GOP, using death for PR....again

[LeftHander]

For the GOP, Good PR Comes From Death

Brad Odland


What transpired at the end of George W. Bush's State of The Union address on February 2, 2005 was distasteful.

The GOP PR machine no doubt lead by Karl Rove created a spectacle of manufactured emotion less transparent than a badly acted soap opera. George W. Bush honored the men and women killed in action by pointing out the grieving parents of Marine Sgt. Byron Norwood. Janet and Bill Norwood seated behind the first lady and a another guest Safia Taleb al-Suhail. Safia, an Iraqi women whose father was killed by Saddam Hussein's regime was sitting easily within arms reach. The two women embraced in a seemingly spontaneous gesture that unfortunately was perfectly staged by the Bush handlers all the while the Republican mob shouted and cheered like devoted fanatics at a revival meeting with raised purple fingers.

Here again is the GOP riding the backs of the dead. From 911 to the soldiers who gave their lives in protecting America from the weapons of mass destruction that did not exist, the GOP and George W. Bush have taken every opportunity to shine in the public eye on the deaths of others.

More disgusting and disturbing is that, at the same time Republican members of congress raise purple stained fingers in a sign of supposed honor for the Iraqi elections. In reality it became a shallow PR ploy and had shades of a 1930s Nazi political rally.



Safia Taleb al-Suhail and Janet Norwood embrace in a Republican "made for TV moment." - AP Photo


Congressional republicans raised purple stained fingers in a bizarre and disturbing display of solidarity with President Bush's Iraqi policies. -- Charles Dharapak / Associated Press



http://wherearetheweapons.blogspot.com


I did not watch the SOTU. I listen to excerpts and when I heard of the "embrace" I nearly became ill at the thought of purple stained fasicts reaching up and shouting. It is almost to bizarre to believe.

If anyone doubts that that was not staged they should seek professional help because they have no grasp on reality.

Brad

[ewagner]

1. OK.....so we're not supposed to make comparisons

to the Third Reich!

How long can you NOT MAKE the comparison?

The Repubs are becoming more and more like them every day and we're not supposed to notice?

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Here's what I really don't get...

According to the "rules", Democrats are not allowed to make comparisons with 'Hitler' or 'Hussein' when it comes to Bush.

Talk about torture in Abu Graib (sp)? "It's not Bush's fault!" Talk about torture in Iraq? It's absolutely and without any doubt Saddam Hussein personally.

Talk about killing innocents in Iraq? "It's not Bush's fault!" Talk about killing innocents in Germany? It's absolutely and without any doubt Hitler personally.

Well...you get the gist.

Bush and the rest of the Wrongs always find a target that can be honed in on and held up in effigy for the masses. Ted Kennedy is another example--the symbolic image of everything liberal and bad.

We need to just stick with the message that Bush et al (the Wrongs, neocons, 'conservative' politicians, media with right-wing extremist agendas, pundits, AND their supporters) are all a gang of thugs. These thugs will do anything to their gain; and strike like snakes when they feel threatened (which is a constant state of perception for them).

To start it off, can some artistic talent create a comic along these lines? A horse's head with 'Social Security' written on it in bed beside a sleeping donkey. George Bush is standing on one side of the bed pointing and laughing. On the other side of the bed are a bunch of white guys (maybe one ethnic) holding up a stained finger.

[LostInAnomie]

2. I think any rational person would agree.

Too bad half the country is made up of irrational idiots who will fall for anything.

It doesn't help that every fucking news channel was swooning over the "touching moment" as well.

[Radio-Active]

3. more about Safia..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3048575

[LeftHander]

5. seems I recall another Iraqi at a SOTU

a few years ago....a defector that was feeding lots of disinfo to Bush and was guest of honor at the thirteen word SOTU...

Chalabi...