Is Iraq war a small price? New ads demand that Porter take a stand

Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007 | 7:02 a.m.

WASHINGTON - Another anti-war ad against Republican Rep. Jon Porter is being televised in the Las Vegas market.

Porter is one of four Republican lawmakers targeted in $250,000 worth of television ads bought by Americans United for Change. The ads call on Porter to condemn House Minority Leader John Boehner's recent comments on the war.

When Boehner was asked how long the military commitment would be required in Iraq, he told a CNN interviewer: "Long term, the investment we are making today will be a small price."

"A small price?" reads the ad on a black screen. War images then blast in the background.

"Tell Representative Jon Porter to condemn John Boehner's remarks and vote to end the war," the announcer says.

Porter spokesman Matt Leffingwell said the congressman expects such campaigns from such groups. He criticized the ad campaign for "using the war as a political tool."

Leffingwell noted that the attacks have not let up since the congressman was re elected last fall. "The voters of the 3rd Congressional District understand the congressman's pragmatic style of leadership," he said.