ALBUQUERQUE — A remark last week by New Mexico congressional candidate Ed Tinsley has attracted an unflattering measure of national attention from a cable television show.

Speaking at a candidate forum in Clovis, the Republican suggested in a hypothetical conversation with his nephews, who serve in the military, that his Democratic opponent would "cut your throat" on Iraq war funding.

"How can I call my two nephews over there right now — one's a first lieutenant in the Marine Corps in Anbar province, another in the Persian Gulf — and tell them I'm running against a guy that will cut your throat, that will cut the bottom out of your funding?" Tinsley asked.

In a video posted on the Internet Tinsley's remark was followed by boos and groans, drowning out his additional comments. New Mexico Democrats distributed the video to reporters and bloggers.

Tinsley, a Capitan rancher who owns the K-Bob's restaurant chain, won a five-way GOP primary in June. He's seeking the 2nd District seat with Democrat Harry Teague of Hobbs, a high school dropout turned millionaire.

The remark made it to Countdown on MSNBC.

Replying to Tinsley's rhetorical question about his nephews, host Keith Olbermann said: "I don't know, Mr. Tinsley. Maybe the same way you can talk about how you could conjure up the image of your own kin getting their throats cut just to score points in a political campaign.

"To its credit the crowd booed so vigorously, the rest of Mr. Tinsley's exploitation of his nephews could not be heard," Olbermann said.

The host wrapped up the segment by awarding Tinsley the TV show's tongue-in-cheek "Worst Person in the World" award. The remark also attracted interest by a handful of political blogs.

Tinsley's campaign issued a statement defending the comment.

"What I said in the Aug. 7 candidate forum regarding funding of U.S. troops in Iraq were no doubt harsh words," Tinsley said.

"However, if these words caused my opponent to change his mind to support funding that provides necessary body armor, weapons and other equipment to help our troops in harm's way to achieve their mission — and to not demand immediate withdrawal — then they were well worth it."

Later in the video, Teague said he supports American troops but opposes the war and believes money spent on Iraq should go to fighting terrorism, creating jobs, building schools and lowering gasoline prices.

"I want to be clear here," Teague said. "You know, I have always supported the troops and supported the funding for the troops."

During the primary, Teague called for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq but stopped short of setting a deadline.




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