Lenda SherrellNASHVILLE - Democrat Lenda Sherrell's first TV ad in Tennessee's 4th Congressional District race never mentions her opponent, Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, but the South Pittsburg physician looms large in it nonetheless.
Her 30-second spot, which began airing in Chattanooga and Nashville on Thursday, has the retired certified public accountant from Monteagle discussing honesty, trust, nonpartisanship, and trust yet again.
Sherrell said she grew up in a small community in Grundy County where "we were taught the values of honesty, loyalty and looking out for each other. We learned that actions speak louder than words."
"We didn't think of each other as Republicans or Democrats, just neighbors. We've lost that sense of community, and we need to get it back," she says, adding at the end, "we may not agree on every issue, but I'll always be worthy of your trust."
What she never says directly is that DesJarlais eked out only a 38-vote win in the August GOP primary against state Sen. Jim Tracy, who pounded him relentlessly over revelations from his 2001 divorce. Court documents showed the pro-life South Pittsburg physician had affairs with at least two patients, pressured one to get an abortion and went along with his former wife's decision to have two abortions.
Dr. John Geer, a political science professor at Vanderbilt University, described Sherrell's ad as "a classic implicit attack framed in a very positive ad."
DesJarlais says his volatile past is behind him, noting he has since remarried and become religious.
On Thursday, DesJarlais spokesman Robert Jameson said Sherrell "chose to conceal [in the ad] her far left activist roots and the fact her political experience consists of organizing for President Obama."
He charged Sherrell supports Obamacare and "amnesty" for illegal immigrants. "I doubt many will find her 'trustworthy,'" he added.
In a telephone interview earlier, Sherrell said, "If Dr. DesJarlais chooses to run against President Obama that's his choice" but some people believe Obama "had some ideas that might actually help them."
She said she supports things like raising the minimum wage. Moreover, she added, "people are worried about whether Medicare and Social Security are going to be there for them." DesJarlais, she said, supported a plan that would "essentially turn Medicare into a voucher system."
Sherrell said, "What I'm committed to doing is representing the people of my district regardless of what President Obama or the party think is the right way to go."
Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.