Posted on 03/04/2004 1:53:23 AM PST by kattracks
The Bush reelection campaign yesterday unveiled its first three campaign commercials showcasing Ground Zero images, angering some 9/11 families who accused President Bush of exploiting the tragedy for political advantage."It's a slap in the face of the murders of 3,000 people," said Monica Gabrielle, whose husband died in the twin tower attacks. "It is unconscionable."
Gabrielle and several other family members said the injury was compounded by Bush's refusal to testify in open session before the 9/11 commission.
"I would be less offended if he showed a picture of himself in front of the Statue of Liberty," said Tom Roger, whose daughter was a flight attendant on doomed American Airlines Flight 11. "But to show the horror of 9/11 in the background, that's just some advertising agency's attempt to grab people by the throat."
Mindy Kleinberg said she was offended because the White House has not cooperated fully with the commission and because of the sight of remains being lifted out of Ground Zero in one of the spots.
"How heinous is that?" Kleinberg asked. "That's somebody's [loved one]."
Firefighter Tommy Fee in Rescue Squad 270 in Queens was appalled.
"It's as sick as people who stole things out of the place. The image of firefighters at Ground Zero should not be used for this stuff, for politics," Fee said.
But Jennie Farrell, who lost her brother, electrician James Cartier, called the ad "tastefully done," adding: "It speaks to the truth of the times. Sept. 11 ... was something beyond the realm of imagination, and George Bush ... led us through one of the darkest moments in history."
The gauzy, upbeat spots, aimed at shoring up Bush's sagging approval numbers, begin airing today on national cable networks and 50 media markets in 17 states that Bush-Cheney strategists consider electoral battlegrounds.
Two ads, including a Spanish version, show fleeting images of the World Trade Center devastation. The 30-second spots include a poignant image of an American flag fluttering defiantly amid the WTC wreckage.
One, titled "Safer, Stronger," also features a one-second shot of firefighters removing the flag-draped remains of a victim from the twisted debris.
Both ads reinforce the Ground Zero imagery with frontal shots of two firefighters. Unlike the paid actors and actresses in most of the footage, they are not ringers, but their red headgear gives them away as non-New Yorkers. The Bush campaign declined to reveal where the burly smoke-eaters actually work.
Bush officials defended the imagery as totally appropriate.
"9/11 was the defining moment of these times," campaign manager Ken Mehlman told reporters. "Because of that day, America is at war and still is."
Charging Democratic rival John Kerry with politicizing the attacks by alleging Bush has turned his back on the city, Mehlman added: "The President's never forgotten. It's a central part of his leadership."
The spots, pegged to the theme of "steady leadership in time of change," do not mention Kerry. Instead, their uplifting message hopes to refurbish Bush's battered image after two months of harsh Democratic attacks and a series of missteps by the normally surefooted White House political apparatus.
"We've been off our game for weeks," a senior Bush strategist conceded. "Thank goodness, there's plenty of time to get well, and plenty of grist to chop Kerry down to size."
With Kenneth R. Bazinet and Michele McPhee
Originally published on March 4, 2004
I have viewed the ad and it does nothing of the kind.
It is very 'conscionable' in that it stirrs the conscience of an American people that so often wants to 'forget and move on'.
It is this very characteristic that begets RAT politicians and leaders who in turn beget more 9-11's.
Contrast that, with the NEW YORK POSTS' side of the story BUSH EVOKES 9/11 IN RE-ELECTION ADS
Conclusions?
Yes it is heinous.
The entire event should be something we all keep in perspective. I'm not dwelling on it but I also have not forgotten about it, it's part of who I am and who this nation is.
I'm willing to bet alot of people upset over this are people that can't handle real events. We are at war. War, should mean something, especially to those who lost loved ones. This is not a time to wallow in self pity and beg for peace, at any cost. This is a time to stand up and fight for the right to exist, those who attack us have no doubt they want us erased from the face of the earth. The greatest monument and service to those who died would be to vendicate them and make this a world their children and loved ones can live in peacefully....not some wimpering moment of flowers smoke and mirrors, then sulking off to a corner.
Once again this society of whiners is out front moaning, not upset at the murderers but at those who stand to defend them.
I think some idiots will be offended by anything.
As if the President of the U.S. being shown in a pic with the Statue of Liberty is wrong.
'After 3,000 people were murdered on his watch, it seems to me that that takes an awful lot of audacity. Honestly, it's in poor taste.' - Kristen Breitweiser, with her husband's ring.
This woman is probably the biggest professional 9/11 victim there is -- anytime there's 9/11 whining, she's involved. Note that she seeing no problem with blaming Bush for 9/11, or posing for photos with her late husband's wedding ring, but it's "in poor taste" for the president to even mention 9/11 in his ads!
I also notice that it's the same half-dozen or so 9/11 professional victims quoted in every single article about 9/11. With 3000 families, you would think the media could find some different people to talk to.
Right. Plus the 9/11 ads will be well received by the rest of the country at large. NY and DC got the attacks, but the rest of us don't want one in our cities. Kerry cannot be trusted to fight the WOT. He wants to "dialogue" and likely in French --- damn him. Dangerous man, dangerous agenda.
I would imagine they have tried, and apparently have been unsuccessful in finding more people who can advance their aganda.
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