Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Launch Ad Blitz Demanding Collins Stand Up for Maine and America

By VoteVets.org  |  Press Release
PUBLISHED: August 29, 2008

WASHINGTON – The largest group of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, with 102,000 members, VoteVets.org is today launching a massive one-week ad blitz, calling on Senator Susan Collins to stop rubber stamping the Bush administration on Iraq, and stand up for Maine and America.  The ad will begin running today through Thursday on broadcast and cable.

The group is spending $200k on the ad.  This is on top of $350k spent in Colorado, exposing the record of former Congressman Bob Schaffer.  The group will spend a million dollars, in total, on ads like these, with more coming in the next few weeks.

The ad can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfwElbH-rek

In the ad, Iraq War Veteran, and VoteVets.org Main State Captain, Alex Cornell du Houx, speaking to the camera, says, “Two years ago, I fought in Iraq, like so many other Mainers.  But that’s not all that we sent there.  It’s taken almost $2 billion of Maine’s tax dollars to fight George Bush’s war.  And we’re paying more than $4 a gallon at the pump.  Meanwhile Iraq has pocketed $78 billion in oil profits.  Senator Susan Collins just stood by and let all this happen, and still is.  I gave 100 percent in Iraq.  I can’t afford to give Iraq any more.  Call Susan Collins.  Tell her we want our money back.”

Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org explained the ad by saying, “Senator Collins has been one of the biggest disappointments for those who served and are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Unlike many who just vote and talk the party line, Senator Collins often talks like she opposes the Bush administration on Iraq, but doesn’t back that up.  For her, apparently, it’s all politics, to look moderate when she’s not.  In fact, Susan Collins has rubber-stamped the Bush administration on almost every vote on the war, and we’ve seen where that’s gotten us.”

FACT CHECK

The new ad holds up to scrutiny:

“It’s taken almost $2 billion of Maine’s tax dollars to fight George Bush’s war” – The National Priorities Project tracks spending on the Iraq war, and by taking the number of taxpayers in a state, determines how much a state’s share of the war has been.  According to them, Maine taxpayers have given $1.8 billion to the war (http://www.nationalpriorities.org/tradeoffs?location_type=1&state=23&program=577&submit_tradeoffs=from_costofwar&tradeoff_item_item=999). 

“Meanwhile Iraq has pocketed $78 billion in oil profits.” – Indeed, estimates are that Iraqi oil profits are close to $80 billion over a four-year period (http://jonathanturley.org/2008/08/06/iraq-found-with-80-billion-oil-surplus-as-us-pours-money-into-reconstruction/).  VoteVets.org was conservative in its estimate, but Iraq oil profits could top $80 billion by the end of the year.

“Senator Susan Collins just stood by and let all this happen, and still is.” – Susan Collins has consistently backed the president in opposing any kind of timeline to redeploy troops from Iraq, so the Iraqis take control of their own internal problems, and chip in to help build out their infrastructure.  Collins voted against the Senate passage of House Resolution 1591 in March, 2007, which provided funding for the war in Iraq, but with a timeline (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00126).   She also supported an amendment from Senator Thad Cochran to strip timelines from the spending bill, also in March 2007 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00116).  And Collins voted against Senate Joint Resolution 9 in 2007, which called for a change of strategy in Iraq, with a comprehensive strategy that included timelines and reports to Congress (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.J.RES.9:).  Senator Collins hasn’t broken with the President on the course in Iraq, or funding reconstruction without Iraqis paying their fair share.

VoteVets.org is a pro-military organization of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, dedicated to the destruction of terror networks around the world, with force when necessary.  It primarily focuses on education and advocacy on issues of importance to the troops and veterans, and holding politicians accountable for their actions on these issues.