Posted on 03/04/2004 4:38:21 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
There are mornings like this one when you don't have to wait for Katie Couric to open her mouth to know that she's on the warpath. In her just-completed segment, it was enough to see Couric's grim, clench-jawed, tight-eyed, black-garbed look to know that Bush presidential adviser Karen Hughes was going to be in for a bumpy ride.
Couric did let Hughes get in one statement before going on the attack. After Katie's clenched-jawed greeting, Hughes did manage to say: "these ads say a lot about the American people and the shared experiences we've had over the last three years. Sometimes when you're living history it's hard to realize it. The President has great confidence in the American people, a stark contrast with the negative tone of the Democrats."
But then Katie went on the offensive, immediately grabbing her nuclear weapon from the liberal arsenal.
Couric: "There are a number of images of Ground Zero in these ads. A 9/11 widow has said she is offended. She said that 'with 3,000 people killed on the President's watch it takes an awful lot of audacity to use these images. It is in bad taste.'"
Hughes was not intimidated. She politely but firmly took issue, stressing that it was important to remind the American people of what they have been through.
But Katie came back to the charge: "at the same time is it appropriate to use those images for campaign purposes?" she asked, grim-faced.
Remember that when John Kerry starts running ads highlighting his service in Vietnam, where 58,000 US soliders and millions of civilians died. Will Katie be questioning Kerry's decency and good taste in "exploiting" those images?
Next, Katie tried a pre-emptive strike on any possible negative advertising against Kerry.
Q. "Will there be another series specifically targeting John Kerry and when will they run?"
Hughes: "Fairly soon we'll begin talking about Kerry and his record. He has voted against defense systems we're using to win war against terrorism and against intelligence."
Of course we all remember the tough questioning that Katie gave to the various Dem candidates over the course of the primaries for the endless commercials they ran bashing President Bush. Or maybe not.
Katie: "Iraq is never mentioned in the ads. Why is that? Are his campaign advisers afraid he might be vulnerable on that issue?"
Hughes: "We've just begun. I've just come back from Afghanistan where people are grateful that we've rid the country of an oppressive dictatorship and I'm sure the people of Iraq feel the same way."
Katie: "Exit polls among Ohio voters show that by far the most important issue is the economy, with few mentioning Iraq. Since by 'conservative estimates' more than two milion jobs have been lost how do you feel the President can convince the people the economy is strong and getting stronger if it is still on the forefront of people's minds?"
Of course Katie didn't mention that the people polled in Ohio were Dem primary voters, a very partisan, Bush-hating, liberal demographic.
Hughes had an excellent response, one we can expect to be hearing much more of: "Not only have we recently had the strongest growth in the last 20 years, but unemployment, while it will always be a concern for the President, is lower than the average rate in the 70s, 80s, 90s and first Clinton first term. Continuing the President's policies of low taxes, less government regulation and intrusion will work."
Yup. Kewpie Doll.
Sometimes a member of the crew will say that right before they go live just to watch her expression darken and go bad.
I think that between the Botox and the surgeon, she still looks OK. But the other day when Friend Wife was watching her,and I was in the other room, I could hear but not see her. She has the voice of an old woman... an old bitter woman!
Compare these ads to the two years of attacks, and the doom and gloom of the Moveon.org "Jason vs. Freddie"-like scary monster under the bed or in the closet, and the two America's-like ads.
So one widow is in the ad? Big deal. She hasn't come forward to say her arm was twisted just to appear in the ad.
Bush's ads are uplifting, penned from reality, the Democrats as usual pen their scripts from the Playbook, chapter 13, "Doom & Gloom".
My initial thought after seeing the ads for myself online last night, that the liberal talking point would be "This president is truly out of touch". I guess the ads got under their skin because it smacks of reality of just how dangerous a world we live in.
I wonder if there will be any commercials of Iraqi and Afghan people thanking Bush for giving them a chance at freedom?
Our COUNTRY was attacked. I have cried a thousand tears for those lost. But this woman that she refers to is among that minute minority that are trying to lay the blame for 9-11 at President Bush's feet as though he is responsible. Ms. Couric owes the 'public she serves' as a member of the 4th estate more fairness, more objectivity, and more skill. John Kerry has alternately decried the living and dead of Vietnam as war criminals and used them as campaign props, depending on which fit his needs on a given day. President Bush has done nothing but offer his respect, support, and the powers of his office to avenge the lost and to do everything he can to ensure it never happens again.
This criticism is the kind of thing that will make no headway with those who support the President, and it will e nothing more than a rallying cry for those on the other side. It is not an issue that will hold sway in the election. As evidence I point to the polls where the 'undecideds' are noticiably small. This far away from the election, most polls show a decision factor in the 94-97% range. Wedge issue will not factor into the election unless they are issues that will motivate the base to get out and vote. Turnout turnout turnout! That is what will decide 2004.
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