Bush 9/11 Exploitation Ads: Kerry Campaign Response! And Firefighters!

[Beetwasher]

�George Bush talks about steady leadership in his new multi-million dollar, revisionist history ad campaign, but unfortunately you can�t provide �steady leadership�Ewithout credibility. And George Bush has lost credibility with the American people. He said he would create 3.9 million jobs, but 3 million more people have lost their jobs. He said he would make health care more affordable, but 2.8 million more have lost their health insurance. He said he would cut the federal debt by $1 trillion, but his policies have added $1 trillion more, leaving the federal debt at over $7 trillion. Most astonishing, George Bush�s ad features a shot of the wreckage of that tragic September day almost 3 years ago, and the firefighters who so bravely worked to save lives.What he doesn�t tell you is that only 10 percent of fire departments across the nation have personnel and equipment to respond to a building collapse, only enough radios to equip half the firefighters on a shift, and breathing apparatus for only one-third. The only thing steady about this President is his steadily leading our country in the wrong direction. It�s time for a change in America, and time to get things back on track.�E
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0303b.html

Firefighters had this 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

[Melinda]

1. I'm encouraged and impressed.

Great response and support. :thumbsup:

[sandnsea]

2. Oh my god, read this!!!

Lovin' those firefighters!!! Holy shit!!!

"I'm disappointed but not surprised that the President would try to trade on the heroism of those fire fighters in the September 11 attacks. The use of 9/11 images are hypocrisy at its worst. Here's a President that initially opposed the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and now uses its first anniversary as cause to promote his re-election. Here is a President that proposed two budgets with no funding for FIRE Act grants and still plays on the image of America's bravest. His advertisements are disgraceful.

"Bush is calling on the biggest disaster in our country's history, and indeed in the history of the fire service, to win sympathy for his campaign. Since the attacks, Bush has been using images of himself putting his arm around a retired FDNY fire fighter on the pile of rubble at ground zero. But for two and a half years he has basically shortchanged fire fighters and the safety of our homeland by not providing fire fighters the resources needed to do the job that America deserves.

"The fact is Bush's actions have resulted in fire stations closing in communities around the country. Two-thirds of America's fire departments remain under-staffed because Bush is failing to enforce a new law that was passed with bipartisan support in Congress that would put more fire fighters in our communities. President Bush's budget proposes to cut Homeland Security Department funding for first responders by $700 million for next year and cuts funding for the FIRE Act, a grant program that helps fire departments fund equipment needs, 33 percent by $250 million. In addition, state and local programs for homeland security purposes were reduced $200 million.

"We're going to be aggressive and vocal in our efforts to ensure that the citizens of this country know about Bush's poor record on protecting their safety and providing for the needs of the people who are supposed to respond in an emergency."

[Beetwasher]

4. I Know, It's a Friggin' Political Gold Mine

n/t

[sandnsea]

5. I wanted to post it

I thought you didn't because of the DU rules limitation, but I could because it's 4 paragraphs per post. I think so anyway. Or that you can post press releases in full. One or the other. It was friggin' awesome!!! Sometimes people don't click links and I wanted to make sure everybody read it. Oh, man, it's beautiful. I'm jumping up on down on my computer chair!!! They are not going to be able to move without one group or other smackin' 'em down!!

[jpgray]

3. Good response. (nt)

[aquart]

6. Exploited groups bite back?

George never gets that when you screw 'em, sometimes they don't lie back and enjoy it.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KC21304]

9. Bush is not using fire fighters because he has no fire fighter support.

He is using the images and footage from 9/11. There is a difference.

[sandnsea]

10. They're neutralizing 9/11

Completely and totally. Bush won't be able to use it AT ALL. Every time he tries, those firefighters are going to stand up and say BULLSHIT! It is friggin' awesome!

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Leilani]

13. Not to mention New York

New Yorkers probably hate Bush with more passion than any other place in the country.

He has used the tragedy to prop up his whole admin.

His fight against unions in Homeland Sec Dept.

Lying about air quality at ground zero.

Stonewalling the commission....continually.

Using 9/11 as the reason for his illegal war against Iraq.

Picking NY for convention, etc etc.

[Gloria]

8. Good...BUT has the media picked up on it????

It's great to see the press releases, but now the job is to get the rebuttals on the air and in the correct sound bite form so that the media toadies can't spin them all over the place!!!

That's what I'm waiting for....without it, the public will never get the message.

[democratreformed]

21. Right you are. This is a critical question. Anyone have the answer? n/t

[damnyankee2601]

22. The answer is:

MAKE them pay attention. Everybody E-mail the press release to their newsrooms. Some lackey will get tired of hitting the delete button and then it will get read (by accident.)

[democratreformed]

23. Great idea.

Hopefully, it'll work.

[damnyankee2601]

26. Here: Let's make it easy. Cut and paste.

�George Bush talks about steady leadership in his new multi-million dollar, revisionist history ad campaign, but unfortunately you can�t provide �steady leadership�Ewithout credibility. And George Bush has lost credibility with the American people. He said he would create 3.9 million jobs, but 3 million more people have lost their jobs. He said he would make health care more affordable, but 2.8 million more have lost their health insurance. He said he would cut the federal debt by $1 trillion, but his policies have added $1 trillion more, leaving the federal debt at over $7 trillion. Most astonishing, George Bush�s ad features a shot of the wreckage of that tragic September day almost 3 years ago, and the firefighters who so bravely worked to save lives.What he doesn�t tell you is that only 10 percent of fire departments across the nation have personnel and equipment to respond to a building collapse, only enough radios to equip half the firefighters on a shift, and breathing apparatus for only one-third. The only thing steady about this President is his steadily leading our country in the wrong direction. It�s time for a change in America, and time to get things back on track.�E
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0303b.html

Firefighters had this 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


E-Mail Contacts: http://www.mediawhoresonline.com/contactinfo.htm

[democratreformed]

25. Just found this:

9/11 Victims' Kin Angered by Bush Ads

WASHINGTON - Relatives of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and a firefighters union are angry that President Bush's new campaign ads include images of the destroyed World Trade Center and firefighters carrying a flag-draped coffin through the rubble.

They say the ads are in poor taste and accuse Bush of exploiting the attacks.

SNIP
Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, on Thursday called the ads disgraceful and said they should be pulled.

SNIP

Until Bush cooperates with the federal commission that is investigating the nation's preparedness before the attacks and its response "by testifying in public under oath ... he should not be using 9/11 as political propaganda," said Kristen Breitweiser, of Middletown Township, N.J., whose husband, Ronald Breitweiser, 39, died in the World Trade Center.

Link: http://www.start.earthlink.net/newsarticle?cat=9&aid=D813LJVG1_story

At least it's a start.

[Kathleen04]

12. Excellent, they're right on top of things! n/t

[Poiuyt]

14. GOP convention in NY

I'm sure they were hoping to capitalize on 9/11. Will this backfire on them?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

15. We can only hope.

[TreasonousBastard]

16. I think we can make it backfire on them.

[Tim_in_HK]

17. WHOAAA!

That is the right spirit!

[Beetwasher]

18. Kick

Morning!

[ChiefJoseph]

19. Unbelievable.

And here I thought, naively, that the President would not stoop to using 9/11 in his re-election ads. Not because he didn't want to, but because one of his underlings would have the good sense to tell him that the American people would be revolted.

this is absolutely despicable. I used to be nervous about our prospects, but this sort of thing is making me think the election is going to be a blow out.

[NoPasaran]

20. I love it when our side fights back!

When we fight back we win because we are right.

Give 'em hell Kerry!

[redqueen]

24. This is why MoveOn is saying give money to KERRY

He can place the ads in the critical markets to make this STICK.

Great job. :)

[Beetwasher]

27. Yup

I donated!