“Troops”
Ad sponsor: Republican 6th Congressional District candidate Mike Coffman
Producer: Rock Chalk Media
Type and length: 30-second TV spot
Airing: On cable channels such as Fox News, ESPN and the Discovery Channel in ZIP codes that are in the 6th District.
Coffman’s second television ad highlights the current secretary of state’s military experience. It features pictures of troops in Iraq, snapshots of Coffman’s military service and video clips of Coffman shaking hands with a veteran. Like Coffman’s earlier ad and an ad from primary opponent Wil Armstrong, the commercial mainly serves to introduce the candidate to voters.
Claim: “I’ve been on the ground. I’ve been in the fight. I led Marines in combat during the Gulf War, and I recently served in Iraq.”
Fact: Coffman’s military service is well-documented. During the first Gulf War, Coffman served as the second- in-command of a group of Marines who were among the first soldiers into Kuwait. In a highly publicized decision in 2005, Coffman stepped down as state treasurer to rejoin the Marines for a civil affairs job in Iraq.
Claim: “There is not a single Republican in Congress who served in Iraq.”
Fact: Only one member of Congress is an Iraq war veteran, Pennsylvania Democrat Patrick Murphy. A group called Iraq Veterans for Congress is backing a number of Republican Iraq veterans in their congressional bids this year. Also among that group is another of Coffman’s primary opponents, state Sen. Steve Ward, who returned from a stint in Iraq this year.
Claims are: True
