One story --- two wildly different approaches on State Dept. buying airtime in Pakistan

[Tennessee Gal]

Buying airtime: Obama, Clinton adverts slamming film cost $70,000

WASHINGTON:

The US State Department says they have spent $70,000 on advertisements featuring US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemning the anti-Islam film “Innocence of Muslims”.

~snip~

According to the transcript, the advertisement features President Obama saying, “Since our founding, the United States has been a nation of respect – that respects all faiths. We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others.”

Secretary Clinton’s message says, “Let me state very clearly that the United States has absolutely nothing to do with this video. We absolutely reject its contents. America’s commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation.”

More: http://tribune.com.pk/story/440738/buying-airtime-obama-clinton-adverts-slamming-film-cost-70000/


The U.S. Has Bought $70,000 in TV Ads in Pakistan Denouncing Anti-Islam Film

In a $70,000 charm offensive, the Obama administration has begun airing ads across seven Pakistani television networks to condemn the anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims, according to State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. The ads, intending to target 90 million Pakistanis, have already begun airing, reports Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, and they star President Obama and Hillary Clinton condemning the film in English but dubbed over in Urdu.

"As you know, after the video came out, there was concern in lots of bodies politic, including Pakistan, as to whether this represented the views of the U.S. Government," Nuland told reporters. "So in order to ensure we reached the largest number of Pakistanis – some 90 million, as I understand it in this case with these spots – it was the judgment that this was the best way to do it."

~snip~

News of the ad campaign comes today after the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad was the target of violent protests in which 11 were injured as Pakistan police shot live ammo and fired tear gas into crowds attempting to demonstrate in front of the embassy. Protesters vowed to demonstrate in front of the embassy again tomorrow, which will likely draw even larger crowds because Pakistan has declared Friday a holiday to allow citizens to protest the video. "We are very confident this will lessen the violence," said Pakistani Foreign Minister Hin Rabbani Khar, who conceded that "There will always be elements that will try to take advantage of these things."

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/09/pakistan-obama-administration-dropping-70000-ads-denouncing-anti-islam-film/57096/


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Obama/Clinton Run $70,000 Apology Ad in Pakistan

http://www.americanthinker.com/video/2012/09/obamaclinton_run_70000_apology_ad_in_pakistan.html



The Apology Tour Continues: Obama, Clinton Say “Sorry” to Rioting Pakistanis

Yesterday, the President and Secretary of State of the United States of America went on Pakistani television to apologize.

In a commercial containing clips from their Washington press conferences, subtitled in Urdu, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton said “sorry” to the mad hordes attacking the American embassy in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad and deplored the infamous anti-Muslim14-minute YouTube video.

“We absolutely reject its content and message,” said Clinton in the advertisements, which ended with the seal of the American embassy in Pakistan. U.S. taxpayers footed the bill for this high-level official apology to the tune of $70,000.

This is not public diplomacy. This is madness.

http://blog.heritage.org/2012/09/21/the-apology-tour-continues-obama-clinton-say-sorry-to-rioting-pakistanis/


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The madness is in the deplorable account in the second link. There was no apology. The word "sorry" was not in the text. It was an attempt to calm rioting crowds. Agree with the approach or not, the fact is it was not an apology.

[CJCRANE]

1. Hatred travels around the world in a flash. Goodwill takes a little longer.

We need more goodwill to counter the hatred.

That's the idea behind freedom of speech.

We all get a say, we all have a role in the debate.

Let's get alternative views out there, not just those of the hatemongers.

[vixengrl]

2. Maybe it's because so many conservatives don't apologize

(except in that "sorry if anyone was offended" way), that they don't know what an apology is.

The State Dept is basically saying "We didn't do this and we don't approve." Do they actually have to include "but we're not apologizing" to make it a non-apology? In an actual apology for one's own actions, one has to admit to one's fault--this doesn't. To apologize for others is really to excuse--this statement doesn't. It's a really weak argument they are making.

[pangaia]

3. The whole "apology" meme

is just another part of official republican 'talking lies' that right wing mindless robots eat up.
Since there is no serious lef-twing media, except a couple of great comedy shows and Rachel, there is almost no way to counter it

[Tennessee Gal]

4. Talking lies! Exactly right.

Someone on Facebook posted this particular talking lie today.

That is what caused me to research it.

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. yep. When repubs began "you didn't build that lie" one local honest rightwing radio

host played the full quote over and over for his audience. They were angry that he wouldn't stick with the GOP meme. They got angrier and angrier, refusing to acknowledge that the GOP was taking it out of context. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. That was nothing that could be played or said that could change their mine. Once caller basically admitted that - "she didnt care" what Obama really said.

[pangaia]

6. Wish we had an 'honest' right wing radio host in Rochester, ny.

We have the station- WHAM- bunch of national dirt bags and another local guy from a nearby small town who has a history for being fired from stations, whines and screeches like a stuck pig-typical god, guns and no gays.
If there WERE a rational show, I might listen to it upon occasion.. just for the experience. Or...maybe not.