AU Launches Ads targeting Bush, Allen, Drake in Norfolk on Iraq, Gas Prices and College Tuition
Americans United Launches Ads targeting Bush, Allen, Drake in Norfolk on Iraq, Gas Prices and College Tuition
Allen, Drake Have Been Rubber Stamps for Failed Bush Policies on Issues Critical to Americans
The Change ad can be viewed here: http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/blog/entries/staying_on_course/
Washington - Americans United, the organization which derailed President Bush's effort to privatize Social Security just a year ago, has turned its guns on three failed Bush Administration policies in a new ad entitled "change" running in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach media market: the civil war in Iraq in which American soldiers are caught in the crossfire, rising college tuition under Bush, George Allen and Thelma Drake and their combined assault on student loans and high gas prices. Though the ads do not mention them by name, U.S. Senator George Allen and U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake are targets of the message which calls on the public to urge members of Congress, like Allen and Drake, to pass legislation to change course and point America in a new direction on these issues. On Iraq, slashing college loans and on a misguided energy policy, Allen and Drake have been rubber stamps for President Bush on these issues even when "Staying the Course" includes devastating and deadly consequences for America's soldiers, families and children.The ad, which began airing earlier this week and will remain on the air through the end of next week, shows various scenes of President Bush proclaiming that he intends to "Stay the Course" as headlines about civil war in Iraq, "12 billion in student loans cuts" and "record high gas prices" appear on the screen. In the final frame the ad asks citizens to tell Congress to pass various pieces of legislation on these issues including a bill calling for a phased redeployment of troops from Iraq (Senate Amendment 4320), one calling for an increase in student loans (Senate Bill 3593) and one which would reduce gas prices by adopting a new energy policy to increase the use of renewable sources of energy and reducing our dependence on foreign sources of oil (Senate Bill 2829).
"George Allen and Thelma Drake are two of the most predictable members of Congress when it comes to being rubber stamps for George Bush and his failed policies," said Americans United spokesman Brad Woodhouse. "Soon, George Allen and Thelma Drake may be the only Americans left, other than George Bush himself, who think we ought to stay the course in Iraq, on soaring college tuition and irresponsible cuts to student loans and on high gas prices. Being a rubber stamp for George Bush and his failed ‘Stay the Course' strategy is no substitute for being a leader and representing your constituents. It's time for a change, and Americans and Virginians of all walks of life want their leaders to point the country in a new direction. We sincerely hope George Allen and Thelma Drake will take this opportunity to do so."
Allen and Drake have repeatedly supported President Bush on the failed policies outlined in the ad - voting against a phased redeployment of troops from the civil war in Iraq, for billions in cuts to student loans to finance tax breaks for millionaires and for an energy bill which hands out billions in tax breaks to big oil while Americans pay some of the highest gas prices in history. The Allen and Drake records on these issues appear below as does a brief description of the bills mentioned in the ad.
George Allen: Are Those Boots Rubber?
GAS PRICES
Ø Between 2000 and 2006, Senator Allen accepted $281,097from the oil and gas industry. Senator Allen voted for the energy bill that included billions of dollars in tax subsidies to energy companies. [opensecrets.org; HR 6, Vote #213, 7/29/05; Associated Press, 8/13/05]
IRAQ
Ø Senator Allen voted against an amendment urging President Bush to press the
Iraqis to take greater responsibility for their own security and future and calling for the beginning of a phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq by the end of the year. [S Amdt 4320, Vote #182, 6/22/06]
STUDENT LOANS
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Thelma Drake: Rubber Stamp Extraordinaire |
GAS PRICES
- Ø Between 2004 and 2006, Congresswoman Drake has accepted $20,000 from the
oil and gas industry. Congresswoman Drake voted for the energy bill that included billions of dollars in tax subsidies to energy companies. [opensecrets.org; HR 6, Vote #445, 7/28/05; Associated Press, 8/13/05]
IRAQ
Ø Congresswoman Drake opposed setting a timetable for pulling U.S. forces out of
Iraq. She voted for a resolution that labeled the Iraq war part of the larger global fight against terrorism and said that an arbitrary date for the withdrawal or redeployment of troops is not in the national interest. Opponents denounced the vote saying that supporting it would have the effect of affirming President Bush's failed policy in Iraq. [H Res 861, Vote #288, 6/16/06; Associated Press, 6/16/06; Associated Press, 6/17/06]
COLLEGE LOANS
Ø Congresswoman Drake voted to cut nearly $12 billion in funding to student
lending programs. [Vote #4, 2/1/06]
Ø Congresswoman Drake voted to cut $14.3 billion from federal student
financial aid programs that help middle-class families afford to send students to
college. [Vote #601, 11/18/05] |
Bills Referenced in Ad S.2829 is a bill to reduce the addiction of the United States to oil, to ensure near-term energy affordability and empower American families, to accelerate clean fuels and electricity, to provide government leadership for clean and secure energy, to secure a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy future, and for other purposes. It has been introduced and referred to the Finance Committee. S 3593 would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide additional support to students, including an increase in the yearly maximum Pell grant amounts. S Amdt 4320 calls for the beginning of a phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq by the end of the year.
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