ABC Deplores Bush TV Ad for Intimating Dems "Soft on Terrorism" (RNC Video & Transcript)

MRC ^ | 10:20am EST, Monday November 24, 2003 | BrentBaker

[fight_truth_decay]

ABC on Friday night condemned a new RNC television ad on behalf of President Bush. Peter Jennings intoned on World News Tonight that it "will, potentially, make an already bitter debate about war in Iraq and the campaign against terrorism, even more so." Jennings maintained that "the ad seems to suggest that if you are tough on the President, or criticize the war in Iraq, you may be soft on terrorism."

And though the words "terrorists," "others" and "self-defense" also appear in red in text which is interspersed in the ad otherwise made up of clips of Bush's State of the Union address, Dean Reynolds highlighted just one word as he suggested some nefarious motive in putting it in "blood red."
Reynolds asserted: "While he never mentions his political adversaries, the President's message, and the printed words -- 'retreat,' for example, is written in blood red -- leave little doubt that the Democrats are his targets and that those who oppose his policies are soft on terror."

ABC's tone on Friday night, November 21, contrasts markedly with how Jennings and the network approached Ted Kennedy's vitriolic attack on President Bush's motives exactly nine weeks earlier, on the Friday, September 19 World News Tonight. Kennedy had claimed that the war in Iraq was a "fraud made up in Texas, announced in January to the Republican leadership that war was going to take place and was going to be good politically." Without any evidence, Kennedy had also charged: "This whole thing was a fraud" and alleged that money for Iraq "is being shuffled all around to these political leaders in all parts of the world, bribing them to send in troops."

But, as the September 22 CyberAlert noted, after illustrating how Kennedy's claims lacked evidence, though John Cochran passed along how Tom DeLay castigated Kennedy's remarks as "a new low" in politics, Cochran gave equal credibility and legitimacy to why Kennedy leveled his baseless charges: "Sources familiar with Kennedy's reasoning say he stepped up his attacks on the President in an effort to get the country to pay more attention to a situation in Iraq that he feels is catastrophic."

Jennings introduced the September 19 World News Tonight story without any of the negative judgments he brought to bear on Bush this past Friday night: "Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts has launched a major attack on the President's war policies. He gave an interview yesterday, which certainly got a lot of attention, and today we asked ABC's John Cochran to check out what the Senator had said and whether he had his facts right."

See the September 22 CyberAlert for more on how ABC handled Kennedy's scurrilous charges: http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2003/cyb20030922.asp#3

Contrast that to how Jennings, anchoring from Dallas, didn't hide his hostility towards the GOP ad on Friday night, November 21, as he set up the Reynolds story:
"National politics today. There's been a significant development in the presidential politics today. The Republican National Committee has produced a very tough political ad which will, potentially, make an already bitter debate about war in Iraq and the campaign against terrorism, even more so. The ads are going to run first in Iowa, where the Democrats have their first presidential contest for the nomination. The ad seems to suggest that if you are tough on the President, or criticize the war in Iraq, you may be soft on terrorism."

From Des Moines, Reynolds began his piece: "For months, the airwaves here in Iowa have been flooded by messages like this one."
Kerry TV ad: "He's fighting for you against the Bush tax giveaways."
Reynolds: "When they aren't bashing each other, the Democrats running for the White House have been pounding George W. Bush."
Dick Gephardt during a debate: "He's a miserable failure on this issue and he must be replaced in the election."
Reynolds: "But the Republicans are about to launch a counter- attack."
Bush's voice in ad: "Our war against terror is a contest of will in which perseverance is power."
Reynolds: "This advertisement will blanket Iowa, a state Bush lost to Al Gore by only four thousand votes. It stresses what Republicans believe to be the President's strong suits: National security. And while he never mentions his political adversaries, the President's message, and the printed words -- [ABC video zooms in on word "retreat"] 'retreat,' for example, is written in blood red -- leave little doubt that the Democrats are his targets and that those who oppose his policies are soft on terror."

[Brief full screen shot of black text on white background:

"Some call for us to retreat, putting our national security in the hands of others" Both "retreat" and "others" in red, rest in black]

Bush voice in ad: "Some have said we must not act until the threat is imminent. Since when have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions?"
Reynolds: "The Republican National Committee, which is sponsoring the commercial both here and in New Hampshire next month, is insisting that the Democratic attacks have not hurt the President and that this new ad is merely designed to point out policy differences. But others believe a Republican response on behalf of the President is now an urgent necessity."
David Yepsin, Des Moines Register columnist: "Republicans have to stay in this fight or Democrats are just going to give him black eye that he can't recover from."
Reynolds: "The Republican ad won't even start running here until Sunday, but the Democratic candidates were responding today."
John Kerry: "We don't need commercials, we need leadership."
Howard Dean: "This President's really put this country in danger by reckless foreign policy. The RNC ad is not going to change that."
Reynolds concluded: "While such responses indicate the ad may strike a nerve, it is also clearly a use of the Iraq war and 9-11 for political purposes. Broadcasting it now may well set the election agenda a full year before the nation votes."

As Reynolds wrapped up, ABC showed this text from the ad: "Some are now attacking the president for attacking the terrorists."

The word "terrorists" was in red.

The RNC has posted a script for the ad. Judge for yourself if it matches the underhandedness suggested by ABC News:

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: "It would take one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known."

CHYRON: Strong and Principled Leadership

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: "Our war against terror is a contest of will in which perseverance is power."

CHYRON: Some are now attacking the President for attacking the terrorists.

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: "Some have said we must not act until the threat is imminent. Since when have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions, politely putting us on notice before they strike?"

CHYRON: Some call for us to retreat, putting our national security in the hands of others.

CHYRON: Call Congress Now

CHYRON: Tell them to support the President's policy of preemptive self-defense.

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ED GILLESPIE: "The Republican National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising."
CHYRON: Ed Gillespie
CHYRON: Chairman, RNC
CHYRON: The Republican National Committee paid for and is responsible for the content of this advertising. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. www.gop.com

END Reprint of script
http://rnc.org/Newsroom/Releases/nov03/IowaAds.htm

To watch the ad via RealPlayer:
http://www.rnc.org/Newsroom/RNCResearch/Reality.htm

Unfortunately, though they may fix it, the RNC didn't bother to make sure it worked with Netscape, so if you want to play it you'll have to be using Internet Explorer. The Washington Post, however, has posted it in a way also compatible with Netscape:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/apdaily/112103-2v.htm

[fight_truth_decay]

Video: "Reality"

[Enterprise]

ABC? Doesn't that stand for Anti-Bush Crapheads?

[lormand]

This is the "don't fight the terrorist, you will only make them madder" strategy.

[aynrandfreak]

but they are soft on terrorism

[daler]

I noticed this developing as a Democratic strategy in the last campaign (2002). If you're a Democrat, bombs away on your opponent, accusing him or her of the most vile behavior and policies; if they defend themselves at all in an ad, display outrage and demand that the "negative" campaigning stop immediately.

Look for MUCH more of this, along with the obligatory media assistance.

[bert]

 

Lest we Forget.......

   Taliban Mickey

ABC has always taken the side of the Terrorists and the Baathists.

[mwl1]

I say, double the media buy since Daschle and the newsmedia are raising Hell. It must be effective.

[Strider]

Why doesn't he go back to Canada, where he would be appreciated.

I guess the fact that probably the main reason some citizens of Iraq are afraid to help us, is that we might leave them to fend for themselves and fear repercussions.

All of the 'we should not be in Iraq' rhetoric from the liberals aids and abets the enemy. And, Jennings is leading the way.

[backhoe]

Here is the ad ( requires RealPlayer )-- judge for yourself:

President Bush Ad airing in Iowa

[af_vet_1981]

Good ad, tells the truth. The democrat party hates this truth.

[Michael.SF.]

but they are soft on terrorism

That's what really gets to them the most - the truth.

[BOBTHENAILER]

"Kennedy had claimed that the 1998 Clinton bombing of Iraq was a "fraud made up in Clinton's war room, announced in January to the Democratic leadership that massive bombing was going to take place and was going to be good politically, because it would take the attention off of the impeachment and Monica Lewinski." Without any evidence, Kennedy had also charged: "This whole thing was a fraud" and alleged that money for Iraq "is being shuffled all around to these political leaders in all parts of the world, bribing them to support Clinton."

He then added that he needed a stiff drink and a broad to ride across the bridge with him.

[Jerry Attrick]

ABC? Doesn't that stand for Anti-Bush Crapheads?

Actually, it's " Anti-Bush Chitheads " :)

[God luvs America]

What was ABC's stance when the DNC blantly left out critical words and ran their anti-Bush ad in Wisconsin on the famous "16-word sentence" in the state of the Union address?

[Steve_Seattle]

Jennings would have us believe that none of the Democrats' attacks on Bush's Iraq policy are politically motivated, but just high-minded patriotism. It's only political when Bush fights back. So your analysis is correct.

[NonValueAdded]

I thought the truth was an absolute defense ... poor RATs.

[ZULU]

I thought it stood for "Americans Backing Communists".

I wonder what NBC and CBS stand for? "Not Believing in Christ" and "Clowns Backing Subversives?"

[fight_truth_decay]

I think the words "Soft on Terrorism" tag the Democrats do not want subliminally replayed over and over in their constituencies' mind when it comes time to vote in the next election. Jazzman displayed his feelings in reference to being "soft on terrorism" on a message board in http://www.blackfive.net/main/2003/10/the_case_for_co.html by Jazzman.

My letter to the chiefs this morning:

[Although we will not agree with all he says..the blanket of soft of terrorism attitudes knows no party lines.]

Gentleman,

I NEVER hear any reports of smart bomb usage the past several months. Did we send the Navy and Air Force home?? Why aren't we blowing to smithereens some of the sites/homes the Special Ops guys discover thugs are hiding in and working out of? We have absolutely NO INTIMIDATION in this Guerilla War!

If we aren't going to fight against barbaric savages with a variety of ruthless tactics we should get the Hell out of there and let them run their Country the way they want with their sick Religion. This is becoming Vietnam II big time!

My Father was a typical politically expendable Marine in Korea...I guess all our military is similarly expendable to back up your meek military operation and tactics...tragically...

Colonel West under Court Marshall consideration?? The most PATHETIC military position I could ever imagine - talk about NOT SUPPORTING the guys doing your long distance dangerous work!!!

You've just compounded the deteriorating demoralizing condition of our troops.

.. Regards - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...Minneapolis, and soon to be former Republican voter...

[Liz]

Of course, what's good for America and Americans is never factored into the ravings of
corrupt politicans like the Clintons and the emptyheaded musings of Kennedy the wimp.

[Made In The USA]

I absolutely love this commerical and how it is being deployed. It's a cold hard look in the mirror for dim voters and dim candidates as well.

There's probably a healthy percentage of libs who know that when it comes to protecting our turf, their liberal politicians are far too weak to do so.