Clench-Jawed Katie Uses 9/11 Widow to Bash Bush TV Ads

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

There are mornings like this one when you don't have to wait for Katie Couric to open her mouth to know that she's on the warpath. In her just-completed segment, it was enough to see Couric's grim, clench-jawed, tight-eyed, black-garbed look to know that Bush presidential adviser Karen Hughes was going to be in for a bumpy ride.

Couric did let Hughes get in one statement before going on the attack. After Katie's clenched-jawed greeting, Hughes did manage to say: "these ads say a lot about the American people and the shared experiences we've had over the last three years. Sometimes when you're living history it's hard to realize it. The President has great confidence in the American people, a stark contrast with the negative tone of the Democrats."

But then Katie went on the offensive, immediately grabbing her nuclear weapon from the liberal arsenal.

Couric: "There are a number of images of Ground Zero in these ads. A 9/11 widow has said she is offended. She said that 'with 3,000 people killed on the President's watch it takes an awful lot of audacity to use these images. It is in bad taste.'"

Hughes was not intimidated. She politely but firmly took issue, stressing that it was important to remind the American people of what they have been through.

But Katie came back to the charge: "at the same time is it appropriate to use those images for campaign purposes?" she asked, grim-faced.

Remember that when John Kerry starts running ads highlighting his service in Vietnam, where 58,000 US soliders and millions of civilians died. Will Katie be questioning Kerry's decency and good taste in "exploiting" those images?

Next, Katie tried a pre-emptive strike on any possible negative advertising against Kerry.

Q. "Will there be another series specifically targeting John Kerry and when will they run?"

Hughes: "Fairly soon we'll begin talking about Kerry and his record. He has voted against defense systems we're using to win war against terrorism and against intelligence."

Of course we all remember the tough questioning that Katie gave to the various Dem candidates over the course of the primaries for the endless commercials they ran bashing President Bush. Or maybe not.

Katie: "Iraq is never mentioned in the ads. Why is that? Are his campaign advisers afraid he might be vulnerable on that issue?"

Hughes: "We've just begun. I've just come back from Afghanistan where people are grateful that we've rid the country of an oppressive dictatorship and I'm sure the people of Iraq feel the same way."

Katie: "Exit polls among Ohio voters show that by far the most important issue is the economy, with few mentioning Iraq. Since by 'conservative estimates' more than two milion jobs have been lost how do you feel the President can convince the people the economy is strong and getting stronger if it is still on the forefront of people's minds?"

Of course Katie didn't mention that the people polled in Ohio were Dem primary voters, a very partisan, Bush-hating, liberal demographic.

Hughes had an excellent response, one we can expect to be hearing much more of: "Not only have we recently had the strongest growth in the last 20 years, but unemployment, while it will always be a concern for the President, is lower than the average rate in the 70s, 80s, 90s and first Clinton first term. Continuing the President's policies of low taxes, less government regulation and intrusion will work."

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Hughes did an excellent job of keeping her cool and responding with substance. She's about the best surrogate I've seen going. Better than RNC Chair Ed Gillepsie, though in fairness he seems to have improved in recent weeks.

In any case, this was Katie at her acid, partisan worst.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today Show ping.

[Lion in Winter]

I think it is time for a boycott of katie's show's sponsers.

[The G Man]

I'm sure the Clinton campaign never used ads that had tragedies as their backdrop. (/sarcasm)

[anniegetyourgun]

Somehow the standards of behavior for R's are always different than those the media holds D's to, eh? Katie will always have selective memory and questioning techniques. She is, after all, a liberal Democrat. I don't know why folks on the right don't answer her questions with something like, "well, as a Democrat, you should already know the answer you want to that question Katie."

Karen is the ultimate professional. I do hope she'll be up to bat often.

[MEG33]

You are just trying to entice me into watching that wretched Katie so I can see Hughes.

[freedom1st]

Thanks for the report. Couric is Eva Braun reincarnate.

[The Wizard]

so who is katie screwing to keep her job, it ain't her abilities......

and once NBC realizes they'd have a bigger audience if they dropped her...what do you think NBC will do...

[BikePacker]

Isn't about time "Katie" gets replaced with someone a bit younger?

She's beginning to look like one of those 47 y/o used up hookers.

[Arrowhead1952]

The perky one and JF'ing Kerry are sooooooo pre 9/11.

[nuconvert]

Hughes is tough. Sounds as though she handled Katie well.

[Waco]

Would the widow's husband want her slobbering after the queer-lovin RATS? Katy is just an overrated news reader. Way overrated. Will the FEC take note of her obvious political campaigning?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Hughes is tough. Sounds as though she handled Katie well.

Exactly. I felt Karen struck the perfect note. She didn't respond to Couric's obvious hostility, nor was she intimidated. She kept a smile on her face but managed to get her views across, and did so in a manner that didn't sound like she was reading from a list of talking points.

[chiller]

Resist. governsleast is making it possible to keep one eye on the libs without patronizing their media division. Her ratings are tanking, let's not reverse the trend.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Sounds as though she handled Katie well.

I'd like to handle Katie well.

[AppyPappy]

The media is in full spin mode trying to spin 9/11 as off the table. This will be a full media attack.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Give it a shot and let us know what you think.

Katie's guest should always be prepared for the worst when they turn up for an interview and note that she's having one of her Woman in Black days. I swear I think it's possible Couric did it intentionally to show subtle solidarity with the 9/11 widow whom she quoted.

[Lee'sGhost]

"I'm sure the Clinton campaign never used ads that had tragedies as their backdrop."

Why use it as a backdrop when the candidate was a tragedy himself?

[AppyPappy]

If Bush wanted to win this, he would go after the media for trying to make 9/11 go away.

[Lee'sGhost]

"Exit polls among Ohio voters show that by far the most important issue is the economy, . . ."

So, then, why does it bother you that the Bush ads used the WTC footage? You should be doing backflips that Dubya is, by your estimation, focusing on the wrong issues.

[Diogenesis]

GOLDEN OLDIE FROM THE INVASION OF BAGHDAD

Couric, representing NBC (and French interests):
"We (at NBC) all hope and pray that Saddam escaped harm, and hopefully fled to Syria."

[Trueblackman]

Well you all know this was coming because liberals have declared war on this President and will use ever like minded poll and ad to have conservatives believe there a liberal ground swell out there that Bush can't overcome.

[The G Man]

"The media is in full spin mode trying to spin 9/11 as off the table. This will be a full media attack."

You nailed it Pappy. They're going to a fullcourt press to try and move public sentiment against using 9/11 in the campaign.

The Bush camp needs to get out in front of this thing and smack the media around a bit before its too late.

[angkor]

The evil and hypocritical Katie Couric weighs in again on morality and "good taste": "Tim, not only domestically but throughout the world September 11th was such a unifying event in many ways and there was an outpouring of sympathy from so many countries worldwide and I was noticing the front page of the New York Times this morning, an article: 'Foreign Views of U.S. Darken After September 11th. In the two years since the view of the United States as a victim of terrorism that deserved the world's sympathy and support has given way to a widespread vision of America as an imperial power that has defied world opinion through unjustified and unilateral use of military force.' Things have changed so dramatically in that arena as well."

Katie Couric foreground commentary to Tim Russert, as children recited the names of victims at the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony on 09/15/2003

[MEG33]

I just got back to see Karen on Fox.She answers the question well on why use 911..a defining moment in Bush's Presidency (and our nation's history).

[Right_in_Virginia]

A 9/11 widow has said she is offended

With all due respect to the widow, 9/11 is not about her.

9/11 was a declaration of war against the United States; and I thank God our CIC understands that and is not afraid to remind the American people.

[netmilsmom]

You are so brave!
I'm not even watching this and my stomach is flip flopping.

[Loyal Buckeye]

The more the RATs and the RAT Media complain about the commercials the more 9/11 is again brought to the viewers' attention.

GWB gets the benefit of running the ads and then gets the benefit of the media rerunning them at no charge.

All the bitching from the RATs cannot override the effect of images of 9/11.

[DollarBill]

I'm sure the Clinton campaign never used ads that had tragedies as their backdrop. (sarcasm)


Of course they wouldn't, they'll have a Democratic Convention! I'll never forget the '96 convention in Chicago - otherwise know as Victim Night! Victim after victim after victim... Lost my job, lost my leg, lost my benefits...without you President Clinton, I can't do anything!

And let us never forget the Wellstone convention (funeral).

Nope, the Dems would never use a sad situation for their own political gain! The politics of emotion is their M.O.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Obviously any use of 9/11 images or themes must be done tastefully and sensitively. The current crop of ads, with their fleeting, limited images, do that.

Given that the war on terrorism is the most pressing issue facing our country, a candidate would be failing in his duty if he didn't address it.

For that matter, note that Katie suggested to Karen that the absence in the TV ads of references to Iraq suggests Bush feels he is vulnerable on the issue. If 9/11 had been omitted, Katie would have been making the same claim about that.

With Couric, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't, so long as you're an eee-vil Republican.

[Dog]

I am so tired of this spin...

Katie: "Exit polls among Ohio voters show that by far the most important issue is the economy, with few mentioning Iraq

It was a DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR DEMOCRATIC VOTERS!

[Maigrey]

So, I wonder if Katie is mad because she thinks she has a monopoly on how to feel about that horrible day, or is she mad because she doesn't want people to remember the positive actions that came out of such evil?

I hope you took your meds this morning. Sounds like we'd all need them.

[mware]

I was listening to Curtis and Kuby this morning, and a firefighter called in from NYC. He told both Curtis and Kuby that if you go into any Fire Station kitchen you will not find anyone backing Kerry. He was really ticked off that Kerry has all those Firefighters for Kerry signs at his appearances

[hellinahandcart]

You made me realize how much I missed Karen Hughes.

[MEG33]

Katie 0 Karen 1.Karen got her message out and is terrific.She was particularly good and confident about the economy and unemployment numbers...pointing out that growth is doing well and unemployment in line with Clinton administration's first term.She of course wishes every one who wants a job finds one.

She first remarked on the inherited recession ,corporate scandals,stock market drop and of course,911

[governsleastgovernsbest]

You made me realize how much I missed Karen Hughes.

She rocks, and I'm very glad that she's obviously closely involved in the campaign, even if she doesn't have an official position with the administration.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks for your take, MEG. Wasn't Karen great? Was I overstating how snippy Katie was? How many times did Couric interrupt Karen with her nasty little barbs?

[boxerblues]

Katie: "Exit polls among Ohio voters show that by far the most important issue is the economy, with few mentioning Iraq
It was a DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR DEMOCRATIC VOTERS!

Ohio had many seats up for grabs and lots of issues on the ballot so this was not all Rats voting on Tuesday.

[PJ-Comix]

Imus just showed the Bush ad and all it had was an incredibly brief (I didn't even catch it) of a fireman at the WTC. That was it and it happened so fast I wasn't even sure it was it.

[MEG33]

I stood it by concentrating on Karen.Katie always does nasty little barbs..what's new!Karen did get through the economy without being interrupted.

The Iraq remark was a chance to bash Bush.Karen reminded her these are the first 4 ads..not the beginning and the end.Sigh.I am happy that it's not dems 24/7.

I watched Tim Russert gleefully discuss how Kerry could win....not one bit of hiding his hope on a show this week.

[anoldafvet]

"at the same time is it appropriate to use those images for campaign purposes?" she asked, grim-faced."

Katie, was it appropriate for Algore to use images of the black man being dragged behind a pickup truck in his campaign? You and your democRAT ilk make me sick.

[OldFriend]

Some 9/11 victims have exploited their loss to the point where many of us find them despicable and undeserving of our sympathy any longer.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Katie, was it appropriate for Algore to use images of the black man being dragged behind a pickup truck in his campaign?

Perfect illustration of liberal hypocrisy.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

If you would like to be added to or removed from my ping list for reports on liberal bias on The Today Show, please let me know via post or private message.

[OldFriend]

Sorry to say but the firefighter's unions support her heinous in NY and often make appearances with her as she demands MORE MORE MORE money for them.

[DManA]

If she hates this positive ad, her head will blow off when she sees the first negative ad.

The only Bush ad the media would not pan would be George bowing down and chanting "I am not worthy" with the voice over saying Vote For Kerry.

[DManA]

Then they'd carp at him for spending too much money on the ad.

[MEG33]

Actually that was an NAACP ad about it "feeling like Bush killed her father all over again".I think I have that right.

[boxerblues]

You can see them here.


http://www.georgewbush.com/TVAds/

[MEG33]

There is a small group that gets quoted over and over.