They were epoch-altering events. This November, the American electorate will be divided along the lines of those who still have not grasped this fact and those who do.
The presidency of George W. Bush (as well as the man, himself) was forever marked and altered by those events, which were the defining moments of the GWB presidency. His response during that gut-churning time is not part of his record, but CENTRAL TO his record.
Anyone who says he should avoid mention of 9/11 in his ads, or any other time during his campaign, is actually trying to prevent GWB from running on his record. Near as I can remember, this is the first time a president's political opponents want to avoid a discussion of his bona fide record. Gee, I wonder why...
I worked with someone who was killed n 9/11. Not a close friend, but more than a mere acquaintance. Does that give me some special privilege for deciding on the memorial architecture or deciding who uses the images of 9/11 in free political speech? I don't think so.
If Al Quada had sent one terrorist over to NYC on 9/11 to murder one person on a street corner - and the assailant was prosecuted, it would be The State of New York vs. [fill in the blank - name of terrorist]. It is the state which prosecutes criminal acts on behalf of all of the population. An attack the magnitude of 9/11 was an attack on our nation as a whole. While the families deserve and have received our sympathy and support - they are not elevated to a special position by that victim hood to determine things like national security policy or strategic decisions about the war on terrorism. It is a matter for the entire country to evaluate and debate and decide, through our elected representatives and officials. As such, issues in the aftermath of 9/11 and symbolized by some subdued glimpse of 9/11 in a commercial are not beyond propriety.
I'd like to know if Democratic party operatives or Kerry campaign staff were working the phones last night after the release of the ads - ginning up reaction from the firemen (already endorsers of Kerry) and the select widows and survivors who have commented so far. That is the politicization of 9/11 that we should be outraged about.
Hard to believe this is the same GWB who was continuously bashed during campaign 2000 for being weak on foreign policy. Now the media and his haters want him to ignore his strong suit? HA!
Just elemental fairness -- they don't want Kerry's record discussed either! ;-)