Bush campaign's use of 9/ 11 images in his re-election commercials

[WDWfan uk]

As an outsider speaking from a non-political standpoint, can I ask if the ads show people dead or dying and if so, was this checked out with the bereaved families first? Surely their feelings are paramount in this?

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
I don't see the ads as exploitation at all. I'm thankful that George Bush was and is our President.

I cringe when I think what would have happened to us if Gore were our President on 9/11.

I also cringe when I think of what might happen to our country if Kerry wins in November...wouldn't surprise me in the least if we have another major attack a few months into his Presidency to test him as I don't think anyone will fear him as they do Bush. Kerry wants permission from the UN before he'd do anything and if he didn't get permission, he'd do nothing.

I really don't think ANY country fears Bush; hates him, yes; fears him, absolutely not.

However, you can count me among those that do fear him. Sometimes I feel like hiding under my covers and never coming out until he's no longer "leading" our country.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by joeokw
I am at a loss of why people would object to the use of these images. I thought we changed as a nation after that day. I thought we will never forget how we supported the president at that time. We lost 8 people in our parish on that day... Two boys on mY Ds's Little league team is missing a father. I am wondering if people forgot what happened on that September day.

Sure that day changed the nation but Bush had nothing to do with it. Why should he or any other elected official use this as campaign propaganda. I think he knows he's on a sinking ship and is getting desperate.

 

[Grog]

Gore would have returned to DC immediately and addressed the nation from the White House

And you know this to be fact because...?

Bush could not have returned to the White House even if he had wanted to. In a time like this the Secret Service overules the President on matters of his personal safety. Considering that it's highly possible that the plane which went down in PA was headed for the White House, Bush's actions that day were the correct ones. You may not know it, but Air Force One is often referred to as the "Flying White House" because anything the president can do from DC, he can also do from AFO. But I guess admitting that wouldn't give you an opportunity to spew your venom against someone you hate simply because of who he is.

The outgoing administration told Bush where Osama was

So you admit that the former administration knew where the person responsible for the Kenya bombing and the USS Cole bombing was and yet they took no action.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by WDWfan,uk
As an outsider speaking from a non-political standpoint, can I ask if the ads show people dead or dying and if so, was this checked out with the bereaved families first? Surely their feelings are paramount in this?

No, Shirley, they do not. I do think it boils down to everyday political leanings, if you are against Bush, for the other side, you will most likely object, if you are for Bush, you will most likely not. It will get much more interesting before November.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4420934/



Is it like this in England too, Shirley, LOL.

 

[C.Ann]

No gripes from me about using the ads.. Kerry worries me.. He leaves me with the impression that he's "weak" and wouldn't be able to handle such a catastrophic event..

 

[KarenC]

Originally posted by Pin Wizard
Absolutely! And certainly did NOT step up to the plate to address it and take care of it. I'll admit making a mistake and voting for Gore in the last election as well as my boss who did the same thing. We were discussing it one day and both agreed...we could not even imagine Gore trying to handle 9/11 issues. We both feel the right guy was in office at the time to handle it.

Maybe it wouldn't have happened...we'll never know...but under Clinton/Gore, the US thwarted a coordinated New Years attack on LAX and the Boston airport.

Here's an interesting article on the Clinton/Gore efforts in regard to terrorism. It's from a website devoted to FBI Deputy Director John O'Neill who resigned from his post over George W. Bush's policy on terrorism and Osama bin Laden. O'Neill became the security chief of the World Trade Center - where he died during the events of 9/11.

http://www.rememberjohn.com/clintongore.html

And an article that compares the Clinton/Gore approach to the Bush/Cheney efforts in the months before September 11.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A8734-2002Jan19

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by Teacherº0º
Gore would have returned to DC immediately and addressed the nation from the White House. You see, Gore has actually been to war and isn't afraid of bad guys in planes. Then we'd have caught those responsible. The outgoing administration told Bush where Osama was but the Bushes took no action. There'd have been no need for war in Afghanistan. And 540+ American soldiers killed in Iraq would be alive today.

Instead, we had King W flying around from place to place playing hide and seek rather than addressing the nation immediately. Then while air traffic was stopped for days, W had all his Saudi friends and the family of Osama flown out of the country. You know the rest.

I cringe every time I see the Resident Bush, and I want to vomit every time I hear him speak. (We need a puking smilie)

Wow, sounds like you have a crystal ball when it comes to knowing exactly what Gore would have done.

I disagree.

Yeah, we all already know what a mess Clinton left for Bush to take over and get blamed for.

You know, I didn't like President Clinton or Gore, but I would never disrespect them the way President Bush haters do to him.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by BedKnobbery2
I really don't think ANY country fears Bush; hates him, yes; fears him, absolutely not.

However, you can count me among those that do fear him. Sometimes I feel like hiding under my covers and never coming out until he's no longer "leading" our country.

Good for you.

I disagree.

Is this the debate board??

 

[monarchsfan16]

Originally posted by Grog
So you admit that the former administration knew where the person responsible for the Kenya bombing and the USS Cole bombing was and yet they took no action.

Wasn't bin Laden also responsible for the first WTC attacks? The fact that Clinton and Gore didn't go after bin Laden, when they possibly knew where he was, after we had been attacked by him 3 times makes me sick! My family lost someone that day. I know other people who lost family that day as well. And everyone I know that is in that position feels a lot safer with Bush as president then we would with one of the Democrats. And we believe, as I said before that he should be able to use those images, because they were a definining moment of his presidency, and had the previous administration done something they would not have been. Like previous posters have said, Bush inherited way too many of Clinton's mistakes, including his biggest one. Bush got us through these attacks, and at one point people said we were better united then ever before. What happened?
I realize I'm just a teenager, so feel free to flame away, but I do follow world events, so I do have an understanding of this stuff.

 

[MICKEY88]

Originally posted by Teacherº0º
Gore would have returned to DC immediately and addressed the nation from the White House. You see, Gore has actually been to war and isn't afraid of bad guys in planes. Then we'd have caught those responsible. The outgoing administration told Bush where Osama was but the Bushes took no action. There'd have been no need for war in Afghanistan. And 540+ American soldiers killed in Iraq would be alive today.

Instead, we had King W flying around from place to place playing hide and seek rather than addressing the nation immediately. Then while air traffic was stopped for days, W had all his Saudi friends and the family of Osama flown out of the country. You know the rest.

I cringe every time I see the Resident Bush, and I want to vomit every time I hear him speak. (We need a puking smilie)


Flame away.

Gore would not have returned to DC..if you have any knowledge of Emergency procedures for the president, you would know that when an event such as 911 occurs..the secret service takes control and they determine where the president will be, for national security reasons..the pres and vice pres are immediately taken away from the whitehouse and kept away from each other to avoid a double homicide of the top 2 leaders

 

[Melora]

Originally posted by Aristocath
I think 9/11 was such a horrific event for us all that our citizens would have rallied around our President and he would have been a symbol of strength no matter who he was. I mean really, what did Bush do that day that day that was so wonderful? When many of us think back to that horrible day, we think of Rudy, or the brave men and women at the Pentagon, or the courageous people who died in a field in Pennsylvania. We needed a leader and in the days that followed we all felt intense patriotism. Just because he was the President then doesn't make him a great one. I think it is inappropriate for him to use 9/11 images in his campaign ads. I am also surprised that he is using them so far out from the election. Politically, I think they would have benefitted him closer to November.

Also, I am NOT proud that he is from Texas.
From the lonely Texas Democratic Party, Cathy

I agree with you. Just because he was the one in the White House doesn't mean he did anything great except do exactly what his advisors told him to.

People have imprinted on him like a baby duck imprints on its mother.. its who they saw when they were full of grief and sadness and so they associate him with leadership (no matter how poor).

Bush just turns my stomach.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by Melora
Bush just turns my stomach.

I know how you feel. My stomach is the same way when I hear or see President Clinton, his wife, Gore and Kerry.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
I know how you feel. My stomach is the same way when I hear or see President Clinton, his wife, Gore and Kerry.

Wasn't bin Laden also responsible for the first WTC attacks? The fact that Clinton and Gore didn't go after bin Laden, when they possibly knew where he was, after we had been attacked by him 3 times makes me sick! My family lost someone that day. I know other people who lost family that day as well. And everyone I know that is in that position feels a lot safer with Bush as president then we would with one of the Democrats. And we believe, as I said before that he should be able to use those images, because they were a definining moment of his presidency, and had the previous administration done something they would not have been. Like previous posters have said, Bush inherited way too many of Clinton's mistakes, including his biggest one. Bush got us through these attacks, and at one point people said we were better united then ever before. What happened?

Actually, you bring up a very good point. I completely agree with you on this. Though, I'm a teenager myself!

However, I wish they'd bring back the commercial they played back right after September 11th. It showed a normal neighborhood...all these buildings before Sept. 11. Then it fast forwards to after 9/11 and all you see are American flags and whatnot. Do you know which one I'm talking about? That one made me smile, because it showed how America became united.

You have also got to remember that we have not had another attack since 9/11. Bush and his team worked hard to protect America, and thus far they have succeeded. The new precautions Bush has made make me feel safer, when before 9/11, "safe" was only being naive to reality and the possibility of such attacks.

 

[Alice28]

Originally posted by monarchsfan16
I wonder daily if people forgot that day and it makes me angry. President Bush has every right to use those images; I don't care what John Kerry and people say, Bush has held our nation together as best as anyone could have, considering what happened. All the time I see bumper stickers, pins, keychains, even greeting cards and stamps saying "never forget", but I think most people have and most people need a reminder.

I agree.

 

[suzannen]

Originally posted by monarchsfan16
I wonder daily if people forgot that day and it makes me angry...

My family lost someone that day. I know other people who lost family that day as well. And everyone I know that is in that position feels a lot safer with Bush as president then we would with one of the Democrats.

Well, I am one of those NYers who lived through it, who lost friends that day and I have NOT forgotten and their families certainly have NOT forgotten and none of us feel safer with Bush as president. And, the majority of the victims' families ARE objecting to the use of these particular ads, and I think that their feelings should be taken into consideration.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by suzannen
Originally posted by monarchsfan16
I wonder daily if people forgot that day and it makes me angry...

My family lost someone that day. I know other people who lost family that day as well. And everyone I know that is in that position feels a lot safer with Bush as president then we would with one of the Democrats.

Well, I am one of those NYers who lived through it, who lost friends that day and I have NOT forgotten and their families certainly have NOT forgotten and none of us feel safer with Bush as president. And, the majority of the victims' families ARE objecting to the use of these particular ads, and I think that their feelings should be taken into consideration.

The majority of the victims' families feel that way? And you base this on what exactly? I've certainly not seen any numbers that indicate that to be true.

As for the poster that wondered if the families gave their permission to use these images...I wonder if they gave their permission for these images to be used on teasers for the nightly news? That is every bit as commercial as the current use.

And finally, with all due respect to the victims' families, they need to realize that they don't own 9/11, nor do they have the right to dictate how images from that day are used.

 

[momof2inPA]

Maybe controversy is just what the re-election campaign is looking for. The more we talk about 9-11, the less we talk about the economy, job losses, Iraq, Haiti. Didn't the adds come out about the time Aristide claimed he was forced out? If these adds are used for distraction, yes it is an abomination.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by momof2inPA
Maybe controversy is just what the re-election campaign is looking for. The more we talk about 9-11, the less we talk about the economy, job losses, Iraq, Haiti. Didn't the adds come out about the time Aristide claimed he was forced out? If these adds are used for distraction, yes it is an abomination.

 

[MICKEY88]

Originally posted by Melora
I agree with you. Just because he was the one in the White House doesn't mean he did anything great except do exactly what his advisors told him to.

People have imprinted on him like a baby duck imprints on its mother.. its who they saw when they were full of grief and sadness and so they associate him with leadership (no matter how poor).

Bush just turns my stomach.

following this logic, how can you say anything bad about the President, yu said yourself ..he only does what his advisors tell him...