Matthew 25 Network Launches Christian Radio Ad Campaign in Support of Virgina Rep. Tom Perriello
Ads Targeting Values Voters Highlight Candidate's Faith, Conviction
Click the arrow below to listen to the ad:
http://www.matthew25.org/files/mt25/tom-perriello-values.mp3Martinsville and Danville, VA – Today, the Matthew 25 Network Political Action Committee unveiled a new radio ad encouraging values voters in Virginia's Fifth Congressional District to choose incumbent Tom Perriello at the voting booth this November. The ad, which will run for a week on Christian and country radio, is part of a broader effort to rally central Virginia's faith community in support of Perriello's re-election.
Clergy and other members of the Fifth District faith community gathered in Martinsville and Danville, Virginia today to mark the occasion and to commit to communicating their support to religious voters during the final two weeks of the campaign. A similar event will take place in Charlottesville on Tuesday.
Faith leaders rally in Martinsville, Virginia
“Our nation desperately needs leaders with the courage of conviction to stand up for our values.” said Bishop Don Dixon Williams of the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) in Martinsville. “As a person of faith, I support Tom because he understands what's most important to getting our country back on track: hard work, responsibility, and family. Tom has spent his life building communities and fighting for justice. That's exactly the kind of leader we need representing us in Washington.”
Born and raised in the Fifth District, Rep. Perriello's Christian upbringing called him to a career of community service. After graduating from Yale Law School, he worked to end conflict and prosecute war criminals in Liberia and Sierra Leone. He went on to help found the advocacy groups FaithfulAmerica.org, Avaaz.org, and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good. Over the past two years, Perriello has earned a reputation as one of the most hardworking and independent Members of Congress, and is known for the extraordinary level of attention he pays to the needs of his constituents.
“For months, well-funded interest groups have barraged our community with attack ads seeking to tarnish Congressman Perriello's record while offering little in the way of actual solutions to the challenges face,” said Rev. Thomas W. Motley of the Danville Ministerial Alliance. “Anyone can deliver platitudes, talking points, and poll-tested political messages. We support Tom Perriello because he is a leader – one who shares our values, and who will do the right thing, even if it isn't the easy thing.”
The two separate groups – made up of 31 leaders in all – rallied today at the Martinsville Municipal Center and Danville City Hall. A similar event will take place at 10:30am Tuesday at the Free Speech Monument in Charlottesville.
Matthew 25's radio ad was supported primarily by contributions from individual donors. The organization is now raising funds for a second ad buy, which will air in final runup to the election.
A transcript of the ad follows:
We all know times are tough in Virginia. But if we work hard, and remember what truly matters, we'll come back stronger than ever.
We also need leaders who share our values. Tom Perriello is that kind of leader. Tom was born and raised here, so he understands what's important to Central and Southside Virginia. And his Christian upbringing inspired a lifetime of service to his country and his community.
That's why Tom Perriello has worked harder than anyone to bring jobs to hardworking families, relief to small businesses, and responsibility to Washington.
Some say the best way forward is to go back to the failed policies of the past. But let's remember that we got into this mess because our nation lost sight of its values. We can't afford to make that mistake again.
On November 2nd, vote for the candidate who stands for your values. Vote Tom Perriello.
Paid for by the Matthew 25 Network, www.matthew25.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Tom Perriello: Conviction and the Common Good
In 2008, Tom Perriello beat out conservative incumbent Virgil Goode to become U.S. Representative for Virginia's 5th Congressional District. Since then, he's proven a tireless and courageous advocate for common good values, despite facing stiff opposition and personal threats from opponents of progress.
Tom ranks among only a handful of freshman lawmakers who stood up to special interests to fight for health care reform, jobs, and clean energy. He supported these initiatives because he knows that they are right for America, and especially those who are most in need. He now faces a close reelection contest, due in large part to attacks from partisan front groups and big business.
It's because of Tom's deep sense of conviction and commitment to Christian principles of justice that the Matthew 25 Network wholeheartedly supports his reelection. With your contribution, we can help bring Tom's message of justice and the common good to the people of Central and Southside Virginia, through radio ads and other media.
To learn more about Congressman Tom Perriello, click here.
To make a contribution to Matthew 25's efforts to elect candidates like Tom Perriello, click here.
Photo credit: Billy Hunt, www.billyhunt.com.