Democrats pound GOP campaign ad

[Q]

Democrats pound GOP campaign ad

They say it questions patriotism of war critics

Sunday, November 23, 2003 Posted: 8:27 PM EST (0127 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Democrats demanded a recall of the Republican Party's first ad of the 2004 presidential campaign Sunday, one calling it a "repulsive and outrageous" attack on the patriotism of anyone who opposes President Bush's wartime policies.

Republicans said the $100,000 ad merely reflects a campaign based in part on the president's leadership since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. But Democrats took particular issue with a line in the ad that says "people are attacking the president for attacking the terrorists."

"I'm not attacking the president because he is attacking terrorists," said retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, a Democratic presidential candidate. "I'm attacking him because he's not attacking terrorists." Clark said the U.S. invasion of Iraq diverted resources from the pursuit of the al Qaeda terrorist network behind the September 11 attacks. Clark and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle both called on the Republican National Committee to withdraw the ad.

"It's really a repulsive and outrageous attack, once again, on those who question the direction that much of the administration has taken with regard to Iraq," said Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat. "I think that there is an implication here, as they've done throughout this debate on Iraq, that if you oppose the president, your patriotism ought to be questioned," Daschle said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

The 30-second ad was to begin running Sunday in Iowa, ahead of the Democratic debate in Des Moines set for Monday. It also will be broadcast early next month in New Hampshire, where all nine of the Democratic presidential candidates are scheduled to debate December 9. Clark said on CBS's "Face the Nation" that the ad violates the president's pledge not to use September 11 for political points. "I think it really strikes at the heart of a democracy when you accuse your opponents of somehow aiding the enemy, and that's what these ads are implying," he said. - http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/11/23/elec04.prez.democrats.gop.ad/index.html

[Kolesar]

1. dupe

http://democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=237592
:)

[rwork]

2. The democrats

bow down to the bullying tactics of bush* on the energy bill and prescription drug bill and he turns on them in a New York minute.What will it take for them to ever learn?