The Democratic primary race in Virginia’s Tenth Congressional District has been quite interesting from the start, but as turned into an abhorrent mudslinging fest against themselves, Republicans, and constituents. Now, one candidate is comparing President Donald Trump to Osama bin Laden.
Dan Helmer, a former marine and Democratic hopeful, launched a campaign ad this week entitled “Different.” Well, is certainly is different as it has sparked widespread outrage from voters in Northern Virginia.
“After 9/11, the greatest threat to our democracy lived in a cave. Today, he lives in the White House. No one, even the president, is above the law,” Helmer stated in the ad.
In a report from the Loudoun Times-Mirror, Helmer’s campaign says it echoes remarks from Thomas Friedman’s New York Times column on Tuesday stating, “Trump’s behavior amounts to a refusal to carry out his oath of office — to protect and defend the Constitution…The biggest threat to the integrity of our democracy today is in the Oval Office.”
Republicans in the Commonwealth acted swiftly in condemning the ad. Garren Shipley, a Virginia spokesman for the Republican National Committee, issued a statement saying, “Dan Helmer’s ad is absurd and appalling and further illustrates how low the Democrats have sunk.”
“His ad is a clear reminder to voters in Virginia that the Democrat base is consumed by anger and hatred,” Shipley added.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah said Thursday after learning of the ad that the message was, “nothing short of reprehensible.”
“Leaders from across the political spectrum — starting with Leader Pelosi — must swiftly condemn this abhorrent message,” Shah said in a statement, according to Politico.
A mother of a victim of the 2001 terrorist attacks commented on Helmer’s candor as well. “As a mother of a 9/11 victim, not a day goes by that I do not remember the legacy of my beautiful daughter,” said Geraldine Davie.
“Dan Helmer comparing our President to the man who is responsible for the murder of my child is truly disgusting. I simply do not know how he sleeps at night or looks his family in their faces,” she said.
“Every Democrat across the country is simply running against President Trump; they have no ideas and no policies,” added Davie. “All they have is name calling. Helmer obviously has nothing else on Barbara Comstock if this is all he can come up with. He should withdraw his name from the race, and everyone with even an ounce of decency should condemn Mr. Helmer and his horrible ad.”
The Republican Party of Virginia has also started a petition campaign, “telling Dan Helmer that he owes the 3,000 victims of 9/11 and President Trump a public apology – he needs to withdraw from the race immediately.”
