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Musgrave camp blasts attack ad by veterans' group

Vet group's TV spot assailed as offensive, hurtful

By Abigail Curtis, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 3, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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A series of TV ads accusing Rep. Marilyn Musgrave of lining her pockets while voting against a $1,500 bonus for military members is a "smear tactic," Musgrave's spokesman said Tuesday.

The ads are paid for by VoteVets.org, a veterans' advocacy group based in New York City.

"To have this group somehow insinuate and suggest that Marilyn's heart is not with our soldiers and veterans when it's such a personal sacrifice her family is making is extremely offensive and hurtful," said Jason Thielman.

Musgrave's son and daughter- in-law are in the military.

The 30-second spot debuted Friday and will end its run Thursday, according to VoteVets.org, which is spending $370,000 on the ad campaign.

The ad shows a number of Colorado veterans who talk about their struggles with high food and gas prices. The veterans say the Fort Morgan Republican voted against a $1,500 combat bonus for service members but accepted $14,000 in pay raises for herself.

"Musgrave is someone who's had a very troubled past with veterans and veterans' issues," said Jon Soltz, chairman of VoteVets.org who served in Iraq in 2003. "The constituents in Colorado have a right to know that Marilyn cares more about lining her own pockets than she does about helping veterans."

Thielman decried the ad as "politics as usual."

The vote in question happened in 2003, when Musgrave joined Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., and others in turning down the $1,500 combat bonus for troops.

That's also the year Soltz served five months in Iraq with the First Armored Division.

Soltz said he and other vets are tired of being low man on the totem pole.

"I was in Iraq with no body armor for my unit," said Soltz. "There's no accountability for these issues, and kids get killed."

Musgrave's $14,000 pay increases were automatic, Thielman said, adding that she has voted several times to turn down salary jumps.

But Soltz said that other elected officials have been known to donate their pay raises to charities.

"She could have given them to the troops," he said.

Thielman countered that VoteVets has a partisan agenda.

"This organization is a partisan organization that's affiliated with the most far-left element of the Democratic Party," the campaign manager said.

VoteVets.org describes itself as a nonpartisan and pro-military organization of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans that focuses on advocacy for veterans and on "holding politicians accountable." It consists of a political action committee and a nonprofit "action fund."

The group said it chose to focus on Musgrave at the request of Colorado veterans. "Our Colorado vets have some key legislators and they want to highlight their bad records," Soltz said.

Through its PAC, the group has donated money to Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina, both Republicans.

According to its Web site, the group has more than 100,000 members. Money for VoteVets.org's activities, including this ad and another against Maine Sen. Susan Collins, comes from donations, according to Soltz.

"We're not supporting Musgrave's opponent," he said. "Just highlighting her record."

Curtisa@RockyMountainNews.com