Kerry goes on offensive - - first Bush-bashing radio ad

[LTR]

I heard it yesterday. I assume it's playing on R&B and urban-oriented stations.

It opens with a female voice chastising Bush for refusing to speak before the NAACP. And that Bush doesn't really care about the needs of African-Americans. Then mentions that Kerry spoke before the NAACP, and stands up for their values. A snippet of Kerry is played.

The ad specifies that it is paid for by the Kerry Campaign.

Thought you'd all like to know about it. To me, it sounds like a smart move, testing the waters with an attack ad targeting a fairly receptive audience (it was played on an Adult R&B station).

[Champion Jack]

1. It's about time!

[DemBones DemBones]

2. Good! Thanks for the report. nt

[Spiffarino]

3. It's smart, and well timed

Bush has been on the offensive since May working hard to tear down Kerry's image before Kerry has a chance to establish it himself. It has worked, but only marginally. Now it's Kerry's turn.

Democrats and our allies haven't yet ramped up the negativity, and I believe this is wise. Dubya has shot himself in the foot so many times that it hasn't been necessary. Now, however, is when the gloves must come off. There are 4 weeks to the Repub convention, and it's our job to shape the debate. We need to force their hand by giving them a lot of questions to answer:

Why attack Iraq when the terrorists who struck on 9/11 are still on the loose?

Why are protesters herded miles away in Free Speech Zones?

Speaking of that, why do you use such Orwellian language such as Free Speech Zones, Clear Skies, etc., when you want to do something evil and/or anti-democratic?

Why was Enron allowed to write what could become our nation's energy policy?

Etc., etc., etc.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. What state? nt

[LTR]

5. Milwaukee, WI

Heard on WJMR-FM (98.3)

Link to station's website:

http://www.wjmr.com/

[Democat]

6. Watch for the media to run 100 "kerry is the negative one" articles

One negative Kerry ad after 100's of negative Bush ads will probably cause the entire pro-Bush media to call Kerry negative and talk about how Bush is sick of Kerry's negative campaigning and he, Bush, is a positive great leader who will keep America safe.

[LTR]

7. Oooooh, wouldn't that be 'doubleplusgood'!

Pot, let me introduce you to... kettle!

[LTR]

8. I heard it again

It is clearly paid for by Kerry's campaign.

[zulchzulu]

9. This does make sense

My guess is that they are going to have a good cop-bad cop strategy on ads from here to Election Day.

Positive ads featuring Kerry and Edwards as the good cop and other ads smacking back at the Bush-Cheney lie machine as bad cop.

I would guess it will accelerate after the GOP convention and Bush has been trapped in a corner with Cheney dragging his down on the ticket.

It's going to be nasty. But frankly, there is just too much material to use against Bush and Cheney to just let it go.

Bring it the hell on, damnit.

[LTR]

10. One thing noteworthy about the ad

Is that it is more about Kerry, and not so much about Bush. The Bush-bashing part of it is brief. The rest is Kerry addressing a black audience.