9/11 Victims' Kin Angered by Bush Ads (Big time media bias alert)

AP (Associtated Pravda) | 3/4/04 | Liz Sidoti

[The South Texan]

9/11 Victims' Kin Angered by Bush Ads 12 minutes ago Add Top Stories - AP to My Yahoo!

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Relatives of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and a firefighters union said Thursday they're angry that President Bush (news - web sites)'s new campaign ads include images of the destroyed World Trade Center and firefighters carrying a flag-draped stretcher through the rubble.

They say the ads are in poor taste and accuse Bush of exploiting the attacks. Bush's campaign defended the commercials as appropriate for an election about public policy and the war on terror, saying they were a tasteful reminder of what the country has been through the last three years. The campaign had said in the past that it would not use the attacks for political gain.

"It makes me sick," Colleen Kelly, who lost her brother Bill Kelly Jr., in the attacks and leads a victims families group called Peaceful Tomorrows, said Thursday. "Would you ever go to someone's grave site and use that as an instrument of politics? That truly is what Ground Zero represents to me."

"September 11th was not just a distant tragedy. It's a defining event for the future of our country," Karen Hughes, a Bush campaign adviser, told "The Early Show" on CBS on Thursday. "Obviously, all of us mourn and grieve for the victims of that terrible day, but September 11 fundamentally changed our public policy in many important ways, and I think it's vital that the next president recognize that."

The first ads started running Thursday on broadcast channels in about 80 markets in 18 states, most of which are expected to be critical to the election, and nationwide on select cable networks. The ads do not mention Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites), focusing instead on improving Bush's image after criticism by Democrats in recent months. Bush is expected to spend a large part of his $100 million war chest on ads.

One of the ads shows the charred wreckage of the twin towers with a flag flying amid the debris. Another ad — and a Spanish-language version of it — use that image as well alongside firefighters carrying a flag-draped stretcher through the rubble as sirens are heard. Firefighters are shown in all the ads.

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

"We're not going to stand for him to put his arm around one of our members on top of a pile of rubble at Ground Zero during a tragedy and then stand by and watch him cut money for first responders," Schaitberger said. He said his union is politically independent even though it endorsed Kerry and has donated money to Republicans.

Barbara Minervino, a Republican from Middletown, N.J., who lost her husband, Louis, in the attacks, questioned whether Bush was "capitalizing on the event."

David Potorti, an independent from Cary, N.C., whose brother Jim died in the north tower, called the campaign's use of the images audacious.

"It's an insult to use the place where my brother died in an ad," Potorti said. "I would be just as outraged if any politician did this."

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.

"Three thousand people were murdered on President Bush's watch," Breitweiser said. "He has not cooperated with the investigation to find out why that happened."

[The South Texan]

The media has sunk to even a lower new low. Can't they get at least one 9-11 victim that approves of the adds?

[OldFriend]

The more these insufferable people complain the more determined I am to do everything I can to make sure President Bush is re-elected.

[bmwcyle]

Where was the outcry when Bill Clinton made a cross on the D-Day beach?

[chachacha]

Associtated Pravda

Maybe GW should take a 2nd look at how many Minority votes he's planning on getting from these we love American Aliens.

[misterrob]

I don't like the politicizing of the event by any party. If Bush wants to make people aware then he should talk about the dangers of terrorism, the costs that we have paid and what the hell we are doing about it. He would be doing himself a favor by playing up how Clinton left us defenseless, how terrorism was plotted during Bill's reign and how Clinton's supposed moral code precluded us from taking the steps that we needed to in order to prevent terrorism.

9/11 is out of bounds

[AlexW]

"Where was the outcry when Bill Clinton made a cross on the D-Day beach?"

Yea, and I read that those rocks do not even exist on that beach. It was a made up photo-op, much like his dancing with the Hildabeast.

[Paradox]

Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters,

Hmmmmm, he wouldn't have some kind of agenda, would he?:

Statement by Harold A. Schaitberger
General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters
Endorsement of Senator John Kerry for President September 24, 2003

I am proud to announce that a few moments ago the IAFF Executive Board, the senior leadership of the fire fighters union, voted unanimously to endorse Senator John Kerry for President of the United States.

Next Monday, John and I will be together at a fire station in New Hampshire to formally kickoff the “Fire Fighters for Kerry Campaign,” accompanied by hundreds of professional fire fighters and their families from the Granite State and across New England. Then, we will move on to Iowa, South Carolina, Arizona, and other early primary states to join our members there on our road to electing John Kerry as our next President.

While America’s fire fighters have many reasons for supporting Senator Kerry’s candidacy, there are several that form the basis of our endorsement today. First and foremost, John Kerry represents the values that we, as fire fighters, embody and embrace. Just as fire fighters work on the front lines, under fire every day, so has John Kerry faced hostile fire as the gunboat he commanded fought its way up the Mekong Delta. Just as fire fighters have been hailed as heroes for their courage and their sacrifice, so has John Kerry been decorated as a war hero and recognized by his peers and his nation for his guts and his bravery.

Just as fire fighters are acknowledged as America’s domestic defenders, so has John Kerry proven his commitment to homeland security, backed by his extensive experience in defense issues and foreign affairs. Just as fire fighters protect the public from every conceivable emergency and disaster, so too has John Kerry protected the public for 30 years as a United States Senator, a hard-nosed prosecutor and a wartime Naval officer. John Kerry understands the true meaning of service and duty just as fire fighters do. We trust John Kerry because he is one of us. John Kerry can win and he will win.

That’s because America’s fire fighters, the 260,000 men and women of the IAFF, who live, work, and protect 80 percent of the nation’s population in thousands of communities will be helping him across all 50 states and throughout all 435 congressional districts in this country. The latest polls show that John Kerry can defeat George Bush and help put our country back on track at a time when our nation is at a crossroads and the Bush Administration has thrust our nation into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. When we have watched a $5.6 trillion budget surplus evaporate into the highest federal deficits in history, after only two and a half years of Bush’s reign.

When 41 million Americans are without health insurance and many of them must call 911 and use our fire departments and costly hospital emergency rooms for basic medical care because they simply cannot afford a family Doctor. When the number of unemployed Americans has grown by 49 percent since Bush took office, and, when cash-starved state and local governments are being forced to layoff fire fighters and cut other essential municipal services to their citizens.

At a time like this we need someone with vision, integrity and experience to pull us out of this economic decline. And, the International Association of Fire Fighters knows that John Kerry has what it takes to do the job. He is a proven leader. He knows how to navigate Washington. He learned the hard way in Vietnam, in the courtroom, and in the halls of the U.S. Senate.

America’s fire fighters will be on the front lines of the Kerry campaign across this nation in the coming weeks and months just as we are on the front lines everyday to protect the safety of all Americans. And now John, let me give you the first “Fire Fighters for Kerry” T-shirt. I assure you that the public will be seeing a lot more of these gold and black shirts as this campaign moves forward to secure your nomination and ultimate victory on Election Day.

Wow, google makes this much too easy.

[KellyAdmirer]

I like the ads. I think the 9/11 tragedy is far larger than just the families' concern. If they want to be angry, fine. But it is part of the nation's history that is an appropriate part of the national political discourse. If Kerry had used these images first, there would not have been a peep in the media from anyone, and everyone knows it.

[muawiyah]

9/11 was hardly a private event.

The plane that hit the Pentagon turned left at my house and followed I-95 in. We smelled the smoke for days afterwards.

It's one thing to express sympathy for the heirs and assigns. It's quite another to let them control the outcomes.

[TaxPayer2000]

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,"

So after President G.W. Bush "cooperates" with blah blah, then its ok to use "9/11 as political propaganda"?

LOL !! I hope I am not taking what she said out of context!!

[CheezyD]

The left wants to pretend 9/11 never happened. That's why we rarely, if ever, see tape of the attacks on TV. I say F'em.

[Russ]

Obviously it isn't out of bounds or the ad would not be running. It's smart to run it this early and get it out of the way. It helps solidify the base and drives the Dems and media crazy. They will bitch about any ad the Republicans run this campaign. Should they have run this ad? Absolutely!

[TaxPayer2000]

nice catch!!

[UCANSEE2]

Don't be surprised to find out that a certain organization gave the particular firefighter's a ton of money to get that endorsement (called BUYING VOTES).

The DEMS are pulling every trick in the book to put EVIL back on it's (according to them) RIGHTFUL THRONE.

Buying votes, murdering anyone in the way, lying, stealing, it's all in their trick bag, and they intend to use it all.


ABSOLUTE POWER is what they ABSOLUTELY WANT.

If you haven't noticed, the DEMS are starting a thought-line that would have the whole world voting on the US President, who would be President over the whole world.

You can call me crazy. But it is being done behind the scenes, whether you believe it or not. The world is being asked to vote, already. See your local newspaper if you don't believe me.

[The South Texan]

"I don't like the politicizing of the event by any party. If Bush wants to make people aware then he should talk about the dangers of terrorism, the costs that we have paid and what the hell we are doing about it. He would be doing himself a favor by playing up how Clinton left us defenseless, how terrorism was plotted during Bill's reign and how Clinton's supposed moral code precluded us from taking the steps that we needed to in order to prevent terrorism.

9/11 is out of bounds"


I take it you will be voting for John F Kerry in Nov.

[TheDon]

MEDIA ALERT
< Sheeple Thinking > Bringing up 9-11 during an election to discuss how 9-11 should be responded to is immoral. That is all. < /Sheeple Thinking >

[excalibur1701]

The libs want to pretend that 9/11 never occured. Well, this is one American Fire Fighter that will never forget, and plans on voting for Bush.

Of all the people interviewed, I wonder how many were Bush Bashers before the ads started running. My guess all of them were.

[biblewonk]

I heard this BS on GMA this morning and went into convulsions of blather at the TV!

[Recovering_Democrat]

THEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE 9/11 AWAY AS AN ISSUE: AMERICANS REMEMBER THE PRESIDENT'S LEADERSHIP DURING THAT TIME, AND THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE 9/11 OUT OF THE PICTURE.

THEY WILL FAIL!

[mabelkitty]

Ditto.
They are doing everything they can to put us in Bizarro World where 9/11 never happened.
Trying to change the subject from National Security to ANYTHING ELSE.
If 9/11 "victims' families" had received ZERO DOLLARS from my taxes and my donations, I wonder how mouthy they'd be right now. Oh, that's right - they wouldn't - THEY'D BE TOO BUSY WORKING TWO JOBS TO SUPPORT THEIR NOW SINGLE-HEAD HOUSEHOLD.

[isthisnickcool]

It's outrageous the Anti-Defamation League uses the Holocaust to get their message out. It's outrageous that The Red Cross uses Doom and Gloom. And even children to get their message out.

It's outrageous that PETA users Abused Animals to get their message out.

It's outrageous that CBS uses All sorts of people to get their message out so they can sell advertising. They are motivated by pure capitalistic greed!

And what about the Democrats? Here is their largest "independent" group. Here is one site they link to. The DNC is trashing Bush much worse. Which is easy since Bush has not said a word about Botox Boy.

[So Cal Rocket]

I am simply aghast that a candidate for the President of the United States would use a war where thousands of Americans have died for political purposes.

[MizSterious]

You are exactly right. And President Bush is exactly right to run these ads. The people obviously need to be reminded of what happened 9/11/01, and what could happen again. A lot of people seem to have forgotten. (But not me.)

[OpusatFR]

Use the contrarian factor: if the media hates it, it has struck a chord.

The electorate is not the media no matter what they like to think.

[MizSterious]

These Bush-bashsers need to consider--very carefully--which party allowed this to happen. Bill Clinton had the chance (or perhaps more than one chance) to get bin Laden, and didn't.

[misterrob]

Go back and read my post.....

[TrueBeliever9]

9/11 was hardly a private event.

Thank you for posting the obvious! 9/11 was an attack against America; this looks like a clever orchrestrated hijacking by DeMocRATS!

[Cicero]

9/11 is out of bounds

I understand why you may have said that, but if you think it over you can see it's absolute nonsense.

Did FDR forget about Pearl Harbor during the Second World War? Of course not. He constantly reminded Americans of it, to remind them why they were fighting.

Do the Jews forget the Holocaust? Of course not.

We will remember 9/11 forever. The proper response for Kerry and his sycophant media is not that 9/11 is out of bounds, but that he remembers it too, and plans to do something about it. But the very thought is laughable. No wonder AP doesn't want Bush to talk about it.

[Howlin]

If Bush wants to make people aware then he should talk about the dangers of terrorism, the costs that we have paid and what the hell we are doing about it. He would be doing himself a favor by playing up how Clinton left us defenseless, how terrorism was plotted during Bill's reign and how Clinton's supposed moral code precluded us from taking the steps that we needed to in order to prevent terrorism.

And exactly how would he do that without mentioning 9-11?

[beachn4fun]

Have they forgotten?

Who took charge when this tragedy happened? How would they feel right now looking back had Clinton still been in charge?

Maybe we need to air the terror attack more so they can remember who flew our own planes into the towers & Pentagon. AND, who took charge of the matter, defied people, countries, the UN, took action without world-wide approval, and has sent our people around the world to root-out terrorist and those responsible.

HE SHOULD GET CREDIT! He has the right to remind people. Never Forget!

[anniegetyourgun]

Bingo. First it was can't talk landing on the Lincoln. Then it was can't talk about Kerry's record. Now it's can't talk about 9/11. When the Bush ads talk about lower unemployment rate, higher production, etc., they'll say he can't talk about the economy.

They are attempting to muzzle the White House on all issues, while challenging him to debate the issues and telling the electorate that Bush will be avoiding the issues!

[300winmag]

The left wants to pretend 9/11 never happened. That's why we rarely, if ever, see tape of the attacks on TV. I say F'em.

The coverage of 9/11 has been intentionally sanitized from Day One. After the first live feeds showing people jumping to their deaths to avoid burning to death, and the recovery of the first bady parts, we were never shown that again. Yet that footage is readily available to the rest of the world. The first and second anniversaries of the attacks (yes, we really are at war) are presented as great tragedies, like killer hurricanes and other natural disasters.

These are the same media rat bastards that are whining that they can't show American coffins returning home, or interview the families of the dead and wounded. This policy was instituted by the klinton regime to prevent embarrassment to them, but is actually a wise policy.

These leftist haters are trying to rewrite the history we all saw, just to benefit bringing the klintons and/or their flunkies back to power, forever. I say "F'em" is too good for what they've done.

[Crazieman]

Speaking of whiny media bias, has anyone noticed how they keep repeating over and over specifically about Bush's ads being "multi-million dollar TV spots"?

[beachn4fun]

Don't ya just love it when you can pull the rabbit out of the hat? Did you sent this to the newspaper?

[Digger]

I have to go with Dick Morris on this. GW needs to go negative now on Kerry. He needs to have him defined by Memorial Day. If he doesn't he could find the election very unpleasant.

[veronica]

The media has sunk to even a lower new low.

That's what you think. It's only March. They will sink far, far lower before all this is over. It's gonna be UG-LY.

[beachn4fun]

I heard some idiot on the radio going on about how disgraceful it was. I wanted to yank him throught the radio and ask him if he said the same SH*T when the DemocRATS aired their distasteful ads about Bush!

[george wythe]

I watched the ads, and I came up with a different impression than the AP article.

The ads were tastefully done, and the brief mention of 9-11 was in context.

Have you seen the ads?

[Paradox]

David Potorti, an independent from Cary, N.C., whose brother Jim died in the north tower, called the campaign's use of the images audacious.

Sorry, but this isn't some regular guy. He has a politcal bent (anti-Bush peace-nik), see below..

David Potorti, Author/Editor of "September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows: Turning our Grief into Action for Peace"

BUZZFLASH: Could you give our readers some background about how September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows got started?

DAVID POTORTI: I think we owe all of that to the Internet. After the bombing of Afghanistan began, the core members who would eventually form the group were bothered by the bombing campaign as a response to Sept. 11. I think we had an almost identical reaction........

...

[veronica]

9/11 is out of bounds...

Baloney. It's the defining moment of Bush's 1st term. He absolutely needs to remind Americans of his leadership in that darkest hour.

[Happy2BMe]

Someone pls post a link to the video . .

A video image from a President Bush campaign advertisement released Wednesday, March 3, 2004. The president talks about his hope for the future in his re-election campaign's first television ads but mainly focuses on the national security and economic challenges America has faced during his three years in office. (AP Photo/Bush-Cheney 2004)

A video image from a President Bush campaign advertisement released Wednesday, March 3, 2004. The president talks about his hope for the future in his re-election campaign's first television ads but mainly focuses on the national security and economic challenges America has faced during his three years in office. (AP Photo/Bush-Cheney 2004)

[george wythe]

All the man-of-the-street quotes are from Kerry supporters or Bush bashers.

Biased article is too weak a description, full-fledged anti-Bush propaganda would begin to cover it.

[Happy2BMe]

9/11 comes to 2004 ping

[Paradox]

Kristen Breitweiser, of Middletown Township

And fer crying out loud, this lady has been on HARDBALL, bashing Bush.

The media should really be alot more careful when trying to fool us, its getting to easy to catch them at their game now..

[gaspar]

This article is a set-up and the AP should know it. On September 24, 2003 Harold Scheitberger declared the International Association of Fire Fighters would back John Kerry. If a good reporter checks those who responded I feel sure that the family names were supplied by the IAFF and could be depended upon to toe the Democrat line.

[george wythe]

The AP uses a quote from a Bush hater who opposed the war on terror in Afghanistan.

Since the Afghanistan campaign is fully supported by most Democrats, this Bush hater is an outright wacko, not a mainstream relative of a 9-11 victim.

Can anyone post a link to this AP reporter's boss' e-mail?

I need to send to the editor in charge of this crap being published.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for the ping.

Gotta get away from this machine for a while. My Dad's coming up and staying over tonight so we can go to a AYCE lunch buffet for a family get together tomorrow.

See ya later ...

[beachn4fun]

Another thing we need to ask ourselves is..... did any of these same people cry out against the sorry ads the dems put out about Bush pushing old people down the stairs, etc? I find that more distasteful than GOP reminding us WHO took charge at a most tragic event in our history. Bush is entitled to list 9/11 on his resume to the American people!

[armymarinemom]

No matter how painful it may be the families that lost loved ones on 9/11 that disagree with the extreme left that has taken upon themselves to try to represent everyone, has to start speaking out. If they don't begin to stand up and respectfully disagree they will have the world thinking that they all think like the very vocal minority.

Unfortunately 9/11 families are suffering the same problem that military families are suffering. We have a few vocal extreme families out there trying to speak for everyone. We would rather just keep quite and worry but we have to take up a battle on our own home front in order to not have our family misused. It is a cruel ploy of the left to try to strike people when they feel the most helpless to act.

[Paradox]

I need to send to the editor in charge of this crap being published.

We need to call me media out on these things. It is an outrage! I believe that all these people have a right to their opinions, but shouldn't the reporter have identified who they were, other than just by name? It is disingenuous at best. Sinister propaganda at worst..