posted May 12, 2006
Van Hilleary, candidate for Tennessee's U.S. Senate seat, on Friday called on "his fellow conservative opponent" Ed Bryant to join him in a "conservative truce."
Later in the day, Bryant said he agreed.
Hilleary "emphasized the importance of electing a sincere conservative to the U.S. Senate and of mutually refraining from campaign attacks on fellow conservatives." He said he is "optimistic Bryant will agree.
Hilleary said, "We are at a point in our nation's history where it is critical that we elect a solid sincere conservative to the United States Senate. In this primary all three candidates sound conservative but the truth is only Ed Bryant and I have conservative records to match our words. Bob Corker on the other hand, sounds conservative but his record is anything but conservative. Bob Corker has raised taxes, run for the U.S. Senate as a pro-abortion rights candidate, is supported by the pro-income tax wing of the Party and has a history of supporting democrats and of voting in Democrat primaries.
"Unfortunately for Tennesseans, Bob does have enough resources to deceive voters into believing he is something he is not. That is why I feel it is important that Ed Bryant join me in pledging to focus our campaigns on spreading our own conservative messages and educating Tennesseans about the real Bob Corker and his record. I hope Ed will agree."
Below is a text of the letter sent to Ed Bryant:
Dear Ed:
Over the years I have grown to respect and admire your commitment to the conservative cause and your steadfast character. You are dedicated a public servant, a true conservative and an honorable man. I am privileged to be able to consider you my friend.
Tennesseans are looking to fill Senator Bill Frist's open seat with a genuine leader and a solid conservative- who will tell the truth... do the right things for the right reasons... and tackle the big issues
I know that you agree that it is vital for Tennessee's next U.S. Senator be a solid conservative who believes in conservative principles, tells the truth and will represent our values in Washington
You and I are the only two candidates in this primary who have the conservative credentials and core beliefs we must have in our next U.S. Senator. Bob Corker's record proves he is not a conservative - despite what he says in his ads.
The fact is Bob increased taxes on Tennesseans by millions of dollars; Bob refused to oppose a state income tax; Bob supported Democrats; Bob previously ran for the U.S. Senate as a pro-abortion rights candidate; and Bob is currently supported by liberal labor union bosses, Democrats, Don Sundquist and the pro-income tax wing of the Republican Party.
Bob Corker is not a conservative, but he plays one on TV!
You and I spent eight incredible years in Washington fighting tirelessly for conservative values, balancing budgets, lowering taxes and protecting this great nation of ours. The work we started must continue.
It has become abundantly clear that Bob Corker is going to try to buy this election by covering up his record and spending millions of dollars to convince voters he's something he is not. That is flat wrong. Bob Corker is not a conservative and he is not what we need in the U.S. Senate.
I am asking you to join me in pledging that in these closing months our campaigns we will not attack one another - a "conservative truce" if you will. If we are disciplined and focus our full attention on conveying our conservative messages and records to voters and together inform Republicans about the REAL Bob Corker's record, Tennessee's next United States Senator will be a conservative and Corker will be defeated.
Let's come together for the good of the cause - running hard on our own merits and "focusing our fire" only on the candidate who does not share our mutual conservative philosophy, Bob Corker.
I look forward to your positive response. I know that together, we can do right by Tennessee.
Warmest Regards,
Van
Bryant sent the following letter to Hilleary in response to the letter Hilleary sent him.
May 12, 2006
The Honorable Van Hilleary
P.O. Box 680519
Franklin, TN 37068
Dear Van:
Throughout the eight years we served together in Congress, I appreciated your willingness to stand for what is right and always considered you a friend.
That's why I didn't hesitate to step out early and endorse you in the 2002 Republican primary for Governor, was saddened by your defeat, but remained hopeful the desire to lead Tennesseans as Governor still burned in your heart and that you'd challenge Gov. Bredesen this year.
I too believe it's critical that our party nominate a real conservative, whose record matches his rhetoric, in an effort to defeat Harold Ford, Jr. in November. Naturally, I believe that I am that conservative and am humbled to have received the endorsements of so many leading conservatives from our state, and around the nation, who share that belief, such as Ambassador Joe Rodgers, Tennessee Right to Life, Tennessee taxpayer advocate Ben Cunningham, the American Council for Immigration Reform, the Home School Legal Defense Association, Concerned Women for America, the Madison Project, our former Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Dick Armey (R-TX), U.S. Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Thad Cochran (R-MS), John Ensign (R-NV), and Trent Lott (R-MS).
I too am disturbed by the millions of dollars Bob Corker is spending on TV ads designed to deceive voters into believing he's a conservative in spite of his record of raising existing taxes and fees, creating new taxes, increasing government spending and taxpayer-financed debt, and support of abortion rights. I would, however, encourage you to follow my lead in making certain that all critical analysis of Mayor Corker's record is done in a straight forward, factual and well-documented manner, which will reassure our fellow conservatives that you do not intend to replicate the unnecessarily mean-spirited and divisive primary campaign that many conservatives believe caused your loss to Phil Bredesen, including your own campaign consultant.
I understand, appreciate, and share your concern for the need of conservatives to remain united in our effort to defeat Bob Corker, particularly after Bob's already signaled his intention to attack you for what his campaign manager described as your "strong ties to Jack Abramoff."
While Bob Corker may feel like attacking you is the key to victory, I have been, and will continue to be, focused on sharing with Tennesseans my commitment to fighting for our conservative values in the U.S. Senate, and educating our fellow conservatives as to the truth about Mr. Corker's well-documented, public record of raising taxes, increasing government spending and supporting abortion rights.
Of course, the same from you'd be appreciated, but I understand that ultimately you will need to run your campaign as you see fit, as you always have.
I look forward to seeing you on the trail.
Sincerely, Ed
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