Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

MoveOn's Misfire
Townhall.com ^ | September 27, 2007 | Nathan Tabor

Posted on 09/27/2007 5:09:08 AM PDT by Kaslin

It would be foolish to discount the political power of the Internet phenom known as MoveOn.org. After all, it claims 3.2 million members, and there's no denying that it has become a major player in the Democratic Party.

But it appears that MoveOn.org misfired, public relations-wise, when it ran an ad in the New York Times raising questions about the integrity of General David H. Petraeus, the leader of U.S. forces in Iraq.

The U.S. Senate has now approved a resolution condemning the liberal organization's provocative ad. Yet, Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton reportedly voted against the resolution. One is only left to wonder if the current Commander-in-Chief had been a Democrat if Senator Clinton would have voted differently.

In the midst of the controversy, now comes word that the Times management regrets the decision to run the advertisement, which was famously headlined, "General Petraeus or General Betray Us?"

The public editor of the Times, Clark Hoyt, now says the advertisement violated the newspaper's own standards. In addition, according to Hoyt, MoveOn.org was seriously undercharged for the ad. Hoyt noted that the spokeswoman for the Times, Catherine Mathis, has stated, "We made a mistake."

Meanwhile, the Commander-in-Chief has issued this assessment of AdGate: "I felt like the ad was an attack, not only on General Petraeus, but on the U.S. military," said President George W. Bush. "And I was disappointed that not more leaders in the Democratic Party spoke out strongly against that kind of ad."

As the President eloquently pointed out, it seems that the Dems are more afraid of irritating MoveOn.org than they are of irritating the U.S. military.

There are certain values that should be upheld, no matter what the political controversies of the day. One of those is support for our military—both the troops on the battlefield and the commanders who must make excruciatingly difficult decisions about how to conduct a war. General Petraeus should be given the respect he deserves and not be made the scapegoat of a political squabble.

But, if some find it difficult to give credit to anyone wearing a military uniform, perhaps they can at least respect the truth. As General Petraeus has noted, the U.S. troop surge has achieved success, especially with respect to Al Qaida insurgents west of Baghdad.

Some liberals have created a cottage industry based on the claim that President Bush lied to force the U.S. into a military engagement in Iraq. But, with Bush critics such as MoveOn.org hurling insults at an honorable man like General Petraeus, the only logical question is: Who's lying now?


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2008; adgate; democratparty; democrats; fundedbysoros; hillary; moveon; petraeus

1 posted on 09/27/2007 5:09:08 AM PDT by Kaslin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

“The public editor of the Times, Clark Hoyt, now says the advertisement violated the newspaper’s own standards. “

The NY Times has standards?


2 posted on 09/27/2007 5:12:51 AM PDT by Slapshot68
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Moveon is not us. Moveon is the enemy


3 posted on 09/27/2007 5:14:00 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Moveon is not us...... Moveon is the enemy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
But it appears that MoveOn.org misfired, public relations-wise, when it ran an ad in the New York Times...

Misfired? That's no misfire. They knew exactly what they were doing and what the ramifications were. They know that the Dem leadership is in their back pocket, and are afraid of MoveOn. That's no misfire. It was a deliberate attack on the General, and on our troops.

4 posted on 09/27/2007 5:14:30 AM PDT by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

The Betraeus ad is a godsend to Hillary. It gives her an opportunity to mend fences with Moveon.org after she alienated them by supporting the war.


5 posted on 09/27/2007 5:17:00 AM PDT by Brilliant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brilliant

Hillary will say whatever she thinks will help her. Unfortunately she can fool many people


6 posted on 09/27/2007 5:32:21 AM PDT by Kaslin (The Surge has worked and the li(e)berals know it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Slapshot68

Now there are authorities at times who say they disagree with what the ombudsman said, so it was all just a sham to get them off the hook legally. I hope it fails.


7 posted on 09/27/2007 5:39:51 AM PDT by ontap (Just another backstabbing conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: theDentist

It was a misfire in that they knew exactly what they were doing but the results are not what they expect. it played very well with their base but thats just 30% of the voting public. it is a disaster for them with the 70% of the rest of the country.


8 posted on 09/27/2007 5:43:15 AM PDT by ontap (Just another backstabbing conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Brilliant

I am not sure, because she did not condemn the ad, the GOP can pound on this during the campaign next year.


9 posted on 09/27/2007 5:46:41 AM PDT by GeorgefromGeorgia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

MOVEON is just practicing what the Clintons PERFECTED.....Politics of PERSONAL DESTRUCTION!! They tried to DESTROY Patreaus’ reputation!! This is what they DO to get and retain POWER.....DESTROY other people.


10 posted on 09/27/2007 5:49:20 AM PDT by Suzy Quzy (Hillary '08...Her PHONINESS is REAL!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeorgefromGeorgia

“I am not sure, because she did not condemn the ad, the GOP can pound on this during the campaign next year.”

I agree with you. She only wins if she moves to the center and stays there. The R’s are going to use this against as as well they should.


11 posted on 09/27/2007 5:52:46 AM PDT by Minn. 4 Bush
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
"The public editor of the Times, Clark Hoyt, now says the advertisement violated the newspaper's own standards."

TOO LATE,damage done to the Great General and American Patriot. You got what the h*ll you wanted now you want to make nice. BITE ME!

12 posted on 09/27/2007 5:54:10 AM PDT by oust the louse ("NEVER LET THE ENEMY PICK THE BATTLESITE".....General George S. Patton,Jr.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oust the louse

Move On is part of an effective, but very nebulous and very well funded Anti-American group of traitors.
I smell Chinese money.
I smell Saudi Oil money.
I smell Central American drug money thru Meehhicco.


13 posted on 09/27/2007 6:05:36 AM PDT by Flintlock (-)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

In the end, even though they knew better, Moveon.org couldn’t resist showing their true colors and making the same mistake their hippy forefathers made.....

....spitting on the troops.


14 posted on 09/27/2007 6:57:59 AM PDT by Dreagon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

All of this is good and dandy, BUT the million dollar question is DID IT DAMAGE THE SHE-BEAST and the RATS? I’m hoping against ALL odds this little MISFIRE has swayed the fence sitters our way and gave Soros along with moveon a serious blackeye with a huge backlash to follow!


15 posted on 09/27/2007 7:55:15 AM PDT by RoseofTexas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

What’s even worse are the retired generals that are affiliated with moveon. Thankfully, there’s only a handful.


16 posted on 09/27/2007 7:59:27 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (Chuck Hagel makes Joe Biden look like a statesman!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Suzy Quzy

Clitons own moveon .org.


17 posted on 09/27/2007 8:01:38 AM PDT by Unicorn (Too many wimps around.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Flintlock

Clintons control moveon.org


18 posted on 09/27/2007 8:02:50 AM PDT by Unicorn (Too many wimps around.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Flintlock

Clintons control moveon.org


19 posted on 09/27/2007 8:02:59 AM PDT by Unicorn (Too many wimps around.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Dreagon

In the end, even though they knew better, Moveon.org couldn’t resist showing their true colors and making the same mistake their hippy forefathers made.....

....spitting on the troops.

Yep, and reinforced a four decade perception they are soft on National Defense...and debunked the laughable claim liberals make routinely ‘We support the troops!’

I can’t thank the two idiots running moveon.org enough.


20 posted on 09/27/2007 8:05:07 AM PDT by Badeye (Most human problems can be solved by the correct application of a mini gun in my experience.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson