Congresswoman and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Tammy Duckworth’s campaign today released a new ad, entitled “Flat Out.” The ad features Illinois Veterans discussing Duckworth’s commitment to her fellow Veterans, while also responding to Republican Mark Kirk’s latest false attack on Duckworth’s record on Veterans’ issues. The ad, which begins airing this morning at significant levels on Chicago broadcast and cable, can be viewed HERE.
“After serving 23 years in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve, Tammy has made fighting for her fellow Veterans her life’s work. She has real accomplishments to show for it, including programs to help Veterans find jobs as well as to address homelessness among Veterans and suicide,” campaign spokesman Matt McGrath said. “Republican Mark Kirk, on the other hand, was caught repeatedly lying about and embellishing his military record, and with his campaign in desperate straits, he’s now lying about Tammy Duckworth. Illinois Veterans aren’t fooled by Kirk’s desperate lies, and Illinois voters won’t be, either.”
Isiah Bradford: She chooses to get her health care at the VA, like us.
Wally Kubicki Jr.: She knows the VA and gets how important it is to us. Mark Kirk flat out lied repeatedly about his own military service. Now he has the gall to attack Tammy Duckworth on the VA?
Dan Devine: Kirk told one lie after another after another.
VO: Tammy Duckworth made fighting for Veterans her life’s work, and she’ll never stop.
Bradford: Tammy Duckworth fought like hell for us.
TD VO: I’m Tammy Duckworth and I approve this message
Preliminary reports show Duckworth spending more than $160,000 alone on ABC-7 in the next two weeks along with at least $60,000 in cable TV for the next week. Duckworth’s campaign says it’s spending upwards of $600,000 in total.
The ad by Duckworth, a two-term congresswoman from Hoffman Estates, comes as Kirk pumped another $200,000 into an already-running spot criticizing the Democrat for settling an alleged workplace discrimination lawsuit for $26,000. Kirk campaign spending includes nearly $80,000 on ABC-7, $45,650 on CBS-2 and more than $56,000 on Chicago cable TV.
Statement from Kirk For Senate campaign manager Kevin Artl:
“The simple truth is that throughout Duckworth’s political career, she has placed politics above veterans. When Rod Blagojevich was under investigation for denying jobs to veterans, she endorsed and defended him. When VA whistleblowers came to her to address life-threatening issues for veterans, she ignored them and said ‘that’s just the way it is’ at the VA. At each opportunity during her long political career, Duckworth has defended the bureaucracy, ignored whistleblowers and fostered mismanagement instead of fighting for reform at the VA to protect veterans across the nation.”
It’s a pass. Veterans knocking veteran’s military service is always a bit slippery. She’d probably be better off having them beat her drum a little harder and be more subtle with having other veteran’s knock Kirk’s service. Would be better for that criticism to come from elsewhere.
Solid B. I probably would not have mentioned the “has the gall to attack her on the VA” part, as viewers who don’t know that she was high ranking at the VA when the wait list thing went down and didn’t see Kirk’s attack might start asking questions. I can see how some might rate it higher, but for me I’m a bit tired of Cong. Duckworth seeming to run on her military record and veterans issues only. I get that many don’t know her yet downstate. Yes, her service and sacrifice are admirable, but she has been an elected official for some time now. Time to run on her legislative record.
kinda weak. no one has ever questioned her courage to come back. but what she’s done in her political spots is fair game and should be scrutinized. And she clearly is dodging that debate. C
- Jose Abreu's next homer - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:12 am:
Is this senate race just for veterans/active duty servicemen/women? Both camps are talking about the military service and nothing else.
Add is fine, nothing groundbreaking. I’m still perplexed (read: I’m not) as to why Kirk continues to tout his Democratic credentials while running as a Republican.
Testimonials from real people — not actors — can be as good as it gets, no matter the candidate. This one’s a home run.
I’ve never understood this line of attack from Kirk.
Does he really want to match military service records with Duckworth? He’s not running against a rich banker’s kid with no service record, but a combat veteran hero.
Does he really want to highlight the government medical care he’s received as a senator compared to that of the average vet at the VA?
It’s baffling. Where’s the upside for him? He’s leading with his chin, every time, and gets clocked.
Ron Burgandy, when did Tammy work at the VA? I thought it was the Illinois Dept of Vet Affairs. The whole wait list thing, was a National VA issue, not an Illinois Vet Affairs issue.
Good points wordslinger. He should be touting the fact that he thinks independently and thoughtfully in representing Illinois (though sometimes a bit wacky it must be said), and asking the question if she can say the same.
This is the expected counter to the current Kirk “Veterans” ad. I rate this a C primarily because it assiduously avoids the issue of veterans’ care and the well-known problems in the VA structure and its administration which concerns everybody– not just vets–and again focuses instead on her personal valor and injuries which are not in question.
Unsolicited advice here: We get it. And it’s time for both senatorial candidates to move away from the veterans theme and spend some money to talk about some of the other pressing issues and policy choices the winner will need to address for us in the upcoming sessions of congress. I shake my head at these two weak candidates’ messaging and the campaign teams who are “advising” them.
“kinda weak. no one has ever questioned her courage to come back. but what she’s done in her political spots is fair game and should be scrutinized. And she clearly is dodging that debate. ”
Ha ha ha, yeah, ’cause if I’m looking for a candidate that downplays his or her military service and recovery from serious injuries, I’m'a vote for Mark Kirk.
Look, I get why Kirk partisans want Duckworth to stop talking about her military service- because it’s a good profile, and it neutralizes some of Kirk’s advantages. But that’s not how the game is played, boyos. Her military service was obviously and reasonably formative to her life and career, and she will obviously prioritize military issues as Senator. She shouldn’t hide that from the voters just ’cause it’d be more sporting for her opponent.
hakuna matata (what a wonderful phrase): She was Assistant Secretary of the US Department of Veterans Affairs from 2009-2011, after serving in the Illinois department before that.
Arsenal - For my money, it’s not so much as stop talking about it — It’s clearly the strongest card in her deck — it’s more “OK, what else have you got?”
==Does he really want to match military service records with Duckworth? He’s not running against a rich banker’s kid with no service record, but a combat veteran hero.==
I’m not sure he wants to get into a battle over service records, but that’s clearly where she’s going to move any conversation about her problems at the IDVA. It’s rough when your ‘gotcha’ moment feeds right into your opponent’s attack on you.
The ad is so meh. Its clear that the veterans are reading lines that were written for them, which is a great way to diminish the power of their presence. They also failed to highlight what Tammy has actually done for vets. I don’t know if a smattering of “us”, “fights like hell” and “life’s work” are going to cut it. Needs something more genuine or more specific or both. Overall, C+ for being overly vanilla with obviously scripted lines or her main testimonials.
The ad is so meh. Its clear that the veterans are reading lines that were written for them, which is a great way to diminish the power of their presence. They also failed to highlight what Tammy has actually done for vets. I don’t know if a smattering of “us”, “fights like hell” and “life’s work” are going to cut it. Needs something more genuine or more specific or both. Overall, C+ for being overly vanilla with obviously scripted lines or her main testimonials.
It’s not a home run, but it’ll leave a mark (pardon the pun). Kirk now has to fall back on his record in the Senate and hope everyone forgets his countless misquotes.
“For my money, it’s not so much as stop talking about it — It’s clearly the strongest card in her deck — it’s more “OK, what else have you got?””
I’m not sure what else she needs. It’s July. If a durable majority of voters know a single, simple, positive thing about a Senate candidate at this point, they’re doing good.
Look, a campaign’s ads just aren’t going to get into the more complicated parts of a candidate’s bio. That’s a really weird standard to have for them.
A “flat out” F. While I appreciate her service in the military, her service as a civilian has left me disappointed. When she was appointed director of the IL VA she wasn’t ready. I find it hard to believe that she wasn’t aware of the pervasive problems within the VA, both in IL and nationally and if she was unaware what does that say about her? When my dad was dying after waiting 8 months for chemotherapy from the VA in Chicago, I reached out to her and the response was akin to a “hang in there.” I am a lifelong Democrat but cannot support her. Additionally, much to my chagrin it was Mark Kirk that listened and looked into my dad’s situation and for that I will forever be grateful.
She ought have ignored Kirk and put out a more positive spot.
As for making care for veterans her life’s work, I thought her initial appointment as the head of the Illinois Veterans agency was to keep her viable for a future political campaign after her loss to Roskam.
===It’s not a home run, but it’ll leave a mark (pardon the pun). Kirk now has to fall back on his record in the Senate and hope everyone forgets his countless misquotes.===
In a battle of Kirk’s Senate record, and Duckworth’s record in Congress, Kirk wins hands down. The last thing Illinois needs is another hyper partisan in office.
For the ad, I do like the idea of it, but I’m honestly tired of “who was the better veteran”
well, I guess a B, because I think she really did not need to get into Mark Kirk lying about his record. it strikes a sour note in what is otherwise a powerful piece to support her own record.
@MrJM I tried to post under Trumpy Poo and I was afraid that the “Poo” part of the name had a filter on it when it didnt show up after I posted. So I tried a different name. I hope that I’d be better at sock puppetry than to post two identical lines back to back!
@pundent - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:59 am, actually, not true, an acknowledge of her mistakes and the truth could be a start…
- PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:28 pm:
I think Duckworth would be serving the vets better if she used her government insurance and freed up some VA resources for those who don’t have her option. Just my opinion.
Both served that’s good enough for me. It’s what they dis afterward that counts now. The whistleblower suit bothers me. Again not voting for someone but rather against someone.
- A guy - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 9:58 am:
It’s a pass. Veterans knocking veteran’s military service is always a bit slippery. She’d probably be better off having them beat her drum a little harder and be more subtle with having other veteran’s knock Kirk’s service. Would be better for that criticism to come from elsewhere.
It’s a good ad, but it falls short of very good.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:00 am:
Solid B. I probably would not have mentioned the “has the gall to attack her on the VA” part, as viewers who don’t know that she was high ranking at the VA when the wait list thing went down and didn’t see Kirk’s attack might start asking questions. I can see how some might rate it higher, but for me I’m a bit tired of Cong. Duckworth seeming to run on her military record and veterans issues only. I get that many don’t know her yet downstate. Yes, her service and sacrifice are admirable, but she has been an elected official for some time now. Time to run on her legislative record.
- Gooner - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:00 am:
I really liked that ad. It is strange, because although the people seem to reading lines, somehow the emotion behind it seems genuine.
You really get the idea that it matters to these guys, they appreciate what she’s done and they want to fight for her.
It comes off very well.
- peets - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:01 am:
kinda weak. no one has ever questioned her courage to come back. but what she’s done in her political spots is fair game and should be scrutinized. And she clearly is dodging that debate. C
- Jose Abreu's next homer - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:12 am:
Is this senate race just for veterans/active duty servicemen/women? Both camps are talking about the military service and nothing else.
- AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:16 am:
Add is fine, nothing groundbreaking. I’m still perplexed (read: I’m not) as to why Kirk continues to tout his Democratic credentials while running as a Republican.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:24 am:
Testimonials from real people — not actors — can be as good as it gets, no matter the candidate. This one’s a home run.
I’ve never understood this line of attack from Kirk.
Does he really want to match military service records with Duckworth? He’s not running against a rich banker’s kid with no service record, but a combat veteran hero.
Does he really want to highlight the government medical care he’s received as a senator compared to that of the average vet at the VA?
It’s baffling. Where’s the upside for him? He’s leading with his chin, every time, and gets clocked.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:27 am:
It’s all she needs. Kirk’s the one who needs to find the killer app right now.
- hakuna matata - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:27 am:
Ron Burgandy, when did Tammy work at the VA? I thought it was the Illinois Dept of Vet Affairs. The whole wait list thing, was a National VA issue, not an Illinois Vet Affairs issue.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:28 am:
Good points wordslinger. He should be touting the fact that he thinks independently and thoughtfully in representing Illinois (though sometimes a bit wacky it must be said), and asking the question if she can say the same.
- Responsa - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:29 am:
This is the expected counter to the current Kirk “Veterans” ad. I rate this a C primarily because it assiduously avoids the issue of veterans’ care and the well-known problems in the VA structure and its administration which concerns everybody– not just vets–and again focuses instead on her personal valor and injuries which are not in question.
Unsolicited advice here: We get it. And it’s time for both senatorial candidates to move away from the veterans theme and spend some money to talk about some of the other pressing issues and policy choices the winner will need to address for us in the upcoming sessions of congress. I shake my head at these two weak candidates’ messaging and the campaign teams who are “advising” them.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:31 am:
“kinda weak. no one has ever questioned her courage to come back. but what she’s done in her political spots is fair game and should be scrutinized. And she clearly is dodging that debate. ”
Ha ha ha, yeah, ’cause if I’m looking for a candidate that downplays his or her military service and recovery from serious injuries, I’m'a vote for Mark Kirk.
Look, I get why Kirk partisans want Duckworth to stop talking about her military service- because it’s a good profile, and it neutralizes some of Kirk’s advantages. But that’s not how the game is played, boyos. Her military service was obviously and reasonably formative to her life and career, and she will obviously prioritize military issues as Senator. She shouldn’t hide that from the voters just ’cause it’d be more sporting for her opponent.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:34 am:
So, basically, you guys are knocking Duckworth’s ad because it focuses on the things that help her campaign and ignores the things that might hurt it.
I’m not sure you’ve completely wrapped your arms around the purpose of campaign ads.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:36 am:
hakuna matata (what a wonderful phrase): She was Assistant Secretary of the US Department of Veterans Affairs from 2009-2011, after serving in the Illinois department before that.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:37 am:
Tammy took the bait. She ought have deflected Kirk’s attacks and tried to put out a more positive spot.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:38 am:
Arsenal - For my money, it’s not so much as stop talking about it — It’s clearly the strongest card in her deck — it’s more “OK, what else have you got?”
- Century Club - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:42 am:
==Does he really want to match military service records with Duckworth? He’s not running against a rich banker’s kid with no service record, but a combat veteran hero.==
I’m not sure he wants to get into a battle over service records, but that’s clearly where she’s going to move any conversation about her problems at the IDVA. It’s rough when your ‘gotcha’ moment feeds right into your opponent’s attack on you.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:46 am:
–Tammy took the bait.–
That was the Kirk plan? To have real, male combat veterans rip his military service while praising Duckworth’s record?
Interesting strategy.
- A guy - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:48 am:
Taking any credit for the performance of the VA over the past few years is a little strange.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:53 am:
Powerful, powerful stuff.
This is why we have elections.
A+
- Trumpy Poo - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:55 am:
The ad is so meh. Its clear that the veterans are reading lines that were written for them, which is a great way to diminish the power of their presence. They also failed to highlight what Tammy has actually done for vets. I don’t know if a smattering of “us”, “fights like hell” and “life’s work” are going to cut it. Needs something more genuine or more specific or both. Overall, C+ for being overly vanilla with obviously scripted lines or her main testimonials.
- Sen. Blutarsky - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 10:56 am:
The ad is so meh. Its clear that the veterans are reading lines that were written for them, which is a great way to diminish the power of their presence. They also failed to highlight what Tammy has actually done for vets. I don’t know if a smattering of “us”, “fights like hell” and “life’s work” are going to cut it. Needs something more genuine or more specific or both. Overall, C+ for being overly vanilla with obviously scripted lines or her main testimonials.
- Jocko - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:05 am:
It’s not a home run, but it’ll leave a mark (pardon the pun). Kirk now has to fall back on his record in the Senate and hope everyone forgets his countless misquotes.
- Madco - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:08 am:
I’d give it an A-. And she only needs “C” work to knock off Kirk in this election cycle. He’s toast.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:16 am:
== I’d give it an A-. And she only needs “C” work to knock off Kirk in this election cycle. He’s toast. ==
Yup. I haven’t been this excited about an Illinois politician since Obama.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:21 am:
“For my money, it’s not so much as stop talking about it — It’s clearly the strongest card in her deck — it’s more “OK, what else have you got?””
I’m not sure what else she needs. It’s July. If a durable majority of voters know a single, simple, positive thing about a Senate candidate at this point, they’re doing good.
Look, a campaign’s ads just aren’t going to get into the more complicated parts of a candidate’s bio. That’s a really weird standard to have for them.
- Allie C. - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:24 am:
A “flat out” F. While I appreciate her service in the military, her service as a civilian has left me disappointed. When she was appointed director of the IL VA she wasn’t ready. I find it hard to believe that she wasn’t aware of the pervasive problems within the VA, both in IL and nationally and if she was unaware what does that say about her? When my dad was dying after waiting 8 months for chemotherapy from the VA in Chicago, I reached out to her and the response was akin to a “hang in there.” I am a lifelong Democrat but cannot support her. Additionally, much to my chagrin it was Mark Kirk that listened and looked into my dad’s situation and for that I will forever be grateful.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:31 am:
She ought have ignored Kirk and put out a more positive spot.
As for making care for veterans her life’s work, I thought her initial appointment as the head of the Illinois Veterans agency was to keep her viable for a future political campaign after her loss to Roskam.
- Clark - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:43 am:
===It’s not a home run, but it’ll leave a mark (pardon the pun). Kirk now has to fall back on his record in the Senate and hope everyone forgets his countless misquotes.===
In a battle of Kirk’s Senate record, and Duckworth’s record in Congress, Kirk wins hands down. The last thing Illinois needs is another hyper partisan in office.
For the ad, I do like the idea of it, but I’m honestly tired of “who was the better veteran”
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:47 am:
@Sen. Blutarsky, @Trumpy Poo
Sockpuppets complaining about “obviously scripted lines”?
Hilarious!
– MrJM
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:53 am:
–In a battle of Kirk’s Senate record, and Duckworth’s record in Congress, Kirk wins hands down. –
Can anyone really “run on their record in Congress?”
I wasn’t aware that Congress had done anything in many years.
- pundent - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:59 am:
=A “flat out” F. While I appreciate her service in the military, her service as a civilian has left me disappointed.=
The point of any ad is to persuade people that can be persuaded. You obviously can’t so when it comes to Duckworth no ad will register.
- Amalia - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 12:04 pm:
well, I guess a B, because I think she really did not need to get into Mark Kirk lying about his record. it strikes a sour note in what is otherwise a powerful piece to support her own record.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 12:09 pm:
– I wasn’t aware that Congress had done anything in many years. –
Well there was that health care thing. Eek.
- Trumpy Poo - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:17 pm:
@MrJM I tried to post under Trumpy Poo and I was afraid that the “Poo” part of the name had a filter on it when it didnt show up after I posted. So I tried a different name. I hope that I’d be better at sock puppetry than to post two identical lines back to back!
- Allie C. - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:23 pm:
@pundent - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 11:59 am, actually, not true, an acknowledge of her mistakes and the truth could be a start…
- PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 1:28 pm:
I think Duckworth would be serving the vets better if she used her government insurance and freed up some VA resources for those who don’t have her option. Just my opinion.
- Rollo Tomasi - Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:54 pm:
Both served that’s good enough for me. It’s what they dis afterward that counts now. The whistleblower suit bothers me. Again not voting for someone but rather against someone.