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* Background is here if you need it. Press release…
Veterans are responding to Richard Irvin’s latest attack ad on Jesse Sullivan, calling on Irvin’s campaign to pull the ad and apologize to families who have lost loved ones serving in military or civilian roles abroad.
The Sullivan campaign released a new ad, featuring veterans voicing their disgust with the shameful political attack that is riddled with falsehoods.
Veterans from across the state also published an open letter this morning, saying, “Every veteran who served in combat served alongside Department of Defense civilians. They undertake the mission at great personal risk. They love our country. And they serve honorably…Irvin’s ad contains multiple falsehoods, most notably the dismissive comment that Jesse was a ‘social worker.’ Irvin’s shameful use of veterans to dismiss this form of public service is a disgrace.”
Major Monte Montes, US Army (ret.) and Sullivan’s former supervisor emphasized the personal risk Jesse faced, saying: “The location the HTS team (and Jesse) was assigned to in 2012 was extremely hostile and volatile … the patrols the HTS team participated in were often targeted by insurgents with improvised explosive devices, rifle fires, and mortars.”
Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, US Army (ret.) underscored the importance of DOD civilians to the overall effort, saying, “Civilians who volunteered to serve at the front in Afghanistan were critical to protecting our nation from jihadist terrorists who use mass murder as their principal tactic in a war against all civilized people. It is courageous to serve in combat environments, in any capacity. and we should value and thank those who have served our country, putting their own lives at risk doing so.”
For his work abroad, Sullivan received the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism, and the Department of the Army Commander’s Award for Civilian Service.
* And here it is…
*** UPDATE *** Another Sullivan press release…
In a press conference today, Richard Irvin yet again ducked important questions on abortion and his own Democrat voting record, distorted his own background, and blatantly lied about Jesse Sullivan.
He once again omitted details about his defense of violent criminals, his own record of tax hikes, and big-government expansion in Aurora. He presented no ideas or solutions for the state of Illinois, which is more of the same for a campaign that seems to have no relationship whatsoever with the truth.
IRVIN LIE: “[Sullivan] says that he wore, you know, he served in uniform. C’mon. We all know what that means…”
FACT CHECK:
• A coalition of veterans released an open letter today calling on Richard Irvin to apologize for his disgusting attacks.
• Jesse Sullivan was an Army civilian, deployed by the Department of Defense to Afghanistan.
• According to DOD records, Sullivan was a Human Terrain Analyst under US Army TRADOC G2, who led fieldwork and intelligence collections on more than 68 dismounted patrols outside of the wire.
• Sullivan received the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism, and the Department of the Army Commander’s Award for Civilian Service.
• Additional background: “As veterans.. we are repulsed” by Irvin ads attacking Sullivan.IRVIN LIE: ”[Sullivan] advocates and supports open borders. That means he doesn’t really want there to be a United States.”
FACT CHECK:
• Irvin’s citation is a magazine article, written by someone Jesse doesn’t know, in a college magazine years after Sullivan had graduated. Sullivan had nothing to do with it.
• Richard Irvin has voiced support for sanctuary cities and as mayor of Aurora, praised a law to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities as “the right, just and fair thing to do.”
• Sullivan believes in enforcing the law, and does not support sanctuary cities or preventing federal authorities from enforcing the law.
…Adding… Sullivan’s problem is that he hasn’t addressed this line from his announcement speech…
And finally, I proudly served our nation in uniform doing counterinsurgency work in Helmand Afghanistan with the US Department of Defense.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 9, 22 @ 11:35 am
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D. Don’t continue to talk about your opponent’s attack. I guess it’s good that they managed to avoid repeating the “stolen valor” charge, but if the race becomes about Sullivan’s resume, Irvin is plenty happy with that.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, May 9, 22 @ 11:41 am
Oh, Jesse, I don’t thing you want to try playing this one up against the big boys.
Comment by Roadrager Monday, May 9, 22 @ 11:44 am
It’s a D-
It’s doubling down on stolen valor.
If Sullivan wanted to serve, he should’ve joined a branch of service.
It almost reinforces what the actual veterans say in Irvin’s ad. That’s poor messaging.
The only winner in this ad is the media folks making cash off of Sullivan.
It’s a D-
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 22 @ 11:45 am
The thing is, the anti-Irvin language is strong. You want to pair that with his hollow words on public safety, you might have something. But not in defense of Sullivan’s specious claims about his own record.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, May 9, 22 @ 11:48 am
If you’re explaining, you’re losing. He’s losing. The Irvin lies/can’t be trusted line could work, if he had about $10-$15 million to burn it home, although that would likely just benefit Bailey.
Comment by Red Ranger Monday, May 9, 22 @ 11:52 am
If you can’t answer “Did you serve? Which branch?” without prevaricating, then the answer is ‘No’.
Comment by Jocko Monday, May 9, 22 @ 11:59 am
Wasn’t Sullivan a contractor, not a DoD civilian?
Don’t think there’s a difference?
Ask active military, civilian DoD, and a contractor… when all three are sitting at the same table…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 22 @ 12:00 pm
Without context, B
Because I think most people’s first instinct is that calling into question someone’s service is rather icky.
Comment by Nick Monday, May 9, 22 @ 12:02 pm
F. A debate about stolen valor has no upside for Sullivan, the best he can do with voters on this issue is fight it to a draw. The better move would be to change the subject. It’s very weird that Bailey’s home-grown true believers and Sullivan’s glitzy national consultants have both decided to let Irvin define the issues in this race.
Comment by vern Monday, May 9, 22 @ 12:10 pm
Last bit of free advice for Sully. Here’s the script for the only ad you should be running:
“I’m Jesse Sullivan,
I grew up in Central Illinois and those are the values that I’ll always uphold. I was raised in the church, as a person of deep faith. I have always believed in the sanctity of life.
With the US Supreme Court about to finally rule against abortion, Illinois voters need to know where their politicians stand on the most important issue of our lives. I am 100% Pro Life and I will be the strongest Pro Life governor in Illinois history.
Richard Irvin won’t say where he stands on this issue. He’s hiding behind millions of dollars given to him by a Chicago billionaire art collector. If he won’t stand with us, we can’t allow him to be our next governor?
I’m Jesse Sullivan. I stand proudly with Pro Life voters. Call this coward Richard Irvin, at (630) 555-1212, and demand him to be straight with Illinois Republicans.”
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 9, 22 @ 12:15 pm
Lol. A D, I guess? Why not use pictures of Irvin with Dems? Why spend so much time defending Jesse and not attacking?
This primary is fascinating because the real story is the difference in staffing.
Comment by SWSider Monday, May 9, 22 @ 12:21 pm
- 47th Ward -
That would be a far better use of resources and messaging, but egos and this needed “want” to steal valor to gun up… I don’t know… it’s poor by a campaign and it’s crew that makes this whole thing performance art for cryptocurrency.
Of course they won’t take that advice…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 22 @ 12:24 pm
I put the over/under for Sullivan’s vote percent at 15 for the primary election.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Monday, May 9, 22 @ 12:26 pm
@47th Ward The Pro Life message will help him in the Primary but hurt him in the Federal should he secure the nomination. Illinois is a pro choice state.
Comment by The Dude Abides Monday, May 9, 22 @ 12:32 pm
=Illinois is a pro choice state.=
Everyone knows this, including Republicans, who will have no chance of claiming they’re anything other than pro-life for the general election. And it won’t matter if they do, when you have folks like the Governor of Mississippi saying “I don’t know yet” when it comes to potentially banning *contraceptives*.
Republicans are the pro-life party. If a candidate hedges, they’ll lose evangelicals and a bunch more of the base and ultimately lose. If they say they’re fully pro-life, they’ll lose, because this is a pro-choice state.
That’s why Republicans are fighting for the chance to finish second in the general election, and why 47th’s proposed ad for Jesse is the right call.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, May 9, 22 @ 12:58 pm
=I put the over/under for Sullivan’s vote percent at 15 for the primary election.=
I’ll take the under for $100.
=And it won’t matter if they do, when you have folks like the Governor of Mississippi saying “I don’t know yet” when it comes to potentially banning *contraceptives*.=
My body, my choice. Amirite?
I am hoping Pritzker is patient enough to let the gop nominee get into the small government shtick and then pound them into dust over the recent gop big government intrusion moves.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, May 9, 22 @ 1:17 pm
In a primary, and specifically your first run for anything, you need to be telling people who you are and not refuting who someone else says you are. D for the ad because the message won’t move the needle positively for Sullivan. Either promote yourself up or attack the leading candidate to drive him down.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, May 9, 22 @ 1:22 pm
To add, of course Sullivan’s attempt to introduce himself - and overplaying it - left him wide open for an attack like this from an opponent with the credentials to make it.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, May 9, 22 @ 1:33 pm
===…an attack like this from an opponent with the credentials to make it.===
Credentials? I think you mean c-a-s-h.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 9, 22 @ 1:41 pm
This is just so goofy…the real winner out of all this is JB Pritzker.
Comment by B Team Monday, May 9, 22 @ 2:36 pm
My lord. The day Illinois voters quit voting for party’s like your rooting for a baseball team is the day we will see true equality and economic growth. Until then businesses leave. Citizens leave. Hope leaves.
Comment by Mcin33 Wednesday, May 18, 22 @ 9:31 pm