Edwards Questions President's $87 Billion Request In New TV Ad 'Strong'
RALEIGH, NC - The Edwards for President campaign announced today that it will begin airing a new television ad tonight entitled “Strong.” In the ad, Senator Edwards questions President Bush’s $87 billion request and criticizes the president for cutting insider deals and not involving our allies in Iraq.
“Eighty-seven billion for Iraq with no plan in sight,” Edwards says in the ad. “Billion dollar giveaways for the president’s oil industry friends like Halliburton. And no help from the allies he shut out. Is this our America?”
While Edwards believes a peaceful and stable post-war Iraq is critical for American security, he has raised a number of issues President Bush must address before he will vote for Iraqi reconstruction funds, including providing a long-term budget for reconstruction, securing the help of our allies, and creating an independent panel to oversee reconstruction contracts to ensure they are awarded fairly.
“I will not give this president a blank check,” Edwards continues in the ad. “We should stop the inside deals and work with our allies in Iraq so we can afford to make us stronger at home with health care for every child and a real plan to create jobs.”
Edwards has been a leading critic of the insider deals that have been cut under this president’s watch. The North Carolina senator has aggressively questioned Vice President Cheney’s financial interests in Halliburton, a company that has received billions in no-bid government contracts, and called for a ban on former administration officials – like Joe Allbaugh – using their connections to secure sweetheart government deals.
“Strong” will begin airing in Iowa tonight and in New Hampshire later this week. A Real Player version of the ad is available at johnedwards2004.com
