| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Harry Hope" |
| Date: |
24 Sep 2007 06:57:04 PM |
| Object: |
In praise of MoveOn.org for its wonderfully effective ad. |
http://www.americablog.com/2007/09/one-strong-ad.html
Monday, September 24, 2007
One Strong Ad
by John Bruhns (DC)
For the past couple weeks MoveOn.org's ad “General Betray Us” has
dominated the news and even managed to be condemned by the U.S.
Senate.
It has gone so far as having almost every Presidential candidate put
to the “patriotism test” by the media with questions related to their
feelings toward the ad.
It even got the President on record saying “I think it’s disgusting.”
As if it’s treason – well America, it’s not.
This is a quite common tactic used in modern day politics, and some
might argue that it originated with the Bush/Cheney 2000 campaign when
they ruthlessly attacked John McCain in the South Carolina primary.
They rallied the right wing against McCain with accusations of being
the candidate of gay people,
http://www.friendsofmccain.com/news/dspnews.cfm?id=257 having an
African-American love child,
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/03/21/the_anatomy_of_a_smear_campaign/?page=1
and that he was not mentally capable of being Commander in Chief
because of his time as prisoner of war in Vietnam caused him to be
“the Manchurian Candidate.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A44999-2004Apr26¬Found=true
I totally disagree with John McCain and his politics, but to this day,
as a veteran, I am still outraged by what Bush did to him in 2000 with
his Rovian style, cut-throat, political smear machine.
To me that is “DISGUSTING.”
Then it went on to Senator Max Cleland who gave up most of his body in
service to his country.
We all know how they despicably attempted to put a true American
patriot like Max Cleland into the same category as Bin Laden in a
campaign ad for one of their fellow draft dodgers – Saxby Chambliss.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxby_Chambliss
That is just as low as you can go.
To me that is “DISGUSTING.”
Then came the presidential campaign of 2004 with the notorious “swift
boat veterans for truth.”
They continuously bashed John Kerry’s military service in Vietnam on
behalf of two cowardly draft dodgers like George W. Bush and *****
Cheney.
At the Republican National Convention hundreds displayed purple band
aids on their faces mocking John Kerry’s multiple purple hearts.
To me that is “DISGUSTING.”
Bush didn’t stop with John Kerry.
He decided to attack the entire Democratic Party when they began to
initiate legislation that would bring the war in Iraq to an end.
Bush said the Democratic Party is “now the party of cut and run.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/28/AR2006092801844.html
Coming from a man who knows damn well how to “cut and run” from a war
he supported (Vietnam) - that is “DISGUSTING.”
In November of 2005 Congressman John Murtha made himself ripe for the
picking
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/17/AR2005111700794.html
by Bush's henchman who will search the entire planet to dig up anyone
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewSpecialReports.asp?Page=/SpecialReports/archive/200601/SPE20060113a.html
to counter decorated war heroes who question Bush's and Cheney's war,
again - "DISGUSTING."
But thanks to Senator James Webb, people saw right through the lies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/18/opinion/18webb.html?ex=1295240400&en=f3e1d4cd5b25ed71&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
It doesn’t stop at the top though – it goes down to the lower levels
as well.
And for the most part you don’t hear about these incidents.
When I returned home from Iraq I attended a Kerry/Edwards rally in
Kansas City where I was greeted by the “Young Republicans” carrying
signs that read “Students for Bush.”
Outraged at the sight of it I asked them “If you support George W.
Bush and his war in Iraq – why don’t you join the military and go over
and fight?”
In response they screamed at me “traitor," "you support terrorists,"
and "move to France.”
I will never forget how I was treated by a group of able-bodied males,
who fully supported and advocated for a war I fought, but lacked the
courage to go anywhere near.
To me that is “DISGUSTING.”
Up until now the swiftboating of heroic combat veterans was all fair
game for Bush, his cronies in Congress, and his minuscule portion of
left over supporters (including Fox News).
The ad from MoveOn.org against Petraeus finally woke America up to the
reality of what George W. Bush has done for the last 7 years of his
tragic presidency.
It’s just sad that no one came out on the national level in a similar
manner in which they did to MoveOn.org to condemn Bush for his attacks
on Cleland, Kerry, Murtha, The Democratic Party, and other patriots
who wore the uniform in service to our great nation.
I am not writing this to attack General Petraeus.
But when a General testifies to Congress on the so called success of a
failed policy he puts himself out there for those who disagree to
practice their first amendment rights.
General Petraeus, with all due respect, could not even say that what
we are doing in Iraq is making America safer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjpD46yLPvc
He even had the audacity to suggest that the surge has been so
successful that we can draw down 30,000 troops by July of 2008.
The surge was put in place to establish a secure environment for
political reconciliation to take place in Iraq among multiple warring
factions.
Well folks, the Iraqi government practically collapsed during the
surge.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/2007/09/06/2007-09-06_iraq_government_near_collapse_secret_rep.html
We had the bloodiest summer to date during the surge.
And by next summer General Petraeus is going to draw down the surge?
Then what?
We will be right back to square one – Donald Rumsfeld’s plan of fewer
troops in a completely hostile civil war without end.
All General Petraeus’ testimony accomplished was a smokescreen for
George W. Bush to hide behind and deny reality for the rest of his
presidency.
The reality is that the war in Iraq is Bush’s failure, and he will
continue to use people like General Petraeus to carry out his needless
war in Iraq for the duration of his presidency while our troops die on
a daily basis.
I PLACE THE BLAME COMPLETELY ON GEORGE W. BUSH.
I’m glad the ad from MoveOn.org raised awareness among Bush’s loyal
followers who for so long took pleasure in throwing decorated combat
veterans under the bus just because those veterans had the courage and
the right to disagree.
Right or wrong - my hat is off to MoveOn.Org !
John Bruhns
Iraq War Veteran
Legislative Representative
Americans Against Escalation In Iraq
www.IraqCampaign.org
________________________________________________
Hear hear
Harry
.
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