Actually, that title is not a joke.
Maverick Media produced a video for the Bush campaign called "Kerry's Coalition of the Wild-Eyed." In this video, it shows video clips of John Kerry, Michael Moore, Dick Gephardt, Howard Dean, and Al Gore...oh yeah, and Adolph Hitler.
In the scenes of Hitler, the words "sponsored by MoveOn.org" appear at the bottom. That is misleading.
Here's the real story:
MoveOn.org sponsored an ad contest called "Bush In 30 Seconds" in which there were over 1,500 submissions received. These submissions were put on the website www.bushin30seconds.org for the public to vote on and critique. Two of the submissions compared Bush and Hitler as warmongers.
It is important to note that MoveOn.org did not film or sponsor these ads. In fact, Wes Boyd, the founder of the MoveOn.org Voter Fund, released a press release saying, "The claim that MoveOn.org sponsored the ads comparing President Bush to Adolf Hitler is deliberately and maliciously misleading."
Boyd agreed that the Hitler ads "were in poor taste", and said that he "deeply regret[s] that they slipped through our screening process."
Now the Bush campaign is using the same footage that they spoke out against - to attack John Kerry. It is also worth noting that John Kerry had nothing to do with the MoveOn.org ads, but that doesn't stop the Bush campaign ad from saying, "The following video contains remarks made by and images from ads sponsored by Kerry Supporters."
The Bush campaign going from being angry about the MoveOn.org ads to its use of the ads to attack John Kerry is not the only irony in this scenario.
Remember 2002, during the Senate race in Georgia between Max Cleland and Saxby Chambliss? There were ads attacking Max Cleland, questioning his patriotism. (And for the record, Max Cleland is a triple amputee. He lost both legs and one arm in a grenade explosion in Vietnam. I could not find any record of Saxby Chambliss serving in the armed forces.)
In his press release, Wes Boyd says, "Contrast this attack with the behavior of the RNC and its allies when supporters of President Bush used TV ads morphing the face of Sen. Max Cleland (D-GA) into the image of Osama Bin Laden during the 2002 Senate race."
Contrary to what ideologues might think, dirty politics really does go both ways.
Here is John Kerry's response to the Bush ad (found on the Newsweek web site):
"'The fact that George Bush thinks it’s appropriate to use images of Adolf Hitler in his campaign raises serious questions about his fitness to spend another four years in the White House,' campaign spokesperson Phil Singer said in a statement. 'Adolf Hitler slaughtered millions of innocent people and has no place in a campaign that is supposed to be about the future and hope of this nation.' The Kerry campaign called on the president to remove the video from his Web site."
more info:
"Kerry's Coalition of the Wild-Eyed"
Newsweek's article with Kerry's response
Bush plays the Nazi Card @ slate.com
Wes Boyd's press release
Sen. Max Cleland: experiencing war
Bush In 30 Seconds
6.23.2004
Club for Partisan Political Ads
I've seen a new political ad attacking Senator John Kerry recently on Fox News Channel. (And no matter how much Sean Hannity likes the ad, it was not sponsored by Fox News.)
The ad starts with Kerry in the year 1971, during a Congressional testimony, saying, "We cannot fight Communism all over the World, and I think we should have learned that lesson by now."
Then you see the late Ronald Reagan in 1987 at the Berlin Wall, saying, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Next, we see George W. Bush in 2001 at Ground Zero saying, "I can hear you, the rest of the world hears you, and the people who knocked these building down will hear all of us soon."
The ad then repeats the quote from Kerry, and ends with "John Kerry: Wrong then, Wrong now."
The ad was sponsored by an organization called Club For Growth, a politically right-wing Republican group.
Let's examine the ad:
John Kerry mentioned "Communism", not to be confused with "Terrorism." I can see where the Reagan quote would be appropriate in this scenario, but Bush never decided to fight Communism, and Communism is not dead.
If you think Communism is dead, just ask the people in China, North Korea, Vietnam, or Cuba.
Kerry made his comment in 1971, after coming back from the Vietnam War, which had recently ended. After we lost the Vietnam war, that country remains Communist to this day. So while Reagan may have done some good, he did not eliminate Communism from the world.
John Kerry's comments were regarding the Vietnam war, and had nothing to do with the "War on Terror".
Here's what they didn't mention in the ad:
While John Kerry was risking his life in Vietnam, where was George W. Bush? Was he in the Texas Air National Guard? Was he in Alabama training? Was he in Alabama campaigning for his dad's friends? Did he ever show up for his drills? Did he go AWOL? He has his dental records, so we know he got his teeth cleaned, but what else was he doing?
Club For Growth is more about partisan politics and ideologies than growth. This country needs a strong leader, who knows more about diplomacy than being a "Bring-it-on" cowboy.
more info:
John Kerry
George W Bush
Club for Growth
Vietnam War
Communist Nations
Did Dubya go AWOL?
The ad starts with Kerry in the year 1971, during a Congressional testimony, saying, "We cannot fight Communism all over the World, and I think we should have learned that lesson by now."
Then you see the late Ronald Reagan in 1987 at the Berlin Wall, saying, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Next, we see George W. Bush in 2001 at Ground Zero saying, "I can hear you, the rest of the world hears you, and the people who knocked these building down will hear all of us soon."
The ad then repeats the quote from Kerry, and ends with "John Kerry: Wrong then, Wrong now."
The ad was sponsored by an organization called Club For Growth, a politically right-wing Republican group.
Let's examine the ad:
John Kerry mentioned "Communism", not to be confused with "Terrorism." I can see where the Reagan quote would be appropriate in this scenario, but Bush never decided to fight Communism, and Communism is not dead.
If you think Communism is dead, just ask the people in China, North Korea, Vietnam, or Cuba.
Kerry made his comment in 1971, after coming back from the Vietnam War, which had recently ended. After we lost the Vietnam war, that country remains Communist to this day. So while Reagan may have done some good, he did not eliminate Communism from the world.
John Kerry's comments were regarding the Vietnam war, and had nothing to do with the "War on Terror".
Here's what they didn't mention in the ad:
While John Kerry was risking his life in Vietnam, where was George W. Bush? Was he in the Texas Air National Guard? Was he in Alabama training? Was he in Alabama campaigning for his dad's friends? Did he ever show up for his drills? Did he go AWOL? He has his dental records, so we know he got his teeth cleaned, but what else was he doing?
Club For Growth is more about partisan politics and ideologies than growth. This country needs a strong leader, who knows more about diplomacy than being a "Bring-it-on" cowboy.
more info:
John Kerry
George W Bush
Club for Growth
Vietnam War
Communist Nations
Did Dubya go AWOL?
6.16.2004
Michael Moore is experiencing the "Marilyn Manson effect"
A well-known fact is that controversy usually gets major publicity - especially when it comes to entertainment or politics. Remember when Marilyn Manson released the "Antichrist Superstar" album? During his tour for that album (and many subsequent albums/tours as well), there were large numbers of religious groups outside the concert venue with bullhorns and picket signs protesting the show.
Who showed up at each of these protests, furthering Marilyn Manson's popularity?
The media.
That's right. The media was always there - documenting, filming, broadcasting live, spreading the word about Marilyn Manson. During all of this controversy, his fan base grew.
Right now, Michael Moore, the award-winning director of "Bowling for Columbine" and author of the best-sellers "Stupid White Men" and "Dude, Where's My Country", is experiencing this "Marilyn Manson effect". He has a new film coming to theaters on June 25, 2004 called "Fahrenheit 9/11", and it has been receiving international publicity.
If you haven't followed all the controversy so far, here's the quick version:
Miramax, owned by Disney, puts $6 million into the film. Disney's CEO, Michael Eisner, said that neither Disney nor Miramax will release the film because of multiple excuses (depending on what day you read about it). "Fahrenheit 9/11" debuts at the Cannes Film Festival and wins the top award - the Palme D'or. Film is bought from Disney and will be distributed by Lions Gate Films and IFC Films in the US.
Now, an organization called "Move America Forward" is actively boycotting the film, asking their members to send emails to movie-theater owners (email addresses provided on their site), asking them not to show "Fahrenheit 9/11", calling it a "Bash America" film.
Just like Marilyn Manson, this boycotting will increase Moore's popularity, and more people will see this film.
Here's a quote from the "Move America Forward" web site:
"After it was pre-screened, one Blame American First viewer cried, 'It made me wanna burn my passport.'"
Conservatives love to call their opponents the "Blame America First" crowd, but it doesn't make much sense when you think about conservatives like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.
September 13,2001, Jerry Falwell goes on Pat Robertson's 700 Club and makes the following statement regarding the terrorist attacks of 9/11:
"I really believe that the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way - all of them who have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face, and say, 'you helped this happen.'"
Pat Robertson's response: "Well, I totally concur."
Sounds like these conservatives were blaming certain groups of Americans for 9/11. So who is the "Blame America First" crowd again?
On the Laura Ingraham show today, she actually said something that I agreed with (imagine that) regarding the Michael Moore boycott. She was saying that this boycott was helping Michael Moore...and she's actually right on this one.
One thing that is taken for granted in this country is the First Amendment, guaranteeing the right to free speech. Attempting to stifle free speech sounds like an attempt to move America backwards, not "Move America Forward".
More info:
Michael Moore
Fahrenheit 9/11
Move America Forward
Michael Moore's book and films
Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson's 700 Club
Jerry Falwell
Falwell eats his words
Laura Ingraham
Lions Gate Films
IFC Films
Marilyn Manson
Who showed up at each of these protests, furthering Marilyn Manson's popularity?
The media.
That's right. The media was always there - documenting, filming, broadcasting live, spreading the word about Marilyn Manson. During all of this controversy, his fan base grew.
Right now, Michael Moore, the award-winning director of "Bowling for Columbine" and author of the best-sellers "Stupid White Men" and "Dude, Where's My Country", is experiencing this "Marilyn Manson effect". He has a new film coming to theaters on June 25, 2004 called "Fahrenheit 9/11", and it has been receiving international publicity.
If you haven't followed all the controversy so far, here's the quick version:
Miramax, owned by Disney, puts $6 million into the film. Disney's CEO, Michael Eisner, said that neither Disney nor Miramax will release the film because of multiple excuses (depending on what day you read about it). "Fahrenheit 9/11" debuts at the Cannes Film Festival and wins the top award - the Palme D'or. Film is bought from Disney and will be distributed by Lions Gate Films and IFC Films in the US.
Now, an organization called "Move America Forward" is actively boycotting the film, asking their members to send emails to movie-theater owners (email addresses provided on their site), asking them not to show "Fahrenheit 9/11", calling it a "Bash America" film.
Just like Marilyn Manson, this boycotting will increase Moore's popularity, and more people will see this film.
Here's a quote from the "Move America Forward" web site:
"After it was pre-screened, one Blame American First viewer cried, 'It made me wanna burn my passport.'"
Conservatives love to call their opponents the "Blame America First" crowd, but it doesn't make much sense when you think about conservatives like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.
September 13,2001, Jerry Falwell goes on Pat Robertson's 700 Club and makes the following statement regarding the terrorist attacks of 9/11:
"I really believe that the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way - all of them who have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face, and say, 'you helped this happen.'"
Pat Robertson's response: "Well, I totally concur."
Sounds like these conservatives were blaming certain groups of Americans for 9/11. So who is the "Blame America First" crowd again?
On the Laura Ingraham show today, she actually said something that I agreed with (imagine that) regarding the Michael Moore boycott. She was saying that this boycott was helping Michael Moore...and she's actually right on this one.
One thing that is taken for granted in this country is the First Amendment, guaranteeing the right to free speech. Attempting to stifle free speech sounds like an attempt to move America backwards, not "Move America Forward".
More info:
Michael Moore
Fahrenheit 9/11
Move America Forward
Michael Moore's book and films
Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson's 700 Club
Jerry Falwell
Falwell eats his words
Laura Ingraham
Lions Gate Films
IFC Films
Marilyn Manson
Why don't the pundits act like their heroes?
Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Arthur Schlesinger Jr. has a great article in the June 14, 2004 issue of Newsweek regarding the leadership of Ronald Reagan. In his article, he says of Reagan:
"He was not mean-spirited like Nixon, with contempt for blacks, Jews and liberals, nor did he regard political opponents as enemies of the republic."
It's too bad today's conservative commentators don't follow the actions of one of their heroes. The attacks that spew from the conservative pundits today range from terms like "un-American" and "treasonous" to "terrorist sympathizers".
In other words, Ann Coulter owes the world an apology.
more info:
Newsweek
Ann Coulter
"He was not mean-spirited like Nixon, with contempt for blacks, Jews and liberals, nor did he regard political opponents as enemies of the republic."
It's too bad today's conservative commentators don't follow the actions of one of their heroes. The attacks that spew from the conservative pundits today range from terms like "un-American" and "treasonous" to "terrorist sympathizers".
In other words, Ann Coulter owes the world an apology.
more info:
Newsweek
Ann Coulter
6.02.2004
Less is Moore
Leaving work around 6 pm, I only had one hour to get to the polls before they closed. I rushed there, making good time. I walked up to the line, showed my I.D., and was asked, "Republican or Democrat?".
I really don't like having to choose. I like to vote for people, not parties, so I responded with "Do I have to choose?".
Well, I had to pick one, but which one to pick....hhhmmmmm....well, I thought about what I was doing, and realized that I could either vote for someone, or vote against someone - so I picked Republican.
This is what entered my mind. I thought about how Roy Moore had made a mockery of the Alabama Supreme Court, metaphorically pissed on our Constitution's First Amendment, defied his job, and caused Alabama to become just another joke for the national media. Then I thought about how he endorsed certain candidates for the Alabama Supreme Court, and how they must be stopped.
All those ads, mail-outs, and radio commercials about how they will stand up for Christian values...but no mention of the law. Is it too much to ask for a judge to stand up for the law? To obey the law? To do your job?
I have no problem with someone standing up for their religious beliefs, but making your entire political campaign on it is wrong unless you're running for a Priest position.
I thought that I may be the only one who had done this until I read the Montgomery Advertiser's article: "Few Voters, Tight Races".
Here is an excerpt of the article:
"But others were drawn to the polls because they opposed Moore's slate of candidates.
'I came out specifically to vote against those candidates who Roy Moore supports,' Montgomery resident Terry Harris said. "I am a firm believer in the separation of church and state."
The outcome of the vote:
Only one of the three judges that Moore endorsed won, and that was by a narrow margin.
Mr. Terry Harris, you're a good man.
"Moore" info:
Few Voters, Tight Races
I really don't like having to choose. I like to vote for people, not parties, so I responded with "Do I have to choose?".
Well, I had to pick one, but which one to pick....hhhmmmmm....well, I thought about what I was doing, and realized that I could either vote for someone, or vote against someone - so I picked Republican.
This is what entered my mind. I thought about how Roy Moore had made a mockery of the Alabama Supreme Court, metaphorically pissed on our Constitution's First Amendment, defied his job, and caused Alabama to become just another joke for the national media. Then I thought about how he endorsed certain candidates for the Alabama Supreme Court, and how they must be stopped.
All those ads, mail-outs, and radio commercials about how they will stand up for Christian values...but no mention of the law. Is it too much to ask for a judge to stand up for the law? To obey the law? To do your job?
I have no problem with someone standing up for their religious beliefs, but making your entire political campaign on it is wrong unless you're running for a Priest position.
I thought that I may be the only one who had done this until I read the Montgomery Advertiser's article: "Few Voters, Tight Races".
Here is an excerpt of the article:
"But others were drawn to the polls because they opposed Moore's slate of candidates.
'I came out specifically to vote against those candidates who Roy Moore supports,' Montgomery resident Terry Harris said. "I am a firm believer in the separation of church and state."
The outcome of the vote:
Only one of the three judges that Moore endorsed won, and that was by a narrow margin.
Mr. Terry Harris, you're a good man.
"Moore" info:
Few Voters, Tight Races
The Partisan Lie Detector at the Capital City Free Press
Be sure to check out my new article, "The Partisan Lie Detector" in the June issue of the Capital City Free Press.
Here are the links:
Capital City Free Press
The Partisan Lie Detector
Here are the links:
Capital City Free Press
The Partisan Lie Detector
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