Meet My Old Drill Sergeant | Video: Best campaign ad of the cycle?

Bill Smith, Editor, ARRA News Service: When Sen. Mark Pryor took it upon himself to impugn  Tom Cotton based on his military service and duty to our country, he impugned all other military members including myself. Senator Mark Pryor stated that Congressman Tom Cotton, a former combat officer presents "a sense of entitlement" because of his military service. In truth, it is Sen. Pryor who presents a sense of entitlement based on his daddy's achievements having been a former U.S. Representative, then Governor, and then U.S. Senator for Arkansas. Pryor was first elected to office in 1990 at the age of 27 on the coat tails of his father.  But Mark Pryor's sense of entitlement has been trampled by his failed principles and his continual ignoring of the majority of Arkansans and voting voting 90% in support of President Obama's and Sen. Harry Reid's progressive programs. He has ignored the majority of his constituents for far too long and is now garnered the majority of his funding from the coffers of out-of-state progressives.  The following addresses Tom Cotton's response to Pryor's insult.
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 Hot Air opines: When incumbent Democrat Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) attacked his midterm opponent Rep. Tom Cotton (R-AR) last month over his supposed sense of “entitlement” from his military service, it prompted widespread scorn and mockery — not least of which included pointed reminders that Pryor owes his own political career to his dad. The NRSC hammered Pryor and its DSCC counterparts for their “unacceptable” attacks on military service, but Cotton himself has opted for a lighter touch. He called his drill instructor to demonstrate just what military service taught Cotton, and “entitlement” doesn’t make the list. . . .

"Works better than my dad was Governor, most likely. While Cotton’s ad doesn’t directly address the complete hubris and hypocrisy of Pryor’s statement, it skewers him perfectly nonetheless. Furthermore, it uses the kind of self-deprecating humor that people love from public officials, which provides a very welcome contrast to Pryor’s pomposity. In its own gentle way, “At Ease” might end up being the campaign ad of the year — and I’ll bet that Arkansans see it a lot over the next few months."

Rep. Tom Cotton, Candidate for US Senate, Arkansas: Meet my old drill sergeant - Sgt. Norton. I learned a lot in the Army, and I learned it from him.

Sgt. Norton not only taught me how to be a selfless leader, he taught me that most things in life come from hard work and determination. I was also taught to always put the unit ahead of myself. But that's not what Senator Mark Pryor thinks. He said I have "a sense of entitlement" because of my military service.

I can assure you drill sergeant Norton never tolerated a "sense of entitlement," but that hasn't stopped Sen. Pryor from continuously making false claims.

Script: “Sen. Pryor says my military service gives me, quote, ‘a sense of entitlement.’ So I brought in an expert,” Cotton says before his former basic training drill sergeant enters.

“Drill Sergeant Norton taught me to be a soldier: Accountability, humility, and putting the unit before yourself. That training stuck,” Cotton says after Norton gives him permission stand “at ease” in the humorous spot.

The light-hearted ad seeks to soften Cotton personally, tout his military record and knock Pryor for comments earlier this spring that Cotton has “a sense of entitlement that he gives off.”

“It’s almost just like ‘I served my country, therefore let me into the Senate.’ That’s not how it works in Arkansas,’” Pryor said in an interview to MSNBC last month.

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Tags: Tom Cotton, campaign ad, humor, addresses insult, Mark Pryor, military service, 2014 U.S. Senate race, Arkansas To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!