Simon Conway & Joni Ernst Respond to Congressman Braley Surrogate's Attack on Joni's Patriotism

Press Release

Shocked at Congressman Bruce Braley surrogate Tim Kaine's remarks that US Senate candidate and Lt Colonel Joni Ernst was insufficient supportive of the U.S. military, Iowa radio host Simon Conway invited Joni on his radio show this afternoon to discuss the charge.

"Normally we don't reach out to candidates to respond to stuff coming from either side, but this was so specific and given [Joni's] service to our nation … it's just a bizarre thing for anybody to say against somebody who served in our guard for 22 years now," Conway said on air. "I can only assume that Senator Kaine has no idea who you are."

Joni told Simon that she was proud of her 22 years wearing the nation's uniform, and that she did not believe it was unpatriotic to criticize the President's handling of Ebola.

"I do believe that when it comes to Ebola, when it comes ISIS, I think we have leadership right now in the White House that is so reactive and disengaged from what actually is going on around our world," Joni said. "And Congressman Braley is there right there with him. So for them to say that by me questioning our President, I'm not patriotic, I think that's absolutely ludicrous."

Full transcript of discussion:

Simon Conway: This wasn't planned until maybe 30 minutes before we came on the air. Because it came to my attention that the Democrat Senator for the commonwealth of Virginia, Senator Tim Kaine, who is out stumping for your opponent right now is questioning your patriotism?

Joni Ernst: Yes, isn't that amazing. That he would question my patriotism? He's basically stated that because I'm questioning President Obama's ineffective response to Ebola, the fact that that he's so disengaged that I'm not a patriotic American.

Simon: It is bizarre. Normally we don't reach out to candidates to respond to stuff coming from either side, but this was so specific and given your service to our nation, which by the way, thank you for doing that, it's just a bizarre thing for anybody to say against somebody who served in our guard for 22 years now?

Joni: Yes, between the Army Reserves and our great Iowa Army National Guard, I've served 22 years. I've proudly worn my uniform for that length of time. And so I do get very upset when people question my patriotism and my willingness to serve our state and our great country. I haven't seen that from Congressman Braley--he doesn't have the same record of success, of commitment to the Iowa people. And so he feels the need to continue to run a negative campaign and not only is he doing it, but now he has senators from other states coming in and stating I'm not a patriotic American.

Simon: I can only assume that Senator Kaine has no idea who you are. From the point of view -- we have the First Lady who came in and who had no idea who Bruce Braley was. So she's coming for a retry tomorrow so she can get his name right. We'll be watching that. (Laughs) It's just hard to believe that any United States senator would call out somebody who served in the way that you have for their lack of patriotism. See, I understand negative campaigning. I don't like negative campaigning, but I get it. Because unfortunately it does sometime produce results. But this is just unreal. Which is why we've reached out to you. This is the first time that we've reached out to anybody who's been the target of negative campaigning.

Joni: And I appreciate that, Simon. I do believe that when it comes to Ebola, when it comes ISIS, I think we have leadership right now in the White House that is so reactive and disengaged from what actually is going on around our world. And Congressman Braley is there right there with him. So for them to say that by me questioning our President, I'm not patriotic. I think that's absolutely ludicrous.

Simon: By the way, I think questioning the president of the United States is in itself patriotic.

Joni: Right. Thank you.

Simon: That's the nation we're it's supposed to be. … You've called for an apology quit rightly, I believe, from Senator Kaine, from the Braley campaign, from Congressman Braley himself. Anything forthcoming? I'm not seeing anything come across my email.

Joni: Well, I haven't any texts or emails coming from the other side. I do not believe that I will see that.

Simon: All right, as I said, we don't do this normally, but when you attack the patriotism of somebody who is still in fact serving in our military, well we always will give whomever the target is the opportunity to come back.

Joni: Thank you.

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