New ad attacks Blunt on draft deferments

WASHINGTON — Democrat Jason Kander and his allies are making the most of his military service, airing at least three TV ads that highlight the secretary of state’s stint in Afghanistan.

One of those spots will go up Thursday exclusively in the Springfield media market, paid for by VoteVets, a progressive group that supports veterans running for Congress.

Kander is in an increasingly competitive race against incumbent Republican Sen. Roy Blunt. The VoteVets ad is the first TV spot in the Missouri race to take aim at Blunt’s draft deferments during the Vietnam War.

“Jason Kander could have gone anywhere after law school. He chose here, Afghanistan,” a male narrator says as combat scenes unfold on screen. “Now Roy Blunt is trying to smear his record.”

The ad accuses Blunt of failing to “level” with Missourians about his draft history. In February, The Kansas City Star reported that Blunt’s office failed to mention three student deferments he received when asked about his status during the Vietnam War. The Star reported that in 2015, the paper asked his office if the senator had ever received a draft deferment and received this response:

“Senator Blunt was 1A status in 1969, the year of the first draft lottery,” the office replied. “He was 19 years old at the time. His number was in the low 300s, and was never called.”

Blunt was not classified 1A in 1969, which would have meant he was eligible for the draft that year. Rather, he was classified as a student and eligible for a deferment, a status he held in 1968 as well.

Blunt defends deferments from Vietnam War draft

Blunt later said he never hid his draft status. "Anytime anybody ever asked me about that, I would have said I had student deferments," Blunt said. “I don’t think there’s any real news there.”

VoteVets said it might expand its initial $400,000 ad buy, but for now they're focused on the Springfield market. "That is where we believe our message will carry the most weight," said Rick Hegdahl, veterans' coordinator for the group. 

Democrats have long touted Kander’s military service as a highlight of his biography. Kander served in Afghanistan as an Army captain and military intelligence officer.

Kander is also running an ad that highlights his military record. And End Citizens United, a political action committee that supports campaign finance reform, also started airing a pro-Kander ad this week touting Kander’s service.

Burson Snyder, a spokeswoman for Blunt, said his campaign honors "all those who have served," including Kander. "It is his other public service that we question," she said, pointing to positions he took as a state representative supporting President Obama's Affordable Care Act and opposing a bill calling on Missouri’s congressional delegation to reject a federal bill to curb global warming.

She highlighted Blunt's current ad, which portrays Kander as too liberal for Missouri.