"Another, less publicized aspect of the ad flap: Everyone but the
firefighters were paid actors. The firefighters posing in a firehouse was
"stock" film footage of volunteer firefighters -- shot and available for
purchase to the general public."

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4467791

2004 Campaign: A 'Shocking' Stumble

Reuters -Newsweek March 15 issue - The controversy over President George W.
Bush's new TV ads featuring firefighters and fleeting images of the 9/11
attacks threw campaign officials on the defensive-and raised questions about
the Bush team's ability to effectively spend its massive $150 million war
chest, some GOP insiders say.

The president's ad team, led by Austin, Texas-based media maven Mark
McKinnon, had carefully road-tested the spots in focus groups, and Bush
himself signed off. But the rollout of the ads, which argue that Bush has
made the country "safer, stronger," was quickly marred by charges from some
9/11 families that the Bush team was seeking to exploit the attacks for
political gain. One scene shows footage of a flag-draped coffin of a terror
victim; another has an American flag waving in front of World Trade Center
wreckage. <snip>

Another, less publicized aspect of the ad flap: Everyone but the
firefighters were paid actors.

"stock" film footage of volunteer firefighters -- shot and available for
purchase to the general public.

The flap is likely to put renewed attention on the White House's continuing
wrangle with the 9/11 Commission. Kristin Breitweiser, a leader of a 9/11
family group, charged it was "hypocritical" of the Bush team to use
September 11 when the president has refused to turn over sensitive
intelligence documents to the full commission and, more recently, insisted
that Bush himself will meet with the panel's chair and co-chair for only one
hour. Even some GOP panel members are miffed at the White House stand-and
blame it on administration lawyers.

--

Yang
a.a. #28
AthD (h.c.) conferred by the regents of the LCL
a.a. pastor #-273.15, the most frigid church of Celcius nee Kelvin
EAC Econometric Forecast and Socerey Division
Proudly plonked by Lani Girl and Crazyalec

The Bush 'balanced' budget: 1.2 trillion and worsening
The Bush 'economic' policy: -3 million jobs and counting
The Bush Iraq lie: -589 GIs, one friend's co-worker's son and mounting

Having Bush ***** up my country: Worthless