Former POW, Iowan Col. Bud Day Responds to Gen. Wesley Clark’s Attack on John McCain
Sioux City Native “Astonished” by Obama Surrogate’s Remarks
(Des Moines) – Recent comments by General Wesley Clark (Ret.), an Obama campaign surrogate and advisor, are not sitting well with many veterans, including Iowa native Colonel Bud Day.
In a conference call Monday, Col. Day refuted Gen. Clark’s statement that “riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down” is not “a qualification to be president.”
“I, too, was quite astonished with this unworthy remark made by Wesley Clark against one of my great warriors,” Day said. “This backhanded slap against John of not being a worthy warrior because he just got shot down is one of the more surprising insults in my military history.”
The expression ‘takes one to know one’ is given new meaning when Col. Day speaks about great warriors. Born in Sioux City, Iowa, Col. Day is the most decorated American service member since Gen. Douglas MacArthur, having received nearly 70 decorations and awards including more than 50 for combat. Col. Day is also personally close to the matter as he shared a cell with John McCain in Hanoi and spent 87 months as a prisoner of war.
Controversy has erupted beyond Gen. Clark’s remarks as many pundits speculate that this attack and those of other high profile Obama supporters are signs of a coordinated effort to discredit John McCain’s military service.
In May, Iowa’s own Senator Tom Harkin told reporters that McCain’s views come “from always having been in the military, and I think that can be pretty dangerous.”
“This pattern of attacking John McCain’s sacrifice for his country is very disturbing to me, as both a citizen and a veteran,” said Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Stewart Iverson. “I would hope that Sen. Obama has enough courage to denounce these remarks for what they are – a cheap stunt to misinform voters.”
Col. Day concluded Monday’s call saying, “I am astounded that a person who represents a presidential candidate would be involved in this kind of a political shenanigan against a man of John McCain’s character.”
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Help Iowa Flood Victims
In an effort to assist our neighbors in eastern Iowa with the flood recovery, RPI will be collecting supplies to donate to that effort. Recovery leaders have informed us their greatest need is for non-chemical cleaning supplies. We will have an area reserved at state convention to drop off supplies.
Some examples of those supplies are:
Gloves, Trash bags, Brushes, Sponges, Brooms, and Paper towels
If you would prefer to make a monetary donation directly to the recovery effort, please visit http://corridorrecovery.org/.
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Victory 2008 Announces Headquarters Grand Opening
(Urbandale, IA) – Republican Victory 2008 will host a grand opening celebration for their headquarters in Urbandale.
DATE: Thursday, July 10, 2008
TIME: 6 p.m.
LOCATION: Victory 2008 Headquarters
2775 86th St
Urbandale, Iowa
(Just east of Panera Bread)
The grand opening will feature many local candidates and elected officials. Refreshments will be served and a kickoff volunteer opportunity is being planned.
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House Majority Fund Hosts Fundraiser Featuring Governor Tim Pawlenty
$120,000 Raised to Help Elect Local Candidates
(Des Moines) - The Republican House Majority Fund hosted a hugely successful fundraiser Saturday raising $120,000. The event, held at the new Holiday Inn in West Des Moines, was keynoted by Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota.
“The HMF and Republican Leadership are obviously very excited about Saturday’s event,” said HMF Director Matt Gronewald. “The donations we received will go a long way towards achieving our goal of reclaiming the majority in the Iowa House.”
House Republicans have an aggressive plan to pick up the four seats needed to reclaim the majority – and there are many opportunities for you to get in on the action. If you would like to donate or volunteer to help a legislative candidate in your area, please call 515-282-8105.
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Post Convention Tailgate and Barnstormer Game on Saturday, July 12
Presented by the Young Republicans
Join fellow State Convention Delegates for good food and beverage, live music, and much more at the Post Convention Tailgate on Saturday, July 12. The tailgate begins at 4:00 p.m. and will be located north of Vet’s Auditorium. Afterwards, head to Wells Fargo Arena to watch the Iowa Barnstormers take on the Quad City Steamwheelers, kickoff at 7:05 p.m. As a delegate or alternate delegate to the State Convention, you can purchase discounted tickets for as low as $10 a seat. If 5 or more delegates from your county attend, we will recognize your County Party on the video board during the game. To RSVP and to order your tickets call Grant Young at 515-564-8454 or email gyoung@theiowabarnstormers.com.
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Treloar Named as RPI Communications Director
(DES MOINES) – The Republican Party of Iowa (RPI) has hired Nathan Treloar to serve as Communications Director for the 2008 Election. No stranger to Iowa politics, Treloar has worked for a number of Congressional, state, and local candidates, as well as for RPI.
RPI State Chairman Stewart Iverson said, “The breadth of experience that Nathan brings will be a huge asset for us this fall. We are very excited to have him on the team.”
Treloar, 29, will be taking time off from a business he began in 2006 providing outreach and communications services for political action groups such as Newt Gingrich’s American Solutions. Prior to that he spent three years with RPI, first directing field operations in Northwest Iowa from 2003-2004 and then as Finance Director for the House Majority Fund in 2005. Treloar has also worked on the U.S. Senate campaign of former Congressman Greg Ganske and gubernatorial campaign of Bob Vander Plaats. A native of Ogden, Iowa, Treloar graduated with a degree in Political Science from Iowa State University in 2001. He is currently a resident of Des Moines.
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The Debt We Owe for the Price They Paid
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed, and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners, men of means, well-educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.
Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told us a lot of what happened in the Revolutionary War. Our forefathers didn't just fight the British. They were British subjects at that time, and they fought their own government! Some of us take these liberties so much for granted...and we shouldn't.
So, let's take a few moments while enjoying our 4th of July holiday and silently appreciate these patriots and thank the God who moved them. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.
