Independent Group Calls Foul on Pro-Sullivan Ads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 6/04/2024

ANCHORAGE - An independent fact check organization is calling foul on Dan Sullivan and Karl Rove’s Crossroads for misleading attempts to score political points in Alaska using the Veterans Affairs scandal in Arizona and the tragic deaths of over 40 veterans.

FactCheck.org picked apart Sullivan’s claims by detailing Begich’s swift response to the VA scandal within hours of the investigation. The fact check makes clear that the ad conflates past benefits backlog issues at the Anchorage VA in 2010 and the current scandal at the Arizona VA - for each issue Begich swiftly demanded answers and that the VA find solutions immediately.

FactCheck.org writes: Twisting Begich’s Response to VA Scandal

“The ad quotes Begich as saying, “If there’s a problem, they need to fix it,” and then asks incredulously, “if there is a problem?” to suggest that Begich doesn’t believe there is one. But three weeks before he made that remark, Begich condemned reports of mismanagement at the VA as a “disgrace” and called for an immediate investigation and a national policy to allow veterans to get care at non-VA health facilities.”

“Once again Dan Sullivan’s attempts to score political points by bending the truth have been called out by an independent fact check organization, caring for our veterans and delivering them the benefits they’ve earned isn’t a political issue,” said Max Croes, Alaskans for Begich Communications Director.

Within 24 hours of the VA scandal in Arizona Mark Begich wrote the Veterans Administration calling the incident “disgraceful” and urged the VA to adopt solutions to capacity issues. Begich then put tough questions to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki calling for those responsible to be held accountable.

By contrast, U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan spent weeks without mentioning the unacceptable conditions at the Arizona VA until breaking a nearly month-long silence by politicizing the VA scandal and calling to “Put Republicans in the Senate.”

In Alaska, veteran wait times are dramatically down thanks to improved access to primary care and partner agreements supported by Mark Begich between local non-VA medical providers and the Alaska VA.

Republican Jeff Miller (R-FL), Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, also labeled the ad attacking Mark Begich a “political football.”

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