Today Show Uses 9/11 Relatives to Flog Bush Campaign over Use of WTC Images

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

For a second day, The Today Show continued its assault on the Bush campaign for its use of fleeting images of the WTC on 9/11 in its current round of campaign ads.

To be fair and accurate, I must say that Katie Couric's words themselves were not nearly so provocative or accusatory as those of the guests she chose to bring on.

The three guests, three women, were relatives of people who had died in the WTC.

One was a seethingly angry, partisan, Bush-hater. How's this for a formulation: "President Bush has only agreed to come before the 9/11 Commission for one hour. That's 2 seconds for every life that was lost."

The same woman said that she was frustrated with the Bush administration and "fighting to get the President to come before commission given that 3,000 people were murdered on his watch." Then, apparently a devotee of the Howard Dean/Cynthia McKinney school of history, she stated "the Bush administration did nothing to stop it despite all warnings they had and did nothing to mitigate things on the day of the attack."

Katie tipped her hand with this little Freudian slip. She referred to the Bush "ad blitz," then tried to recover, saying "uh, ad campaign, I should call it." She mentioned that some relatives were upset, but then addressed the one pro-Bush guest, saying: "I understand you're fine with it, you don't think it was inappropriate?"

The woman stated: "Prior to 9/11 we reacted to attacks very minimally and I appreciated the leadership of Pres. Bush. He realized it wasn't merely a crime but [part of a war.]

A second guest, who was clearly anti-Bush but not as virulent as the first guest said: "I don't think images of death and destruction on 9/11 should be used for political gain. The issues yes, but not the images."

To Katie's credit, she did ask "would you feel the same way if Kerry used them?" The woman claimed that she would, "asolutely."

Then it was back to the vituperative guest. "They were nice warm fuzzy ads, with nice music, but that's not my reality of 9/11. We need to examine Bush's actions on 9/11. On 9/11, he was in a classroom listening to children reading to him. He has stonewalled the 9/11 commission. The time, money and energy used to produce the ads should be used to cooperate with commission."

Giving Katie her due, she made the following statement:

"It's really hard to discuss the state of the country without mentioning a seminal event in our lives, the biggest news event in our lives - I know it wasn't a news event for you. It's Hard to totally stay away from it, isn't it?"

The Bush-supporting guest opined "I think the ads were done tastefully." News agencies use the ads all the time.

Guest #2 stated that "it's OK to use footage for news piece or historical retrospective. But not for political gain."

Katie concluded by stating that "I'm sure the controversty will continue." Which if Katie has anything to do with it, it certainly will.

[YaYa123]

Since when do your political enemies get to dictate whats in your campaign ads?

If that's the case:

Shame on John Kerry for using the American soldiers who died in the Viet Nam War as campaign props.

Shame on Bill Clinton for using the dead Americans in Oklahoma City to win re-election. "Mourner in Chief" was his nickname.

But everyone knows whats really going on here. Democrats want all references to the 9-11 leadership of President Bush declared off-limits in campaign ads.

[backhoe]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1091208/posts
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[moonman]

"To be fair and accurate, I must say that Katie Couric's words themselves were not nearly so provocative or accusatory as those of the guests she chose to bring on."

Thats why she had those people on the show. She didn't need to do what she otherwise would have done.

[wayoverontheright]

To Katie's credit, she did ask "would you feel the same way if Kerry used them?" The woman claimed that she would, "asolutely."

I'm not willing to give her any credit here because she knows the answer to the question, the Democrats won't bring up 9-11 because they know they were on the wrong side of it, the obvious answer just further demonizes Bush.

I believe the bulk of the families of the victims want to make sure the country is reminded from time to time, as half the country (we all know which half) is trying to sweep it under the rug. I bet these whiners were sought out some time ago by the media, they couldn't have been easy to find.

[snooker]

Some people will vote for Kerry regardless what he is or what he does.

Some people will watch the today show.

You can troll a 'botox gigolo' through a swamp, and some dumb gator will bite.

[onyx]

Not to mention the fact that each time they bash the ads, they replay them...FOR FREE! ;o)

Hadn't considered that angle. You are right! :-)

[W04Man]

Bump

http://W-04.com

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I'm not willing to give her any credit here because she knows the answer to the question [as to whether the guest would criticize use of 9/11 images if it were Kerry doing it].

True. But just raising the question, whatever the answer the guest gave, reminds viewers that many who are criticizing the ads do have a political motivation.

[AZFolks]

I am going to get blasted for this. I am not for showing this much deference to the "911 families." 911 belongs to me also. I cried, I cursed, I worried, I still fly the flag at my home and I don't want to allow them (or a small group of them) decide what is or is not "appropriate." I do believe the response of "outrage," (I wish I had a nickel for everyone who was outraged in the Country), is political itself. Am I the Lone Ranger here?

[moonman]

I agree. Arnold won in CA because of the irrational fear mongering and hatred displayed by the demonrats during the campaign. Fox News interviewed several Black women, whom never in their lives voted for a Republican, said they supported Arnold because of the demonrats dirty tricks.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I think you'll find significant agreement among many here. Of course sympathy should be shown to bereaved people. But that doesn't mean that they have the right to dictate policy on the related issues or that they own the images in some way.

[VRWC_minion]

This stuff is great. Bush gets free publicity and a ratings boost. If these ads were not effective they wouldn't be going bonkers but here is the rub.

the vast majority of folks think Bush did a wonderful job and it has been so good they have forgotten 911 to an extent. By bringing this up as an attack on Bush, it will remind folks and it will cause them to remember even as he gets attacked. It will increase his support. The rats have not thought this through.

[onevoter]

Just as interesting - will they be running footage of John Kerry testifying for Congress that those who fought in Vietnam were, "on a daily basis", raping, beheading, etc., etc. Why has the news media never even made mention of just how far his protest against the war went. The Bush ads are nothing compared to the outrage of John Kerry's testimony regarding his "band of brothers."

[Bringbackthedraft]

"I'm beginning to wonder how much the Kerry campaign is paying these victim family shills? Perhaps they'll be able to recover some of their campaign contributions."

Exactly! Funny how that woman (Gore 2000) in the trailer collecting soda cans came to mind.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

If these ads were not effective they wouldn't be going bonkers.

Exactly. The Dems are trying to take away the best arrow in W's quiver. I don't think it's going to work, but the Bush campaign people are going to have to think even more carefully about how they handle the related issues and images in future ads.

[Just mythoughts]

"Katie by her tone and words was actually quite reasonable. But query her motivation in presenting this as the show's lead segment and choosing such a blatantly partisan guest to launch such an assault on the President."

I can't watch "Katie". I did see Chrissy's replay of two women regarding the ads for President Bush.

What twists inside of me is the idea, and the action to do the very thing they accuse President Bush of doing. Repeating the "mantra" of the lying liberal "gods", replacing the remembrance of their love ones does give the word perversion a whole new meaning.

[Puppage]

The Today Show continued its assault on the Bush campaign for its use of fleeting images of the WTC on 9/11 in its current round of campaign ads.

Ya know.. 9-11 didn't just happen to the people who lost family on 9-11..it happened to ALL of America. WE WERE ATTACKED!!!!

They do not have a monopoly on 9-11 and, try as they may, I WILL NOT FORGET.

[mhking]

If President Bush has to stop using images of 9/11, then will John Kerry stop using images of a war where thousands of American lives were lost?

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[governsleastgovernsbest]

(Your tag line has legs. Still getting a chuckle from it.)

[angkor]

She said that Bush was not protecting the country on on "9/11 he was in some school room" instead.

This is the standard line of these people: "he was in a school room having milk and cookies." Of course he was not having milk and cookies, but that's how they like to present it.

Since the whole theme they present is completely irrational, you have to conclude that they're Rat Bush-haters, one and all.