Released November 2, 1998

"Bats" Better Qualified than Newt
New Pelphrey Ad Notes Gingrich’s Lack of Business, Military Experience

Newt Gingrich has zero experience in the military, zero experience inbig business, and zero experience in small business. Shouldn’t Georgia’s SixthDistrict be represented by someone who knows about all three?

That’s the message of a TV ad for Congressional challenger Gary"Bats" Pelphrey. The commercial is running now at the campaign Web site pelphrey.org – and on areabroadcast and cable channels.

Pelphrey has the broad-based experience a citizen legislator needs. Heserved eight years active duty in the Navy after graduating with honors from Annapolis in1957. Next, he worked 24 years for IBM, earning an MBA and then a law degree throughcontinuing-education classes. For the past ten years, Gary and his wife Joyce haveoperated a mom-and-pop law firm just off the square in Marietta.

Pelphrey’s knowledge of public service goes beyond his militaryexperience. In his last four years at IBM, in Marietta, he was part of a group usingcomputers to address the problem of adult literacy. Gary was the co-founder of the localchapter of Literacy Volunteers of America, and the originator and chairman of the StateBar’s Committee on Adult Literacy.

Not that Gingrich’s lack of practical experience has made him shyabout claiming expertise and getting his own way. A recent example: those C-130Js theJoint Chiefs of Staff said they didn’t need or want. Gingrich, who used multipledeferments to avoid any military service, overrode the Joint Chiefs and forced the planesinto this year’s budget – for no apparent reason other than to bring back porkto his "constituent", Lockheed Martin.

There is a difference in experience. Character is important, too . . .in fact, it’s another reason to vote Pelphrey for Congress – as Gary mentions inthe ad’s tag line: "And, by the way – I’ve never been condemned forlying on an official document."