For the GOP, Criticism Is Next to Cowardice

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-scheer25nov25,1,729061.column?coll=la-util-op-ed

A new ad questioning the patriotism of Democratic candidates is dirty politics.

What nerve for President Bush to question the patriotism of his Democratic opponents, two of whom are highly decorated Purple Heart and Bronze and Silver Star veterans and all of whom have labored long to make this a better country.

But the television ad that the Republican Party is running on Bush's behalf in Iowa this week does just that, making the outrageous insinuation that critics of the president's policies are in fact supporters of terrorists.

"Some are now attacking the president for attacking the terrorists," the ad states. "Some call for us to retreat, putting our national security in the hands of others." The ad urges viewers to tell Congress "to support the president's policy of preemptive self-defense."

This is dirty politics at its absolute lowest, equating criticism with cowardice.
<snip>

[progressiverealist]

1. scary part is,

this is what I'll bet 90+ % of all Republicans think.

[Dhalgren]

2. To hell with the Republicans,

how many Americans agree with this? That could be the scary part.

[Mr_Bleedingheart]

3. I hope this back-fires

It would be very nice if people finally start to wake up to what they are being spoon fed.

[Spazito]

4. Excellent opinion column!

The writer is dead on and I hope more and more opinions come out like this. Thanks for the link.

[Racenut20]

5. That was just a trial run folks

The REAL THING ain't happened yet. What do you think they are collecting all the money for????

[The Stranger]

6. To quote Teddy Roosevelt

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."

[duhneece]

11. More of the same quotation

"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts..."

[The Stranger]

7. To quote Teddy Roosevelt

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."

[SemperEadem]

18. the Roosevelt quote should be run as an ad for the dems...

black background and white letters... the truth of his statements have more impact than pretty pictures of blonde little girls and american flags waving..

[The Stranger]

8. Moderators

I apologize for the multiple posts as they were my (and my computer's) mistake. Please delete repetitive ones. Thanks.

[AlinPA]

9. Great article, but many 'muricans don't/can't read the newspaper

TV is all they can handle.

[DrBB]

10. Clark seems to have been neatly in place

...with the perfect rejoinder for this sludge--the ad is actually helping him get exposure. And what a perfect--because perfectly true--rejoinder it is: "I'm not critical of President Bush because he's attacking terrorists," Clark said. "I'm critical of President Bush because he is not attacking terrorists."

Also becomes an opportunity for emphasizing the service records not just of Clark, but Kerry and Cleland (over against the Diebold-elected Saxby "Chickenhawk" Chamblis) as well.

*Disclaimer: positive statements about Clark not intended to detract from other candidates. Obviously Dean was an intended target of this lowball ad as well. I suspect in the long run it's going to do them more harm than good. I note, too, that the Flying Chimp's Flightsuit Extravaganza is already appearing in Democratic ads....

[Vogon_Glory]

12. I Love Your Tag Line

I love your tag line--and it's so apropos. I'd been comparing Il Duce to George Deucey-U Bush for some time now, even when I was attempting to enlighten the benighted "Nut--Chase" ISP.

:toast: :bounce:

[DrBB]

13. Or as I would prefer to call him

...Busholini.

Thanks--made that composite up myself. Not that it was particularly hard to find images pointing up the resemblence.

[proud patriot]

14. Bushoni is a Paris Song ... great song

[GinaMaria]

15. attempting to crush the voices of criticism

is an act of cowardice. What are they so afraid of?

[peterh]

16. Conrad the magnificent….an applicable cartoon…

[Undemcided]

19. Nice cartoon ...

but the quote is incorrect.
http://www.snopes.com/quotes/caesar.htm

[SemperEadem]

17. what is MoveOn.org or DNC doing to counter ads being run?

is anyone on deck for airing some balanced truth with some political spots? I saw a Kerry ad the other day, but I don't think the politcal ads go far enough to denounce the president's decisions, but I am also aware that it's a little too early still to launch the heavy artillery for fear of turning off undecided voters.

I am eagerly anticipating seeing something aired that the refuqlicans can't scream, lie and distract their way out of, no matter how hard they try to twist the facts to suit their purposes.

[donhakman]

20. Remember Bush saying "subliminiminal"

He was responding to the fact a Republican ad
flashed the word RATS over the democratic candidate.
Then there was the campaign against Max Cleland
painting him as a cowardly dove.
(look up Max Cleland if you don't know his record)

Personally I am a 30 year expert in propoganda;
visual, hypnotic conditioning, subliminal perception,
dividing attention, redefining language etc.

As a graphic artist let me illustrate:

The Goering technique of lableing protestors as traitors and scare mongering is timeless.





One can use as few as 5 words to
condition/influence people to 3 things at once.


What are the 3 things?
Matching the color of Democrats+terrorists
thus equating them with terrorists
The suggestion Democrats are Un american
cowards that run away
and very subtley the word Draft
spelled with the first letter of each word.


Here is an example of the
Trogan Horse propoganda technique:




Although some here may disagree,
a picture can carry more influence
into a person's mind than words.

Psyops knows this but most people do not.
Do you remember 3 weeks prior to attacking Iraq
when the US got the UN to cover up Piccaso's painting
'GUARNICA' that hangs in the UN lobby?
- it was no accident.

Next summer I will own a billboard on the DC red line
metro train which will display an image that will
undoubtedly cause a controversy I hope will deserve
nationwide attention.

I have of course picked up a couple critics here that
wage alert wars to have my images removed.
Some are quite powerful and are misconstrued by the
touchy feely crowd.
But we are at war in more ways than one
so I intend to use every trick I know
to influence the process.

Giving republicans enough rope to hang themselves
no longer works. Now they can hang us.

[realFedUp]

21. dupe thread in Editorials

Someone must have moved this into Editorials...you
need to shut one of these down.

My original thread is:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=22830

[bain_sidhe]

22. Best response I've seen

to this ad came from a woman on a newsgroup I frequent..

"GOP? Bite me."

Concise, effective, and appropriate! (IMHO, of course.)

[opihimoimoi]

23. IS THIS 1930'S GERMANY?? No one could criticize Hitler?

or its off to the death camps? And we saw what happened... WW2

When dissent is crushed, arrogance grows. Arrogance in a Poker Game will get you no where.

[HuckleB]

24. Great piece.

Thanks.