It turns out that John McCain isn't the only Federal candidate from Arizona having some major issues with the truth.
Republican David Schweikert unleashed the first negative ad of the general election for Arizona's Fifth on ... you guessed it, September 11th. Schweikert took this classless step despite nearly every other candidate for office, including the McCain and Obama campaigns, swearing off campaigning and attacks on 9/11 as a sign of national unity and to honor the lives lost seven years ago.
Pretty sleazy huh? But as they say in only the best infomercials, "wait, there's more!"
When his opponent, Freshman Democrat Rep. Harry Mitchell, called Schweikert out for the break in protocol - the Republican ironically running on a platform of honesty and government reform showed his true colors.
Instead of apologizing for the poor timing of his bad ad buy - or heck even trying to pass the blame ... Schweikert just decided to lie and pretend he didn't launch the attack ad on 9/11.
The method used? Well I'll let a Mitchell press release tell the story.
TEMPE — Less than 24 hours after he was called out for launching a negative attack ad on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, perennial congressional candidate David Schweikert tried to cover it up by switching the dates on press releases posted on his campaign web site. Schweikert’s cover up demonstrates the lengths he and his campaign are willing to go to hide the truth during remaining 53 days of his campaign.
Earlier today, a press release titled "Schweikert Releases New Television Ad" was posted on Schweikert’s campaign Web with the date Sept. 11. Later in the day, after the Mitchell Campaign pointed out that Schweikert stood alone in using the anniversary to launch negative attack ads, the date on the same document had been altered to Sept. 12.
Ummm ... WOOPS!
This actually might have been a good strategy if ... well, you know ... he wasn't caught immediately in the lie by the Mitchell campaign.
Here is a screen shot from September 11th BEFORE the Mitchell campaign criticized Schweikert for going negative on the day of mourning.
Here is a screen shot the Mitchell campaign took of Schweikert's webpage after they called him out.
Pretty despicable huh?
Congressman Mitchell's response pretty much sums it up:
"Disrespecting the victims of 9/11 wasn’t enough for David Schweikert," said Mitchell campaign manager Seth Scott. "He had to go and try to cover it up too. Voters have to ask themselves, ‘If David Schweikert is willing to mislead us about this, what else will he lie about?’"
Let's join together and help ensure this bum isn't elected.
Make a contribution to Harry's campaign, volunteer to turn out your neighbors, or write a letter to the editor of your local paper letting them now how pitiful Schweikert and his childish attempt to cover up his actions shows he doesn't' have the character to serve us in Washington.
