Bush Campaign Defends Ads With 9 / 11 Images

[Khephra]

snip............

Some families of the victims of the attacks are angry with Bush for airing the spots, which they called in poor taste and for the president's political gain.

``With all due respect, I just completely disagree, and I believe the vast majority of the American people will as well,'' Karen Hughes, a Bush campaign adviser, told ``The Early Show'' on CBS. ``September 11th was not just a distant tragedy. It's a defining event for the future of our country. ... Obviously, all of us mourn and grieve for the victims of that terrible day, but September 11 fundamentally changed our public policy in many important ways, and I think it's vital that the next president recognize that.''

snip........

Hughes said the ads are a tasteful reminder of what the country has been through the last three years.

``I can understand why some Democrats might not want the American people to remember the great leadership and strength the president and first lady Laura Bush brought to our country in the aftermath of that,'' she said.

more

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Bush-Political-Ads.html

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. Ugh...

Sick..

[Zeke]

12. Proverbs 21:19

"It's beter living in a desert land than with a contentious & vexing woman!" --- King Solomon

And that's Hughes.

She's so easy to denounce, but the media whores don't do it.

I hope firefighters and familes of 9/11 victims really make a stink over this.

[symbolman]

52. Here's the link to my flash movie work

called "Bush Knew - An American Requiem" -- it shows on a split screen Bush sitting on his ass for half an hour KNOWING we were under attack and doing NOTHING...

http://www.takebackthemedia.com/true911.html

Let if load and pass it around..

[lumpy]

59. Bush knew

The flash movie says it all. Bush has very explicit facial expressions. During the Goat reading he was very sober and worried, not his usual jovial wisecracking self. Good piece of work, Symbolman. Thanks to you and the truth we will certainly not forget 9/11 and the the indecisive actions of the unqualified leader of the US, Geo.W.Bush.

[PaDUer]

61. Did you notice on one of the ads...

right in the beginning, Elizabeth Smart? Watch it closely.

[ewagner]

2. This woman is truly delusional n/t

[robertarctor]

3. Yeah, Karen.

The great leadership and strength of a pathological liar and fascist demagogue.

[MrBenchley]

4. Was it when Chimpy read the kiddy book for an hour

Or when he bolted to Nebraska to hide that he was showing us this "great leadership and strength"?

Maybe when it was he showed up at ground zero, two days after reporters began asking why he hadn't gone yet, to announce how tough he was...

I know...it was when he told New Yorkers the air was safe even though it wasn't....

[The Stranger]

8. I think Chimpy liked that kiddy book and didn't want to be disturbed with

all of the adult stuff going on.

[DrDan]

14. I was thinking the same thing

a clip of AF-1 headed toward Louisiana with it's tail between it's legs would be appropriate, IMHO

[ithacan]

5. chutzpah!

isn't one definition a person who kills his parents and then pleads with the court for leniency because he's an orphan...

This is amazing. A tragedy that Bush did nothing to stop, that he refuses to take any responsibility for, that he ran away from.

The good thing is that they are on the defensive about this. Hopefully the pressure will keep up on this issue.

It is an absolute disgrace.

[Badger1]

6. These people

ar lower than whale shit. I'm disgusted, but not surprised.

[The Stranger]

9. I think you owe an apology to all of the whale shit in the world.

[Zeke]

17. Captain Ahab...

The white whale! The white whale!

Nope. Just Karen Hughes.

[displacedtexan]

7. Karen's devotion to her family (NOT) is now fair game!

She supposedly left the WH in order to spend more time with her family. Just another lie on a typical day in Bushland.

[Khephra]

15. Nah, that was a while back

She signed on to Bush's re-election staff a month or two back.

[TroglodyteScholar]

10. A reminder?

"Hughes said the ads are a tasteful reminder of what the country has been through the last three years."

Thank goodness for that...I was afraid that, despite the administration's over-the-top actions at home and abroud, people might actually be forgetting that Sept. 11 ever happened! Thank goodness the Bushies are here to remind us that we should be living in fear.

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[snippy]

18. What is "tasteful" about Bush standing atop the bodies of the victims

of his own incompetence and greed with their blood on his hands and proclaimimg his own magnificance? It is vile.

[Lugnut]

51. Tasteful?????

*s handlers wouldn't know tasteful if they tripped on it.

Just when you think your outrage has peaked......ZINGO!!!! I almost lost my coffee this morning when Ms Hughes was spewing her rhetoric.

[UpInArms]

11. these nasty pieces

are just disgusting.

the politicization of 9/11 images is beneath low and the defence of such is even worse.

Karen Hughes has to use a ladder to have a conversation with a slug.

[Malva Zebrina]

13. Just a bunch of cheap liars--

geez--"with all due respect"----"she disagrees" That makes no sense--she has no right to disagree with people who lost their loved ones, in any way shape or form. Who the hell does this chunky, large overbearing, bull of a woman get to do that? The arrogance spreads all the way round them. These people are monsters without the slightest bit of humaness about them.

Let them get in a fight with a whole lot of people that think it cheap to capitalize on these deaths for years and years. I hope they do, and I sense they probably think they have the whole campaign all sewed up with the media--they probably think they can just repeat this mantra over and over trying to convince decent Americans that Bush has his heart in the right place and those families are just wrong to say what they do.

I bet she, the clod, heavy gargoyle of the White HOuse, is thinking up ways to shut these families up as we speak.

Knowing these families, they would only be energized by this

[skypilot]

16. Why doesn't he go tell...

...the Independent Commission all about his great leadership and strength. We're still waiting.

[Gunit_Sangh]

19. I know Kerry/DNC won't do this but

<remember the great leadership and strength the president>

Wouldn't it be a great commercial showing * reading about pet goats for several minutes after being informed the country was under attack?

[MI Cherie]

23. There was a dual video clip showing a time line ...

... on one side it showed Bush* reading and the other side showed the horror happening in New York while he continued to read. Very powerful. Unfortunately, I can't find the link.

[MI Cherie]

20. They should be defensive ...

... for their shameless exploitation and tasteless political opportunism. They should be ashamed and apologize for being so offensive.

[RedEarth]

21. Karen, you just don't get it......do ya?

You and the rest of the republican attack machine are politicizing one of the most tragic events in our country.....this ad will bite you on the ass...you witch.

[Zeke]

22. Bully!

Well said.

I hope you're right.

[Journeyman]

24. I agree with Karen Hughes. . .

". . .September 11 fundamentally changed our public policy in many important ways, and I think it's vital that the next president recognize that.''


And I'm certain the newly-inaugurated Democratic President next January will certainly address the changes now needed to the screwed-up public policy decisions ShrubCo made in the wake of the September 11 tragedy. It can even be argued BushCo has done a service to the nation with these ads, illuminating for all the despicable nature of their exploitation of this tragedy for their short-term political gain.

[Bromd]

25. Bush in fantasy world

I watched the defense of Bush's add and have DLd his adds.

They call them Possible;e because Poor President Bush was caught in a declining recession economy.

Funny that considering that the Economy didn't officially start it's recession until March. Then again, you can't campaign that a recession is happening under one of the best economies in decades without causing it to some level.

He's using 9-11 in his adds, something I personally paints him as worse than the carpetbaggers of the south who moved to the south to take advantage of the hard times the people were in. Profiting while people starve in desperation while touting how much he's helping everyone though does seem an apropriate and accurate image when considering his actions. Unlike the Carpet Baggers of the South, herr Bush, has also taken from people's health, such as he did with his 'clean air' initiative, though the action is the same, much like the Carpet Baggers of the post Civil War Era, George Bush has sold the American people to his corporate buddies in a form that turns people into a form of indentured servents.

Since he got Saddam at a convient time (With still Yellow figs in December.) and since Bush has displayed what I call 'Friday Time' for releasing any bombshells to the American people to see Saturday because the media chooses not to be too 'hard' on him, I have little doubt that the mean old Osamma will be found between 2-6 weeks of the election in November.

It isn't appaling that he's been pushing his attacks against Kerry, claiming that he's against American's having control of thier lives. when at this time we American's have less freedom and no food in our stomachs.

[rocktivity]

31. Welcome to DU, Bromd!

:hi: Originally posted by Bromd:
...Herr Bush has also taken from people's health, such as he did with his 'clean air' initiative...

9/11 had its own "clean air" initiative: the Bush White House removed information in a report which indicated that the air around the World Trade Center was too hazardous for people to breathe. I guess losing nearly 3000 innocent lives wasn't enough. Are we going to lose more to respiratory ailments five to ten years from now?

:headbang:
rocknation

P.S. I think you'll find this very interesting...

[JetCityLiberal]

45. Bush makes me sick

When I first read about b*sh using the firefighters in his ads it pissed me off. Now seeing the link you posted rocknation it brings back many of the wrong things he did that day and since then.

My stomach is so upset right now and I am mad.

I will also never forget that not only did b*sh allow the planes to hit the second tower and the Pentagon with no orders to shoot down, but after all non military planes were grounded he allowed(and I am sure facilitated) the rounding up of the Bin Laden family that was in the United States, put them on a plane and let them escape to Saudi Arabia.

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

JetCityLiberal

[Mike Daniels]

26. She used the same exact phrasing when she was on Fox & Friends today

I was reading the quote above and couldn't believe it when I saw it was taken from a CBS show given that the same exact sound bite came out of mouth when she was on Fox this morning.

I would think this would mean they knew they were going to catch hell for these ads and the worded this defense in advance.

[Athame]

27. and they railed against the poor taste and political abuse

of Senator Wellstone's memorial service.

[MI Cherie]

32. Plus they exploited it and used ...

... it as a fundraiser! Disgusting.

[Rose Siding]

28. There's a simple response to this ad

Show the same footage and ask "Who was in charge when this happened?"

It's harsh but doesn't *everyone* have at least some lingering questions about why NO one in govt has taken any responsibility? NO one's been held accountable for the several screw ups that were made, which may have prevented it- Bush totally owns that, at least. Give it to him.

[dicknbush]

42. Who was in charge and ...

Why won't he answer questions about what he knew and when he knew it???

[SmokeyBlues]

29. Consistent

Hughes isn't saying anything that she or others in her gang haven't said previously. They just repeat the same old tired stuff ad nauseam and pretend that the majority of American people are in line (for example, "I believe the vast majority of the American people...") with their perverse point of view.

The reality is that the Replicants are going to do anything and everything in their slimy power to retain power. That's expected and even understood, although I find their tactics disgusting. But to me the real criminals in all of this are the legions of media whores who time after time allow these people to lie, distort, defame, and misrepresent with impunity, or at least a reasonable challenge to their lies.

Instead, what we get from the media whores at the conclusion of yet another bald-faced lying session is that weird smile that seems to indicate a sick kind of attraction (think Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction after she and Michael Douglass just ended a near dance to the death in her apartment) and a meek 'thank you for coming' comment of gratitude.

I recall the comedian George Wallace saying that his sequel to the film Driving Miss Daisey would be Let the Bitch Walk. Well, my parting words as a journalist (and I'm not mistaking media whores for journalists) to someone who just finished shamelessly lying to my face would be, "get the f*ck outta here."

But that's just me. B-)

[Beetwasher]

30. Here's What the FIREFIGHTERS Have To Say!

Fire Fighters President Says Use of Fire Fighter Images in New Bush Ads Smack of Political Opportunism

WASHINGTON, March 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO (IAFF), Harold Schaitberger, issued the following statement today after President Bush unveiled new political ads that use images of fire fighters in September 11, 2001 attacks for political gain:

-- As Bush Trades on Heroism of Fire Fighters, His Homeland Security Funding Cuts Hurt Fire Fighters and Communities --

--snip--

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=155-03032004

[DinahMoeHum]

34. and don't forget, John Kerry has them on his side !!

look under www.johnkerry.com and then look for "Firefighters For Kerry"


:kick:

[pinto]

33. MSNBC asking for comments about use of 9/11 in political ads:

their email address:
[e-mail]

[bushisanidiot]

35. Leadership Is Hiding From Making Command Decisions During A National

Crisis?? President Scaredshitless did absolutely NOTHING to protect his country on 9/11. If anyone had the power to command that the hijacked planes be intercepted, it was President Clueless.

It's amazing to me that Rove is stupid enough to use 9/11 as a campaign prop. It's like the Japanese Emporer using images of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings to brag to his people that he was a great leader.

Idiots..

[DS1]

36. If they are campaigning with "safer, more secure" that pretty much

eliminates the possibility of another massive strike being allowed to happen, as has been speculated here.

In fact, they ought to pray that nothing happens if this is going to be their motif.

[Occulus]

47. Point.

And a good one.

Unless, of course, they wish to use such as an excuse for martial law and canceled elections- which, somehow, I can see them doing.

[otohara]

37. first lady "Laura Bush" ???

pardon me, but I don't recall first stepford wife doing anything. Georgie wanted all the spotlight during tragic events

[FlaGranny]

38. Let them go right on believing that the ads

are "tasteful" and remind us how good a "leader" * is. It might be true - but only for his strongest loyalists. Those ads are probably good for Democrats. I hope the Democrats come up with a great ad illustrating those * ads and showing them for what they are - the worst kind of exploitation of an event that should not have happened and would not have happened had we had decent leadership in the months before the event. "Bring it on" Georgie.

[dicknbush]

39. CALL THE WHITE HOUSE AND BURN UP THE LINESW

Switchboard: 202-456-1414
202 456 1111

BE SURE TO USE ADJECTIVES LIKE DISGUSTING, CONTEMPTABLE, DISPICABLE, SELF SERVING ,INSENSATIVE, I THINK THEY ARE GETTING LOTS OF CALLS!

[David__77]

40. FAMILIES of 9/11 victims must be featured in commercials criticizing this.

That would be powerful if done properly. It would have been risky before, but Bush has made it acceptable.

[The Blue Knight]

41. Bush is cooked,

[wjittermoss]

43. Hey, I want people to remember. It will remind them that it happened

under Bush as he sat in an elementary school reading...even after he learned of a second attack.

[wjittermoss]

44. Kerry should make an ad NOT showing WTC but showing Bush

being told about the attacks as he sat in an elementary school with a clock superimposed from the time of the first attack to the subsequent attacks. No one has to say a word...just a clip with the heading
"Steady leadership? Yeah, real steady!"

[Nashyra]

46. Just tried to call

Line is busy, will try again. Keep calling. I intend to let them know that I am a flight attendant with American Airlines and will rally my co-workers to raise objections about using this footage especially when the resident sat reading a goat story after my colleagues were killed.

[progressivebydesign]

48. Karen Hughes is a walking barf-alert!

:puke:

I do have to admit, it's been so much fun to see headline after headline for the past few months that begins with: Bush defends, Powell defends, the White House defends, Bush campaign defends.. Remember, not so long ago when we couldnt' get ANY story to stick on them? Now they are on the defensive. This issue should stay in the forefront, and it should always be framed with the fact that BUSH has underfunded, stymied, and ignored the 9/11 Commission. Shameless bastard.

[TNOE]

49. If YOU Care - Go Here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1193258

[PatGund]

50. Sickening, but.....

Par for the course for this administration. Their excuse for a lot of things has been 9-11, so why not exploit the images of that day in his attempt to become elected for the first time. Never mind what the families think - they aren't likely to vote for him anyway after the way he's stonewalled the 9-11 commission.

Actually, what we *want* the American people to remember is the leadership he showed that day - namely scurrying from hole to hole like a frightened rat after finishing reading a children's book.

And remember, the GOP convention is in New York, as close to the 9-11 anniversary as possible. Expect them to try and capitalize on it as much as possible. I wouldn't be surprised if Bush gave his acceptance speech at ground zero. Sickened, but not surprised.

[readmylips]

53. Really...Don't forget it took bushie 3 days to face the nation...

after he was hiding from state to state. He addressed the nation, not even in person. What a coward. He was like a father/mother who runs out to protect himself/herself when the house is on fire, leaving his/her children to burn to a crisp. Bastard!

[Bromd]

54. Bush Cooking - 9-11 Ad

He opened the floodgate by using 9-11 which was before this time considered to be a 'taboo' subject that would be avoided during the elction by the 'smart' political commentators.

Too bad it doesn't seem that Bush listened to them, perhaps it has something to do with his admission that he doesn't read the newspaper _at all_. Since his wife claimsthey read it together in bed every morning maybe he wasn't counting the sports section.

[Crachet2004]

55. Does America at large know Laura killed her boyfriend...

while still a teenager? They are hitting bottom if they are relying on Americas 'love' of Laura!

If he is gonna use her in adds, she is not off limits!

She should be an easy target...kind of has that 'Daughter of Ming the Merciless' cast to her face!

And what kind of mother has a daughter picked up for underage drinking three times? My, my, my!

As to Karen being back-BFD! That just means we get to sing 'Ding Dong, the Witch is dead' in November! HAHAHAHA!!!

[SammyWinstonJack]

56. I thought this was about the victim's families, who are angry about

the ads politicizing 9/11? What's this, "I can understand why some Democrats..."crap? When has bush* and his lump displayed "great leadership and strength" ever, let alone in the aftermath of 9/11?

If the shoe were on the other foot, the Grand Hypocrisy Party along with their puppy dog press would be screaming their collective heads off. Remember the Wellstone Memorial?

[robbob]

57. That their typical MO

Anytime ANYONE criticizes them over ANY issue, they immeadiately blame "some democrats" for "politicizing" the issue. Be it *'s abysmal record on the environment, the ever increasing deaths of soldiers in Iraq, the failing economy, there is never any cause that justifies attacking pResidunce awol, in their eyes. I read the other day a White House aid accusing the council of concerned scientists (that group who criticized the WH of covering up evidence of looming environmental catastrophy) of "playing politics".

They are scum, their tactics never change, and I'm damn sick and tired of waiting for some reporter to call them on this bs. Wouldn't you love to see the look on Karen's face if some reporter reminded her that many family members of the victims of 9-11 were behind some of the criticism? Maybe they could ask her if she believes these individuals are "playing politics" with the deaths of their loved ones.

[Beetwasher]

58. THE ADS ARE BEING PULLED!!!

Supposedly...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1193906

If this is true, Bwhahahahahaha!

[struggle4progress]

60. First responders ...

(i.e. medics/firefighters) are grumpy since B*S* has cut funding. My local 11PM news (where bleeders usually lead) had some really unhappy first responders protesting the Bush ads.

[IndianaGreen]

62. Giuliani defends Bush's use of 9/11 images

Rudy was a true hero on 9/11!

Giuliani defends Bush's use of 9/11 images
Thursday, March 4, 2004 Posted: 10:54 PM EST (0354 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who won worldwide acclaim for his handling of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that devastated his city, said Thursday that using images from that day in campaign ads for President Bush is both "appropriate" and "relevant."

"The reality is that President Bush played a very, very big role in bringing our country through the worst attack in our history," he said. "So it's an appropriate thing for him to point out as part of his record, just like Democrats are going to attack parts of his record and say, 'We think it should have been done differently.' "

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/04/elec04.prez.giuliani.bush/index.html

[bonemachine]

63. CNN Poll

Created: Thursday, March 04, 2004, at 09:03:46 EST
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/POLLSERVER/results/9474.content.html">Is it appropriate for President Bush to use images from the 9/11 attacks in campaign ads?

Yes 37% 122434 votes

No 63% 211712 votes
Total: 334146 votes


</a>

[gate of the sun]

64. the people who were directly affected are not as

important as those brainwashed by faux news and cnn get a clue. "A tasteful reminder" that makes me sick I'd like them to have a tasteful reminder of what it has been like for us to have bush as president.

[truthisfreedom]

65. that's right. now we KEEP bushco on the defensive. at every turn.

that's how we win this thing.