Tennessee Democrats Compare Republicans To Special Olympics Children

Traditional Values Coalitin Website ^ | October 12, 2004 | Traditional Values Coalition

[Jo5329]

October 12, 2004 – Democrats in a race for a state House seat in District 82, are circulating a flyer that shows a retarded child with President Bush’s face running in a track race. The headline says: “Voting for Bush Is Like Running In The Special Olympics: Even If You Win, You’re Still Retarded.”

The flyer is being distributed by Democrat Craig Fitzhugh. His opponent, Dave Dahl has issued a call to Fitzhugh to stop distributing the flyer.

[Jo5329]

I'm banging my head against the wall everytime I read something about the Democrats.

[JennysCool]

If a Republican pulled this sort of thing, it would be front page across the country...

[cripplecreek]

Once again the democrats use derogatory statements in the absence of any real media scrutiny.

[ChildOfThe60s]

I called the Florida Special Olympics State office this morning and they looked at this while we were on the phone. They were appalled. She thanked me for showing them, and said she was calling the Washington office at once. She said they have a good bunch of very efficient lawyers. I was also told that they would followup with me after they investigated this.

I will post any info that they give me.

[bayourod]

The Old Media will cover for the Democrat and attack the Republican for running a dirty campaign by mentioning it.

Next he will run for State Senate, do something even more dispicable and the Old Media will cover for him again. Then Congress and the U.S. Senate; all the while being covered by the Ol;d Media.

By the year 2020 he will run for President. He will have an open record of corruption, organized criminal activity, debauchery, and incompetence; but the Old Media will still cover for him while privately wondering why the Democrats didn't nominate someone better.

[ChildOfThe60s]

FOLLOWUP: A Florida Special Olympics administrator called me back to say she had in fact contacted the national organization in DC. She promised to let me know the results.

IMO, although there is enough here to warrant serious investigation, we need to get more solid evidence before going off half-cocked. *If* these people get back to me and are satisfied that this is accurate, we will have what is needed to turn it into a seriously big story. And be able to make MSM carry it.

[Michael Goldsberry]

The flyer.

[cowboyway]

Good work. This is the kinda of crap that comes from the party of 'compassion and inclusion'. Wasn't it a demorat a few months ago that called Condi Rice a 'house n(word)'? Where is the media coverage on the rash of Bush/Cheney headquarters attacks?

Where has the LSM been? Where are they now? They're out patting themselves on the back about the great work they're doing making sure the country goes in the right direction.

As usual, the lefties have overlooked an important issue. When they were trying their best to pass gun control, most of us were out buying guns as fast as we could.

Peace through superior firepower.

[Halls]

ooooppps, posted this is well. Anyhow, sick, sick, sick!!

[Mike Bates]

Isn't Kerry gonna heal everybody of everything anyway?

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[HEY4QDEMS]

It's amazing what DemocRATs can get away with.

[ChildOfThe60s]

UPDATE:
I have spoken with Dave Dahl and confirmed this story. He said they have turned the matter over to the state attorney.

He also stated that [Democrat] Craig Fitzhugh is not only denying the flyer, but is claiming it is a Republican dirty trick (you know, just like we planted those TANG docs on per Ms. Mapes).

There is a press release on it at: www.teamgop.org

Also, pasted below:

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For Immediate Release: Contact: Dave Dahl Campaign

731-287-8166

October 11, 2004 www.VoteDahl.com

Dave Dahl denounces Fitzhugh’s attack of Republican voters


Dyersburg, TN- Today, Republican nominee for State House District 82, Dave Dahl, denounced a flyer distributed by Democrat State Representative Craig Fitzhugh that attacks Bush voters and mocks those who are mentally challenged (flyer included). “Hard-ball politics is one thing and everyone expects tough battles, but using those who are born with mental disabilities for political fodder is disgusting,” said Dave Dahl on Monday from his campaign office in Dyersburg.


The flyers have been distributed for at least 2 weeks from State Representative Craig Fitzhugh’s campaign office on the town square in downtown Ripley, which also serves as the Kerry-Edwards campaign headquarters. Dahl said, “At first I really did not believe that Fitzhugh and the Democrats would stoop to such gutter politics, but then people started bringing the flyer to me at the end of last week. I was shocked and disgusted.”


Dahl said, “In my first campaign against Mr. Fitzhugh two years ago, the Democrats conducted a negative telephone poll on my then five year old adopted daughter because she was born in Texas and not in Tennessee. I guess I should not be surprised that Mr. Fitzhugh and his crowd would attack Bush voters and call them ‘retarded.’ This is how the Democrats do business.” Dave Dahl continued, “The single minded plan for Mr. Fitzhugh and the Democrats in Tennessee is to attack Republican voters, attack those supporting Republican candidates and to ignore the real issues of the day: jobs, prescriptions drugs costs, education, security at home and taxes.”


“This kind of reckless disregard for those who suffer from mental disabilities is much larger than any state representative race. This act is so atrocious and indecent that my campaign will be sending a copy of the Fitzhugh flyer to the United States Special Olympics Committee, the Special Olympics International Group and state and national advocacy groups who work with and support special needs children and adults,” said Dahl.


Dahl concluded, “My heart goes out to the millions of families who have children and loved ones with special needs. To have their family members mocked in this manner is inexcusable and wrong from any perspective. These kinds of issues cross all political and social boundaries. I call on Mr. Fitzhugh to issue a public apology.”

[Area51]

Hmm First the James Byrd ad in 2000, then the Nazi Ad last spring by Moveon.org now this.

RNC needs to run a national ad with all these nasty ads compiled, along with the thugs intimidating people at local Republican HQs with the audio over saying.

"This is what the Democrat Party has become. A party of intolerence, hatred, and criminal behavior. Do you really want these kinds of folks running this country? As Senator Zel Miller (D) from Georgia has said, his party has been taken over by thugs."

"Do you want your family to be the next target for their hate?"

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Do you know how low down this guy is? Someone posted something like this on AR15.com last week but it wasn't about bush, it was just a generic flame image with the same statement about being retarded.

He got blistered by a bunch of hard hearted, cynical, gun culture types.

[Entrepreneur]

Lets see if the ARC comes down on the Democrats...

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/203330p-175365c.html

[Area51]

Lets see if the ARC comes down on the Democrats...

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/203330p-175365c.html



15 posted on 10/13/2004 12:23:27 PM PDT by Entrepreneur
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

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No doubt with a lrage campaign donation.

[international american]

Kerry is a believer in self-healing....so far, it hasn't worked.Kerry, however does have a plan....many plans. In fact Kerry is a veritable cesspool of planning.

[Stellar Dendrite]

Let's see...in the past week, the Democrats belittle the mentally impaired, call other Republicans "faggots".....yet not a peep from the COMMUNIST media.

[Stellar Dendrite]

Kerry DOES have a plan. The problem is, if he tells you about them, America will NOT vote for him. Why?
They're straight out of the Communist Manifesto.

[Grig]

The picture of the flyer is gone from the original source, but Drudge still has it up:

Disgusting.

[ArmyBratproud]

It looks like the National level talk radio guys are jumping on this.

Democraps are the lowest life form on earth.

[international american]

Correct!!

[Redbob]

Here's the Dimocrap: let him know what you think.
rep.craig.fitzhugh@legislature.state.tn.us

[ChildOfThe60s]

I would dearly like to hear W ask JFK tonight about this flyer, since the location of distribution is also the Kerry/Edwards headquarters. It won't happen. Dave Dahl told me that he went to high school in Texas with Mary Mapes. I can say no more . I HIGHLY recommend to all Freepers, print a copie of the press release and the flyer & snail mail them to all of your local papers and stations. You will note that the TVC site has contact info for them all over the country. Let's hammer the media on this. I just hear Dannyboy's distorted reporting on this now.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Hey, anyone know what's ging on? An hour ago Drudge had a link on this flyer story. Now it's gone???

[IndySecurityMom]

I just talked with a young woman named April in the DC office of the Traditional Values Coalition. She assures me they performed due diligence on this matter. Of course Fitzhugh's office is denying responsibility.

[ChildOfThe60s]

I just received the following email from SOI on the matter.
I am a little disappointed, though not surprised, that they took the " whoever did this" approach. It ain't rocket science. Are they afraid to point out that it was done by a Democrat?

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STATEMENT IN REGARDS TO DEROGATORY PORTRAYAL OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES IN POLITICAL FLYER



From the office of Timothy P. Shriver

Chairman and CEO, Special Olympics

We at Special Olympics are astounded and appalled by a political flyer being distributed in Tennessee, showing the head of President Bush superimposed on the body of a Special Olympics athlete, saying, "Even if you win, you're still retarded."

We see this communication as an egregious, gratuitous insult to our almost 2 million athletes in over 150 countries around the world and a stunning affront to the more than 200 million people in the world who have intellectual disabilities.

We cringe at the thought that any one of these capable and courageous athletes would ever have to endure the agony, embarrassment, pain and suffering that this flyer would certainly cause.

We hope that the person or persons responsible for this outrageous political advertisement would come forward, identify themselves, and explain to the people of Tennessee and everywhere else why they would choose to denigrate the spirit, courage, and accomplishments of the Special Olympics athletes.

Sadly, this type of ignorance and bigotry is not uncommon. Comedians in the United States regularly mock people with intellectual disabilities; a common playground taunt even today is “retard”; people with intellectual disability remain the last to be respected or included in our schools, health care institutions, and society at large.

Our commitment in this political season and in every other is to reverse this ignorance and bigotry and to replace them with the stunning realization that many people with intellectual disability are, in fact, among the most gifted within our communities. Their valuable skills for promoting acceptance and understanding are most desperately needed in the political process and in the world today.

There is no reasonable and legitimate defense of this hateful material. We would expect those responsible to make an abject public apology and a sincere, determined effort to clear the public domain of this offensive material.

---

Kirsten Suto
Global Public Relations
Special Olympics, Inc.
1325 G St. NW, Suite 500
Washington DC 20005
202-715-1147
ksuto@specialolympics.org

[The Hound Passer]

It shows that the truly mentally challenged here are the TN Dems who think making fun of the mentally challenged makes for good humor. They get their panties in a wad when Rush makes fun of radical feminists, but then think making fun of those who are trying to make the best of their lives as they can. Only Bart Simpson would get giggles from that poster and I think it will backfire on them big time.

I wonder though...there have to be some Dems in TN who have brothers, sisters, or sons and daugthers, maybe even mothers or fathers who have a mental disability. I wonder if they are laughing at the ad.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Below is the letter I sent Kirsten Suto ,Global Public Relations, Special Olympics, Inc:

Dear Kirstan,

Considering the disgusting nature of the political flyer, I find myself disappointed in your condemnation of the perpetrator.

"We hope that the person or persons responsible for this outrageous political advertisement would come forward, identify themselves"

Why did you not point out the party responsible? It has been proven that the flyer was distributed for a couple of weeks from the headquarters of Craig Fitzhugh. Which is also the headquarters of the local Kerry/Ewards campaign. Apparently you are not offended enough to actually name the source, even though you have to be aware of it.

Were I to read this press release without prior knowledge of the story, I would have absolutely no idea who was responsible. Would the press release read the same way if Dave Dahl was distributing this flyer?

Also, as a matter of record, if Dave Dahl was doing this, I'd be calling for his head, also. Period. This sort of thing is wrong no matter who does it.