Posted on 08/22/2007 1:01:42 PM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON, (AP) -- Former White House aides are joining Republican fundraisers in bankrolling a $15 million, five-week advertising campaign putting pressure on lawmakers whose backing of President Bush's Iraq war strategy may be wavering.
The group, Freedom's Watch, launched the ads Wednesday, even as Bush delivered a renewed call for keeping U.S. forces in Iraq. The money will pay for ad placements on national cable and local television stations as well as on radio and the Internet.
The ads will run in 20 states and will urge viewers to ask their member of Congress to stand by Bush's plan. Organizers of the effort would not identify the targeted lawmakers, but a review of the initial TV ad placements — done by a group opposed to the war — shows most of them are in Republican congressional districts.
The ads could affect presidential politics as well. The group is paying for a substantial ad placement in Iowa, the leadoff caucus state in the presidential nominating contest. While aimed at members of Congress, the ads will compete for air time with presidential spots and could influence voter attitudes as candidates seek their support.
The ads feature soldiers wounded in the war or family members of soldiers killed in the war calling on lawmakers to support the current deployment of troops.
"The global war on terror requires American engagement, and if we surrender now, then I think it makes a more dangerous United States and a more dangerous world," said Bradley A. Blakeman, a lawyer and former White House official who is president of the new group. He said the ads are timed in anticipation of a progress report next month by Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. military commander in Iraq.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Excellent!
ping
These ads have been running this week on our #1 news/talk radio station. Our 18 yr. congressman won by only 3000 votes last year and his opponent decided to not stop campaigning. His little minions from around the nation have been running anti-republican ads on our radio stations all year. I am glad he is now being challenged and people are now hearing another side.
That’s money that are much better spent than giving to any of putative GOP Presidential candidates right now.
Good idea. About time. Thanks to those giving the $.
I just drove up to NYC from Florida and heard it all the way up. :-)
We have to pay to get our message across, while the liberals have the MSM.
You are SO right: “We have to pay to get our message across, while the liberals have the MSM.”
THANK GOD someone finally figured out what to do about it - if you have to PAY for airtime - DO IT! I will definitely be giving to this organization - and contacting not only my own congresscritters (not much good in doing that as I live in CA!) - but other influential Repubs, especially those who appear to be wavering.
Hope it works - but at least TRY!
BTTT
Heard one today at lunch. It was excellent!
Engendering a Question: Why can’t the Administration even try a little PR?
Any of the Republican candidates except Paul are preferable to any of the dem candidates. The problem is we don't know which one will be the nominee yet. So I can see holding back until that's better defined.
The Daily Terrorist Round-Up site on free-republic should be used by Bush. It is beyond a doubt, the greatest source of information on progress in the wot.
Thanks to Straight Vermonter.
Right. IMO, that’s the main reason for the large “gap” between donations to GOP candidates and Dem candidates that was widely publicized recently. People are holding up or give very sparingly before they will know who to give, as McCain donors discovered to their chagrin.
Meanwhile, these well done, timely ads are the best things this money can buy at this time. Shore up the Republican position and put Democrats on the defensive - could give some needed support and some spine to Congress-critters.
works for me
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