RI Campaign Update – Lynch Knocks Opponents in New Ad

RI Campaign Update – Lynch Knocks Opponents in New Ad

A new Bill Lynch ad makes light of opponents. Wallin says Kilmartin took his idea on corruption. The candidates go on Latino Public Radio… and more from the campaign trail.  

Bill Lynch Ad Derides Opponents

Congressional candidate Bill Lynch released a new campaign ad yesterday, taking a not-so-subtle swipe at his three opponents for the Democratic nomination in the First District race—David Cicilline, David Segal, and Anthony Gemma. (Click here to see it.)

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Though he does not mention them by name, the ad clearly targets his three opponents. It opens with the narrator announcing, “Welcome to let’s pick a Congressman” as the camera pans to what appears to be a game-show set. On stage are three candidates for Congress who make their pitches to a voter named “Judy.”

“Judy, I’m a career politician, but I can change Washington,” the first one, identified only as “Politician 1,” says.

“Judy pick me, I’m change with no experience,” the second says.

Then the third chimes in: “I’m hope and change and … hope?”

At the end, “Judy” isn't sold on any of them. “Blah! Is there anyone else?” she asks, as the camera cuts in to Lynch sitting in a diner.

“Like you, I’m fed up with career politicians and empty campaign promises,” Lynch says. “I’ll work to create jobs, protect social security and I’ll fight for term limits, starting with my own.  I’m Bill Lynch and I approve this message.

Then Judy makes an encore appearance, wrapping her arms around Lynch as she says, “And so do I.”

“This ad, like our campaign, is something different. As we approach Election Day, voters will see more and more political ads on television and I believe it’s important to do something to cut through the clutter and campaign rhetoric,” Lynch said. “Instead, our ad tells the people of the 1st District what they can expect from me if I’m elected their next congressman – working to create jobs, protect social security and fighting for term limits.”

Gemma Proposes Plan for Veterans Services

Democratic Congressional candidate Anthony Gemma yesterday released a plan for revamping and improving veterans services. His plan included the following elements

• Creating new legislation to explore enhanced social security support.
• Forming Advisory Groups focused on job placement for women, minorities, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and those who served in all other theaters and conflicts.
• Hosting annual health fairs and “Listening to Veterans Day” events.
• Escorting veterans to meetings with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Creating informational tools, including a 24-hour Veterans Hotline, informing veterans of pending legislation of interest, and developing a quarterly metric to evaluate the efficiency of the Initiative.
• Instituting awards for the Veterans Advocate of the Year and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Employee of the Year.
• Hiring a Congressional staff person to become the primary liaison with veterans and veterans groups.

“My ‘Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Standing with Our Veterans Initiative’ has been developed based upon my countless conversations with veterans during this campaign. It represents previously unattained levels of support for the men and women who have served our country with valor and distinction,” Gemma said. 

“It addresses, in unique, creative, effective manners, their unmet medical, cultural, and social needs,” Gemma added. “And the Initiative both recognizes and corrects the current system’s inequities that often result in veterans being placed in tragic circumstances.”

Opponent of Mosque at Ground Zero Will Campaign for Loughlin

Republican Congressional candidate John Loughlin announced that Congressman Peter King, a Republican from New York, will visit Rhode Island on September 2 for two fundraisers. The first will be at the offices of Hinckley, Allen & Synder, LLP on Kennedy Plaza at 11 a.m. and the second will be at the nearby Ten Prime Steak and Sushi at 12 p.m.

In a press release, the Loughlin campaign noted that King has been a “leader in the efforts to relocate the proposed mosque near Ground Zero.” It also said that King has been a leader on homeland security and financial services.

Wallin Says Kilmartin Took His Idea

Republican Attorney General candidate Erik Wallin is claiming that Democratic opponent Peter Kilmartin took his ideas for cracking down on public corruption.

“In a press release today, Representative Kilmartin detailed what he would do to enhance a public corruption unit in the Attorney General's office and create a tip-line—and, since he clearly just took my proposal and put his name on it, I will say that I agree with him,” Wallin said.

Wallin said he had been talking about the need for a public corruption unit and task force for over a year.

He asked where Kilmartin had been on the issue in his 20 years as a member of the General Assembly.

Yesterday, the Kilmartin campaign issued the following response: “Talk is cheap. Peter Kilmartin has dedicated his life to protecting Rhode Islanders from crime and corruption. That's why law enforcement endorses him for Attorney General.”

Candidates Go on Latino Public Radio

Latino Public Radio, WELH 88.1FM, will hold interviews with more than 40 political candidates at a barbeque today at its studios in Cranston. For more information, including a list of participating candidates, visit http://www.lprri.org/inicio/. Online streaming and podcasts will be available on the Web site.