Admiral Mike Franken is demanding that Chuck Grassley and the Iowa Republican Party apologize to every Iowa veteran and service member after a tweet attacked Franken for serving nearly 40 years in the United States military.

The tweet, which was posted by a right-wing blog, was immediately promoted by several Chuck Grassley campaign staffers, as well as communications staff working for the Iowa Republican Party and the Republican National Committee.

The Franken campaign immediately fired back on Twitter.

For weeks, Grassley has launched divisive and out-of-context attacks against Admiral Franken, even trying to push false accusations against him. Facing his most competitive re-election ever, Grassley’s campaign appears desperate to try to find an effective attack against Franken.

In response to Republican attacks on his military service, Admiral Mike Franken released the following statement:

“Chuck Grassley’s campaign is claiming that any Iowan who puts on our country’s uniform ceases to be an Iowan. This disgusting and disgraceful attack is an attack on every veteran, every active duty service member, and their families. Chuck Grassley must immediately apologize.”

“Every veteran and service member knows how hurtful of an attack this is. The sacrifices that come with military service aren’t just the ultimate sacrifice or the shrapnel my dad came home from WWII with. It is also missing your kids’ first steps, missing your sister’s funeral, and the lost years that photos will never fully capture.”

“I was born in Iowa. I will be buried here. To say that I am no longer an Iowan because I put on our country’s uniform is beyond the pale.”

Background:

• Recent polling shows that Admiral Franken is within 4 points of Senator Grassley. Grassley 48%. Franken 44%. 8% undecided.
• The NRSC, known to be cash-strapped this cycle, is now spending in Iowa. National Republicans clearly see Admiral Franken as a real threat to Chuck Grassley.
• The Iowa Field Report is a right-wing blog funded by Republicans, including the Grassley campaign.

• Senator Joni Ernst and Zach Nunn, the Republican nominee for Iowa’s 3rd congressional district, are both veterans who left Iowa to serve their country.
• There are zero United States Navy bases located in Iowa.

Original source can be found here