ST. LOUIS – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt’s campaign for re-election launched a new ad Tuesday critiquing Democratic opponent Secretary of Jason Kander for his “values.”
For years, Jason Kander has been trying to make a liberal majority.
“They’re going to call you pinkos, commies, lefties, activists, liberals, tree huggers. If you stay true to your values, they are going to have to call you the majority.”
Kander’s values? Expand Obamacare. Higher job-killing taxes. Even a huge new energy tax. More Washington policy mandates.
“They’re going to call you pinkos, commies, lefties, activists, liberals, tree huggers.”
Jason Kander. Wrong for the U.S. Senate. Wrong for Missouri.
I’m Roy Blunt and I approve this message.
The clip is from July 8, 2006, a snippet from Kander’s pre-elected days, when he was an attorney and co-founder of Heartland Democrats of America (HDA) with his wife, Diana. Events and archived blogs (the HDA website and blog have been removed) show an organization which focused on a liberal values theme, hosting a “Democratic Values Rally” in July 2005 and promoting how progressives can promote their values in a time when Democrats were the “party of no.” HDA even had its own forgery/defamation controversy with a former fundraiser, which was highlighted by Tony Botello of Tony’s Kansas City as hurting Kander’s 2008 House campaign.
The organization was active from the time the Kanders returned to the Kansas City-area after law school until Jason Kander was elected to the House in 2008.
The ad is another in a series of “Wrong for Missouri” attacks on the Secretary of State, painting Kander as an extreme left-wing liberal.
Kander’s campaign was quick to respond and says they will be releasing a “fact check” soon.
“Senator Blunt is distorting Jason’s record of fighting for Missouri families to distract from his dismal record of putting Washington lobbyists and party bosses first,” said Chris Hayden, communications director for Kander. “As Jason has shown time and time again, whether it was speaking against the Iran Deal, opposing the closure of Guantanamo Bay, or disagreeing with the President’s executive orders, he will never hesitate to break with his party to do what is right for Missouri. The contrast in this election is clear. While Senator Blunt has spent his career fighting for Washington special interests and serving D.C. lobbyists, Jason has fought for Missouri’s middle class families at home and overseas.”
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
