people go to the polls on 2 November, they can exercise at least SOME basic critical thinking skills and see beyond your party's shallow, baseless rhetoric. Our future is at stake whether you people realize it or not. We have the right man in the White House right now. We do not need an elitist left-wing panderer to weaken this Nation and destroy the progress we have indeed made in securing our country.

You people need to think about your actions - and I pray that you do so.

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