Posted on 08/17/2006 9:38:07 AM PDT by Sopater
(CNSNews.com) - One of the New York Republicans hoping to challenge Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Nov. 7 general election is under fire for an online campaign ad that displays photos of Clinton and al Qaeda terror leader Osama bin Laden side-by-side and criticizes Clinton for allegedly "playing politics" with national security. The other GOP candidate in the race describes the ad as "going in the gutter."
The campaign commercial begins with the voice of a female narrator.
"Islamic fascists still hate us. They still want to attack us," she states as a picture of Osama bin Laden is displayed. "But the recent terrorist plot to destroy American airliners headed for New York was detected and defeated.
"National Security Agency wiretaps of terrorist suspects were vital to stopping this attack," the ad continues as the NSA logo appears next to bin Laden.
The agency's logo is then replaced with a photograph of Clinton, as the narrator continues.
"But Sen. Hillary Clinton opposes the PATRIOT Act and the NSA program that helped stop another 9/11," the ad claims. "She'd leave us vulnerable."
"That's wrong," a male voice replies, as video of the GOP candidate appears. "I'm John Spencer, and I approved this message because I won't play politics with our security."
The commercial was created to run on cable television in the New York metropolitan area.
Rob Ryan, Spencer's spokesman, told Cybercast News Servicethe campaign is not backing away from the message.
"The ad speaks for itself. Hillary Clinton needs to defend her record," Ryan said. "It's about the failure of Senator Clinton to take proper action to defend the state in a time of war."
But Clinton adviser Howard Wolfson called that claim and the ad factually inaccurate. He pointed out that Clinton voted for the USA PATRIOT Act, which gave the federal government new powers sometimes used to track terror suspects, in 2001.
Last year, however, Clinton was part of a Democrat-led filibuster that forced Republicans to accept curbs on the government's power to investigate suspects. She later voted to renew expiring sections of the PATRIOT Act.
"I think all of America and all of New York realizes that terrorism is the main issue in this day and age," Ryan concluded, "and all this ad is doing is highlighting Sen. Clinton's record of being on both sides of almost every issue."
Wolfson disagreed.
"Mr. Spencer's history of making wild-eyed angry falsehoods like these are among the many reasons why no one takes him or his campaign seriously," Wolfson told the Associated Press.
In February, Spencer posted a web ad criticizing Clinton for "opposing the program" that allegedly prevented a devastating terrorist attack on the Brooklyn Bridge in 2003.
Spencer has already set his sights on the general election to challenge Clinton, but he must first face Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland in the Sept. 12 Republican primary. McFarland press secretary Morgan Ortagus told Cybercast News Service that Republicans should be able to express their numerous points of disagreement with Clinton, "without going in the gutter."
"As someone who served at the top levels of the Reagan Pentagon, Ms. McFarland believes it's irresponsible to bring politics into serious matters like terrorism," Ortagus said. "This was a careless ad that should have no place in the national discourse."
The latest Siena poll shows Clinton with a 26-point lead over Spencer and a 30-point lead over McFarland.
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He could have used the pic of Hillary kissing Yassar's wife.
But it was okay when Clinton directly said that it was Rush Limbaugh and hate right wing radio that led to the Murrah Building Oklahoma City bombing. Like Bill has a SHRED of credibility.
I think Karl Marx would be a better comparison.
Tee hee,the gutter queen getting upset about being called on her terror loving politics!
Great ad.
BUMP!
When a Dem screams, don't cower, it only means you landed a blow that really hurts them. It is a signal not to stop but to press on the attack.
But an entire movie linking the Bush family with bin Laden is ok, right? Wasn't the director of that movie a "honored guest" at the last DNC convention?
The "linking" is a MSM lie.
The ad simply reports the facts about how her positions relate to the threat of bin laden.
Dems make up the rules as they go along...and their platforms...
In other words, I wished I had thought of doing that.
Oh the hypocrisy. The Democrats play politics with everything.
But it's perfectly acceptable to link Bush w/ Hitler /s
AWWWWW but let the slimy hag do and say anything she wishes, thats ok??????? Why of course, she's the SLIMY HAG!!!!!
Beelzeflubba epitomized the gutter..
I obviously want Spencer to win because it will rid the country of 25 years of future politics of Hillary. My question for him is why couldn't he get the fact right. If he had done a legitamate commercial instead of a false statement on something that she voted FOR then he could have gained a huge following. Now he just looks like he got kicked in the a$$ from Hillary.
"But it's perfectly acceptable to link Bush w/ Hitler /s"
And when Rudy was Mayor of NYC there was a poster with his likeness on it with a Hilter moustache.... Hillary doesn't like it when Republicans turn the tables.
Gutter Politics... just check out these democrat rally pics. Discusting!
http://www.hiphoprepublican.com
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