Posted on 11/04/2006 9:51:27 PM PST by Nevadan
Aide asked mother of Iraq war casualty to appear at event
WASHINGTON -- Hoping to generate attention for his boss late in an underdog campaign, an aide to Democrat Jack Carter solicited the mother of an Iraq war casualty to appear alongside the Senate candidate at a rally or news conference last week.
But if it was looking for a willing ally, the Carter camp evidently picked the wrong mother.
Eleanor Dachtler of Las Vegas said she was insulted by the overture, which was made in a blind letter that began: "I hope I have reached the right Eleanor Dachtler and that you are the mother of Nick Anderson. If not, please disregard this letter."
The letter asked if Dachtler would appear with Carter at an event where the candidate would be criticizing the Iraq policy of President Bush and Republican incumbent John Ensign.
Dachtler's participation could help draw media coverage, she was told. Carter is trailing Ensign by double digits in the most recent Review-Journal poll, conducted last week.
"I read the letter, and I thought, 'This guy is a (expletive),'" said Dachtler, whose 18-year old son, Nicholas, was killed on Nov. 12, 2004, in the Anbar province.
Dachtler said she was further bothered that Carter aides had checked her voting records to ascertain that she was a registered Democrat.
Dachtler said Nevada lawmakers, including Ensign, were helpful to her after her son died, and so she turned down the invitation.
She said she kept her annoyance to herself until she saw Carter on television with paraplegics at an event to promote stem cell research, similar to the idea his aides had pitched her on Iraq.
"It was almost like he was exploiting these people," she said.
The letter was signed by Jay Jones, Carter's press secretary. Jones said Friday said he wrote the letter "in good faith" and intended no disrespect.
Carter did not see the letter and was unaware of his effort, Jones said.
"It was my idea," Jones said. "Never did I intend to exploit her, nor do I think I have."
Jones said he and Dachtler mutually agreed after talking on the phone that she probably should not take part in the event, which eventually was scrapped. He said he tried to contact one other family but gave up when he could not find a phone number.
Some family members of slain U.S. soldiers have spoken out on the war, most famously Cindy Sheehan, who has staged protest camp-outs near Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.
Dachtler said she is conflicted.
"I am looking at it as a mother who lost a son and doesn't want anybody to lose a family member," Dachtler said. "But I don't want my son to have died in vain.
"My son went there for a purpose; he was military-oriented all the way," Dachtler said. "I don't care about political reasons for being there. I believe that my son died for the thousands of people who were slaughtered and massacred by Saddam."
I didn't know Carter was trailing by so much. Great news. Why didn't he just get in touch with Cindy - for a substantial amount of money, I'm sure she'd gladly be in his commercials.
That's a good question!
Jacque Cahtuh has never been elected to anything, ever. Not a city council, not PTA president. Heck he never ran for something and lost. And he starts out as senate candidate. Down 20 points.
Same with this Tess of the Bent Reid Haffen. She was Dirty Hand Shake Land Deal Harry Reid's aide in DC. Now she runs for House of Representaties in NV Dist3. Tight dirty race in a closely divided (politically) district. Haffen down 5-10 points to Red. Jon Porter (R-3). Haffen is an old respected name in Nevada. Lots of LDS on the local and state ballot.
yitbos
bttt
The Democrats in Nevada weren't going to waste a candidate who might actually have a future in politics by throwing him in front of the train which is Ensign 2006. So they took the offer from Jack Carter since Carter could finance his own campaign and wouldn't need to burden the state party or the DSCC. Carter was toast from the moment that he announced his candidacy. He barely has a majority of name ID let alone actual support for his candidacy.
Jack Carter.
Converting Democratic Nevada Voters to Republicans.
One Vote at a Time!
Almost? Almost? This woman really is a Democrat.
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