For the first few years things were great in the Republican Administration of Joel Giambra. The Democratic Town Supervisor of West Seneca, Paul Clark thought so, and the Republican both times he ran, in 1999 and 2003, even serving as the head of Democrats for Giambra. Then in 2004, scandals and a budget crisis, left Republican Giambra with one of the lowest approval ratings in the country, around 7%.

Fast forward a few years, and the Republican endorser, Paul Clark now thinks he deserves to be the Democratic candidate for County Executive. To explain why he made this quote of the Republican Giambra:

"We know we have a leader capable of making the changes to lead this community forward."

Clark responded:

At the time I supported him, his ideas were exciting the people of Erie County. At that time, he had an 80% approval rating.

Because that's what Democrats really need, a candidate without the backbone to stand up for his own party.

So to make his case to the voters, he hired Zell Miller's media team and Roger Stone's (the hack who left Eliot Spitzer's dad a threatening voicemail) pollster.

Clark gained little ground for the past few month for obvious reasons, why would Democrats want a Democrat In Name Only as their candidate? So Paul Clark ripped a page from the Republican playbook (big surprise) and is now trying to Swiftboat his opponent, Jim Keane.

Jim Keane, was stationed in Thailand at a radar base during the Vietnam war, spent 5 years as a Buffalo firefighter, served as County Director of Emergency services and Deputy County Executive. He also worked for Hillary Clinton and Congressman Brian Higgins.

Clark realized he had little chance, with such an obvious choice, so now he is trying to swiftboat Jim Keane, accusing him of not being a real Vietnam Vet and being a fake firefighter:

"It's obvious he's trying to ensconce himself in the image of a heroic firefighter," Clark said. "I question his credibility when you factor in that he was in a low-volume house for three or maybe four years, and that was it.

And Clark went on on air with this ad (unsurprisingly not on youtube):

"Jim Keane repeatedly claims he fought in Vietnam, but official US government records show, Keane never went to Vietnam. He lied. Lying about your military service cuts to the core of a man's integrity. How can we trust him on anything?"

This is read over a quote from Jim Keane in 1986. "I was fighting communists in Vietnam."

Paul Clark's defense:

Jessica Weinstein: "In the ad, you call him a liar, why?"
Paul Clark: "Mr. Keane has made his Vietnam War record an issue."
Weinstein: "How?"
Clark: "By claiming time and time again including reports in the Buffalo news that he was a combat veteran in Vietnam."

Of course, its not true:

According to Keane's military discharge papers, he served four years in the U.S. Air Force and for 11 months, he was stationed in Thailand to watch the radar for pilots flying missions into Vietnam. Keane earned both the Vietnam Service and Vietnam Campaign medals.

What about Clark's military service?

Which raises the question, how is Clark portraying his military experience?

Weinstein: "What's your record?"
Clark: "Oh, I have none. I never claimed I had military service."

Jim Keane fought back hard though:

"I served during the Vietnam War. I am proud of the role I served and I learned then that results matter. I was stationed at a small radar station in the middle of the jungle in Thailand. If we dropped the ball, good men would not come home, or troops on the ground would not received needed air support. I received the Vietnam Service medal and the Vietnam Campaign medal from the United States Air Force for my service. That certainly is recognition of my service in the Vietnam theater.

"It's not surprising that Joel Giambra's favorite Democrat is employing Karl Rove's smear tactics, but I will not be Swift Boated by a desperate politician who twice fought to raise taxes on veterans in West Seneca and never wore our nation's uniform himself.

"I'll put my record of results in the Air Force, the Fire Department, and public office up against Paul Clark's and Joel Giambra's records of higher taxes, mismanagement, and scandal any day of the week."

We need to stand up and show that we won't accept Zell Miller Democrats like Paul Clark that they won't be allowed to use gutter trash Karl Rove tactics when their ideas are rejected!!

Dontate to Jim Keane to help him fight back against the desperate tactics of a Zell Miller Democrat!

And tell Zell Miller Democrat Paul Clark, that you won't let him use the Democratic name to smear veterans and REAL Democrats!!