Here is the exclusive background story behind the full-page ad running in today’s Washington Times with 500 names of retired admirals and generals who are endorsing Romney over the current commander in chief. This ad has become big news and has been widely reported on the day before the election.
The force behind the ad is Carl Smith. Here is an email he sent me today explaining the ad and how it all came about.
I am a former Naval Aviator (flew with John McCain), and a former Staff Director and Chief Counsel (Rep) on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Now I am a lawyer in private practice (McGovern & Smith, LLC).
I was responsible for building a similar list for McCain in 2008. We have been working this time around with the Romney campaign on something called the Romney Military Advisory Council (MAC). However, our effort in the Washington Times is NOT connected with the campaign. I’ll explain.
In building the MAC, the campaign followed a very thorough (and therefore time-consuming) process to vet and confirm every individual on the list. They stopped taking additions on October 13 when they were planning to publish the list.
Their list was finally published on October 17. That list contained 359 names.
We had (eventually) about 140 or more names that came in too late to meet their process requirements. Those individuals wanted to be identified in support of Gov Romney–but it was too late. So we decided to go out on our own and pay for the ad ourselves. The campaign eventually added 30 names for a total of 389. We have over 500 on our list.
We chose the Washington Times (rather than Washington Post or New York Times) in part because the Washington Times rates were more reasonable and because the Washington Times had been so much more aggressive in reporting on the Benghazi massacre. And quite frankly, we were reluctant to contribute financially to newspapers that had been so blatantly unfriendly to the Romney campaign.
The simple answer to your question regarding why so many are supporting Romney is that (I believe) they see in Gov Romney a man of integrity, competence, and a solid record of achievement–someone who can be trusted with the awesome responsibilities of the Office of the President.
So far, the list has been mentioned on FOX News, Drudge, CNN (Soledad O’Brien), and it is ricocheting around the net.
That’s the story!
PJ Media would like to thank Carl Smith for sharing the background behind this phenomenal full-page ad with our readers.
Could Romney be worse than Obama?
I can safely say no.
That’s a reasonable explanation, but I would still have gone with WaPo or NYT.
Assuming they would even agree to run the ad. The WaPo needs money, but is leans left so far it’s debatable they would run the ad. The WaPo’s main job (as they see it) seems to be digging up long dead stories about Republicans (Gov Rick Perry, Gov McDonnell) than reporting events that happened this year.
In my mind, it would have made more sense to take out ads in local papers in OH, PA, WI, and MI. But it’s not my money (there’s a concept!).
Bravo Zulu, Sir! I was delighted to see that I served under several of the USAF flag officers listed in the ad. To a man they were superb leaders.
Same here. I’m particularly glad to see Gen. Meyers, who was commander of USFJ when I was stationed in Tokyo. Great pilot and a great general.
That is an impressive list of ‘scrambled egg’! Only someone that hates this country and our military could ignore this huge endorsement.
I didn’t see one name without a ‘Ret’ following the name.
I wonder – what would our feckless CIC do should some of the active admirals and generals endorse Romney? Purge the ranks?
Endorsements by active military or government personnel are crimes. The head of the HHS is currently in trouble for just that. Military personnel are NOT supposed to engage in political activity while in uniform or to identify themselves as military personnel for political gain while serving. Retirees can do it, just not active personnel.
Think about it this way, would you like to live in a country where the military actively and publicly takes sides in elections and openly talks about what they’ll do if their candidate loses? We have such protections against merging the military and politics in order to prevent us becoming a tyranny. When Democratic bureaucrats and election officials endorse candidates, it makes us a little less free. When the military does it (you know, the guys with the legal authority to use force), it makes us a lot less free.
Most officers on active duty and probably about two thirds of enlisted hate Obama, that doesn’t (and shouldn’t) give them the right to openly talk about it.
Thank you for posting this report – and I wholeheartedly agree with the rationale for not supporting the Washington Post. I cancelled my subscription years ago but for some reason (yeah right) I cannot get them to stop sending me emails and thus counting me a subscriber. No rational person reads the Washington Post for information anymore, it’s there to bolster the leftist worldview, no fallacy is too great for them to print. It is not the proper venue for such honorable men.
I hope the veterans and those serving in the current military living in the DC environs will see it, and that it goes viral in that community as well.
I am a MSG (Master Sergeant US Army – Retired) Yes I worked and still work for a living. The brass did something right by supporting Romney for President.
I also support Romney, and was never lulled into supporting a left wing ideologue that has spent his life both in and out of office subverting the American Constitution (that I and the men on the mentioned list swore an oath to defend).
“… the list has been mentioned on FOX News, Drudge, CNN (Soledad O’Brien)…”
I would have given a lot to see Soledad O’Brien’s gritted teeth and fake smile while presenting this little tidbit to masses.
Hooray! A full-page ad in a newspaper few leftists read, one day before the election. Thanks, that helps a lot.
Why not send it in two weeks ago? Wouldn’t have helped to have this percolating when it could have made a difference?
– for Lobster Fitz!
I would have put the ad in either the NY Times or The Washington Post. Regardless of its political leaning and the fact that one of my favorite students has a by line there, The Washington Times is a lousy paper which is only read by staunch conservatives. It’s just preaching to the choir. Itis good to know that a lot of military VIPs don’t like Obama either. I was beginning to think the spirit of George Patton was totally gone.
I hadn’t heard about the ad and I only read the Washington Times when someone posts an item from there.
I am going to switch channels to history or science or animals: All the politics is making me feel too stressed.
Now that your candidate you pimped for all year just got destroyed will you got into voluntary exile from PJMedia so we are spared having to read about how wonderful the next RINO candidate you support in 2016?