Mackler blasts GOP opponents for Blackburn tweet

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Mackler is criticizing his Republican opponents for being “clones” of Republican Marsha Blackburn, who was elected to the chamber last year. Mackler, a former Army helicopter pilot, took aim at comments Blackburn made about Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who testified in the congressional impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.

Blackburn has said she stands by a tweet that stated: “Vindictive Vindman in the ‘whistleblower’s’ handler.” Republican candidates Bill Hagerty and Manny Sethi have defended the president and condemned the House probe.

#MoscowMarsha isnt on the ballot in ’20 but my opponents for the open #TNSEN seat will be her clone. I’m a combat veteran & running b/c TN needs a senator to stand up for what’s right & stand up to any president when they’re wrong. Join the team today >> https://t.co/REGFUU2rCp pic.twitter.com/omwxqPvxkr

— James Mackler (@James_Mackler) November 23, 2019

Mackler closed his law practice after the Sept. 11 terror attacks to join the Army. He spent three years as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot for the 101st Airborne Division, which included a deployment to Iraq. He later served as a military prosecutor for the Judge Advocate General Corps.