Sometimes, a picture says way too much, Bush uses 9-11 in re-election campaign ads

Herald News ^ | 03.15.04 | Alfred Doblin

[Coleus]

Sometimes, a picture says way too much
Bush uses 9-11 in re-election campaign ads

Monday, March 15, 2004

Sept. 11 was a seminal moment in American history; it was a defining moment in the presidency of George W. Bush. Even critics of the president won't argue that. What they will argue is the appropriateness of using Sept. 11 imagery - in particular firefighters carrying a flag-draped coffin - in campaign ads.

As an incumbent, Bush has every reason to promote his leadership skills in his first term. But the Bush campaign's choice of using a flag-draped coffin, besides being in questionable taste, raises another question. If images of the dead from Sept. 11 are suitable in a campaign advertisement, why aren't photos of flag-draped coffins of U.S. servicemen and women returning from the Iraqi war suitable to be shown in newspapers, magazines and on television?

The Bush administration has deliberately prevented the news media from photographing one of the most tangible and permanent effects of the Iraq war: coffins of dead U.S. soldiers.

If the president wants to claim that the world is safer today than it was on Sept. 11, 2001, he should give credit where it is due - to the men and women wearing the uniform of the United States.

A danger the president faces in using Sept. 11 as a sign of his leadership is that Bush did not find his footing until he came to New York, grabbed a bullhorn and addressed rescue workers at Ground Zero several days later. Sept. 11 found Bush in a Florida elementary school, appearing to react slowly to events unfolding in New York and in Washington, D.C.

And whether it was because of security concerns or poor communications, the president flew from Florida to Air Force bases in Louisiana and Nebraska before returning to the White House. In the immediate hours after planes crashed in New York City, at the Pentagon and in a field in Pennsylvania, Bush was heading away from the scenes of tragedy. Sept. 11 was not the president's shining hour.

The Bush campaign made a poor decision in not focusing on the president's strength at Ground Zero or his eloquent speech to a joint session of Congress. The 2004 presidential campaign is shaping up to be a negative one months before the nominating conventions. The Democratic presumptive nominee, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and Bush are both up for the fight. However, Sept. 11 victims and their families should not be caught in friendly fire.

Sept. 11 will forever hold a special place in the hearts of minds of the people who witnessed and lived that day. The emotions of that day are fair game for any politician. A Democratic incumbent would not shy away from using similar footage. After all, voters can be swayed by emotion.

But if Bush wants Americans to see coffins and to believe in his leadership, the president must show them all the coffins of those who died because of his orders as commander in chief.

Many Americans support the president's decision to send U.S. troops into Iraq. Many do not.

How important the Iraq war is to voters will become evident on Nov. 2.

In the interim, the president would be wise to let the dead of Sept. 11 rest undisturbed unless he is prepared to recognize the hundreds of soldiers who have returned to the United States, unnoticed and silent inside flag-draped boxes.

[Coleus]

The part that irks me the most is the part where he pointed out that Bush was in Florida and "appearing to react slowly" after the events. What does Doblin know what Bush did?  Air force jets were deployed, federal agencies were alerted, the military was trying to save the lives of those in the pentagon and preserve and guard secret information,  and the secret service had to protect the president.  And why did Doblin make notice that the president didn't return to DC?  Did he want President Bush come into harm's way?  Didn't he know that hijacked airliners were still flying and nobody knew if there were more of them out there or not?

 

And who cares where he was when it happened.  Where was Clinton during the '91 WTC bombing, Where was Clinton when the USS Cole was bombed, where was JFK during the Bay of Pigs, where was FDR during Pearl Harbor? He just had to put in his little digs.  What is Doblin trying to prove?

You can contact him here

[Paul Atreides]

John F'n has been using Vietnam as campaign fodder for months. He is using the men who died in Vietnam.

[BigLittle]

And whether it was because of security concerns or poor communications, the president flew from Florida to Air Force bases in Louisiana and Nebraska before returning to the White House. In the immediate hours after planes crashed in New York City, at the Pentagon and in a field in Pennsylvania, Bush was heading away from the scenes of tragedy. Sept. 11 was not the president's shining hour.

Nor was he shagging with an intern in the Oval Office. The crass naivete to insinuate that the greatest nation on earth does not go into action with pre planned procedures when attacked flys in the face of all else that they misrepresent. Sadly that day was no the shining hour for any of us. Our President, did however stand firm and acted with resolve. God Bless him and America during this time.

[Salamander]

"But if Bush wants Americans to see coffins and to believe in his leadership, the president must show them all the coffins of those who died because of his orders as commander in chief."

That is idiotic "logic", at best.

What family would their grief made so public?
Our "friends" would be heartbroken and our "enemies" would rejoice at the sight.
Maybe that's the point, really.
Maybe *some* people want a chance to rejoice in the deaths of our heroes just to make their political "point".


Where were all the congress critters on 911?
Out in the streets manning anti-aircraft artillery?
I don't think so.

[gitmo]

President Bush acted much faster, and far more decisively, when the World Trade Center was attacked on 9/11 than his predecessor did when the World Trade Center was attacked the first time.

[B4Ranch]

"Air force jets were deployed"

Touchy, very touchy subject matter.

[Coleus]

"Air force jets were deployed"
Touchy, very touchy subject matter.

Yea, I think they were the slow ones, seems Andrew's Air force base in NJ was the closest but their pilots and planes were not combat ready. I think the planes were deployed from Massachusetts and Virginia?

[conservativecorner]

And in every case the liberal media would love for us to forget the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. How can they run the images of Sept.11, 2001 when they have as their candidate a man who voted against the 87 billion for our troops in Iraq. The liberal media pushes news, and hasn't reported news for a good many years.

[graycamel]

How do you know all of Ladin's relatives were whisked out of the country? How do you know the FBI didn't question them? Maybe they knew they weren't involved but decided to deport them to keep them from doing anything in the future.

[ExSoldier]

The RATS attack Bush for evoking images of 9/11 for "political gain" but seem to forget the history of their own party when FDR not only evoked images of Pearl Harbor, he said that his own re-election was a critical factor in any allied VICTORY in WWII. RATS always do this and seem so shocked when it happens to them. In fact there is nothing wrong in the re-election ad campaign. After all despite what the RATS want to believe, we are at war. After Spain, the risk of a huge attack on our soil is now even greater than ever.

[French-American Republican]

I think it's more important to add that he voted against the $87bil dollars after voting for the war resolution. So, in effect, he sends Americans to fight to satisfy his immediate political interests and then, when it suits him, basically lets them die by cutting their funding. I agree with the Democrats: This guy is 100% Democrat.

[Salamander]

Why on earth are you asking *me*?

How should I know?

"Transparency" in government is a good thing...unless "telling all" also tells your enemies something you don't want them to know.

My "right to know" is trumped by the government's duty to keep this country safe.

[ladyinred]

We were under attack, the SS were protecting the President as they should have been. Bush flew around for that reason. Gore, had he God forbid been elected would have done the very same thing. What a freaking hypocrite liar this jerk is.

[Salamander]

Where *are* my manners?

Welcome to Free Republic.

[deport]

Two post and "us republicans" are all concerned...... LOL

Welcome anyway .......

[Militiaman7]

jeansutherland
Since Mar 17, 2004

Wow! Signed up on the 17th when it still is the 16th.

Do we have a troll here?

Are you from DU?

[jackbill]

And whether it was because of security concerns or poor communications, the president flew from Florida to Air Force bases in Louisiana and Nebraska before returning to the White House. In the immediate hours after planes crashed in New York City, at the Pentagon and in a field in Pennsylvania, Bush was heading away from the scenes of tragedy. Sept. 11 was not the president's shining hour.

I just sent a letter to the editor of this fish-wrap.

On December 7, 1941, I was ten years old. We lost over 2,000 servicemen at Pearl Harbor. We had absolutely no idea where the President (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) was until the next day when he appeared before the Congress.

Where was he? Was he hiding? Was he afraid for his miserable life?

[MHGinTN]

Contacting such an Bush-bashing airhead seems ... superfluous.

[Salamander]

Mebbe Jean has a mouse in his/her pocket.....:)