Gerry Connolly Sucks, Part 20

From the Doug Denneny Campaign:

"Fairfax, VA- Today, the Denneny campaign called on Gerry Connolly to clarify his opinion on public schools after advertisements from his campaign referring to a "failing public education system" have surfaced on two popular websites.

"We can all agree that our public schools can improve, but to imply that public education is failing is ridiculous," said Denneny Communications Director Kevin Franck. "The Connolly campaign's poor choice of words is an insult to the students, teachers, administrators, parents and community leaders who make Fairfax public schools the envy of the nation. We should applaud their efforts, not dismiss them."

"If Mr. Connolly really thinks that Fairfax County has a 'failing public education system,' then maybe he should use the nearly four years left in his term to help fix it," Franck added.

This week, Doug Denneny released this week a 10-point plan entitled "The Denneny Plan to Protect and Improve Our Public Schools" that is available at dougforcongress.com.  Denneny, a product of public schools, the son of a public school teacher and the father of two children who attend public schools, has developed a substantive plan with new ideas to improve public education in America.

The advertisement in question has run on at least two job search websites: Craigslist and Democratic GAIN and reads "The next congress will face big problems: the war in Iraq, an economic downturn, and a failing public education system. Gerry Connolly is a candidate who can solve these problems."

Commander Denneny served over twenty-two years as a U.S. Naval Flight Officer. He is a former TOPGUN instructor and commanded a Navy F-14 and F/A-18 fighter squadron. Denneny earned six air medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross with "V" for valor during combat operations over Iraq. In 2004, he returned to the Pentagon and worked for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a special assistant and legislative liaison, and was selected to the rank of Captain. After retiring from the Navy, he continued his public service by being elected President of his large neighborhood citizens' association, by serving on three Fairfax County committees, and other numerous volunteer activities."

Comments

[Sam]

Doug's actually a great guy. If Byrne weren't in the race, I'd be completely supporting him. I commend him for raising this important point.

[Doug in Tazewell]

Denneny is the closest thing the Democrats have to adult supervision in the 11th District race.

By the way, if Connolly contributed to failing schools, then why did Ben vote for him last November?

Too bad the Denneny campaign has a history of being even more dishonest than Gerry and this is actually a prime example of how Denneny broke his campaign pledge not to run a negative campaign.

[Bubby]

OK, I'm tired of sucky stories about some fat beltway bandit/BoS in No-Vaw doing the latest version of Boss Hog.

Has anyone noticed the spectacular crop of spring gobblers? And no, I'm not talking about the ladies gracing the lawn on the lower quad.

[Kevin Allen]

Maybe the contest should be to see which of these articles is the most baseless.

Since Gerry Connolly is running for Congress a simple comment on public schools does not mean he was referring to Fairfax County public schools. Quite the leap in logic.

Alas Doug Denneny, we hardly knew ye... if only your campaign wasn't being run by a group the very least of what Fairfax County politics has to offer, you might be making some headway.

Oh yeah, and to the point of the post, Gerry Connoly would pole vault a burning school, stiff arm his grandmother, try to get revoke party help from fellow democrats in the midst of an important election (cough) and step on a puppy's little skull if a congressional seat (or a sandwich) was at the end of that obstacle course.

[Mr. Bobo]

Denneny's plan to reduce the number of troops in Iraq is at http://www.dougforcongress.com, and it's easy reading. It's a partial, slow withdrawal, down to 35,000 "troops" in Iraq by July 2009, combined with an increase to 35,000 American troops in Kuwait.
The number of American troops in Iraq would be gradually reduced to an unspecified number in 2011-- after an intervening Congressional election will have taken place. (Denneny's plan does not specify whether the term "troop" refers exclusively to Army personnel, or whether it would include Marines, Airforce, Navy, National Guard, or employees of Defense contractors who play a combat role.)
Besides, any voter who is Constitutionally literate will know that the President Commander in Chief is the military, so what really matters is how Denneny's view of the war in Iraq would affect his votes on Defense appropriations.

[Term papers]

A great constructive article will help to understand the issue...