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VoteVets Heralds Victory as Tommy Tuberville Waves White Flag on Military Promotion Holds

Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC — The leading Veterans group that fought Senator Tommy Tuberville over his block on military promotions declared victory today, as Tuberville surrendered and dropped most of the holds, allowing the Senate to move forward on hundreds of promotions for top officers.

“We’re pleased to see Tommy Tuberville has admitted defeat and has backed down,” said Mary Kasynski, Director of Government Relations for VoteVets. “VoteVets organized thousands of Veterans, put together public displays at the Capitol, and spent to take to the airwaves with hard-hitting TV ads, all to pressure him and his Republican colleagues to let promotions through. Still, Tuberville is maintaining a hold on a handful of top positions. We will not rest until they are also confirmed.”

“Now that Tuberville has admitted defeat, our military can get back to the business of keeping us safe, without Senate Republicans politicizing promotions. It’s a good day,” she added.

BACKGROUND ON VOTEVETS EFFORTS ON TUBERVILLE

VoteVets was the first major organization to take the fight to Tommy Tuberville and the Senate GOP on the issue of military promotion blocks, speaking out against them in March 2023.

By early May 2023, VoteVets launched its first ad on the issue, online, which you can see here:

https://act.votevets.org/go/12012?t=2&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

 

High-Powered Ads

VoteVets then unleashed a torrent of advertising against him and his Senate GOP colleagues:

“Situation” ($50,000 in Alabama): https://act.votevets.org/go/12013?t=4&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

Women National Security Leaders (online): https://act.votevets.org/go/12014?t=6&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

“AWOL” ($100,000 in Florida Against Rick Scott: https://act.votevets.org/go/6985?t=8&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

“Games” ($50,000 in Alabama): https://act.votevets.org/go/6916?t=10&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

“Tight Lips” ($267,000 on 30-second version, nationally): https://act.votevets.org/go/12015?t=12&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

“Clear and Present Danger” (online): https://act.votevets.org/go/12016?t=14&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

 

Polling

In August, VoteVets commissioned a poll in Alabama that showed Tuberville was out of touch with his own state on the issue, which led to stories in Alabama and nationally:

https://act.votevets.org/go/12017?t=16&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ 

https://act.votevets.org/go/12018?t=18&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

https://act.votevets.org/go/12019?t=20&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

https://act.votevets.org/go/12020?t=22&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ 

https://act.votevets.org/go/12021?t=25&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

 

Pictures of all blocked promotions on Capitol Grounds

VoteVets then sponsored a historic display on the Senate side of the Capitol, where over 300 photos of the officers whose promotions were being blocked were posted on the lawn so every Senator could see it. VoteVets was joined by a number of Senators at a press conference about the event, and Tuberville himself said he found it impressive until he realized it was about him.

Some select press on that:

https://act.votevets.org/go/12022?t=27&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ 

https://act.votevets.org/go/12023?t=29&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

https://act.votevets.org/go/12024?t=31&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ 

https://act.votevets.org/go/12025?t=33&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

https://act.votevets.org/go/12026?t=35&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

 

Social Media Influence

VoteVets didn’t end there. They utilized our national network of Veterans to speak out against Tuberville. First, the group encouraged Veterans to submit social media videos, which got excellent traction online. Some examples:

https://act.votevets.org/go/12027?t=37&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

https://act.votevets.org/go/12028?t=39&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

https://act.votevets.org/go/12029?t=41&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ 

https://act.votevets.org/go/12030?t=43&ak_proof=1&akid=%2E96583%2Es7IpFQ

 

Overall, VoteVets engaged in an over-7-month campaign on the air, online, and on the ground to hammer the Senate GOP and Tuberville for the block on military promotions – the most active Veterans group on the issue, by a mile.