Bush ads upset 9/11 families
 

NEW YORK (AP) -- President Bush's re-election campaign on Thursday defended commercials using images from the September 11 terrorist attacks, including wreckage of the World Trade Center, as appropriate for an election about public policy and the war on terror.

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The Firefighters union has also said that the use of pictures of firefighters at "Ground Zero" is also disrespectful to them and the police who died on 9/11.

This is going to be a very interesting election season, with everyone and everything under a microscope.

I'm not sure how it's disrespectful.

The tragedy doesn't belong to just the people who experienced it first hand. It belongs to the entire country. As the Nation's leader at the time, Bush has plenty of right to use those images. As a national tragedy that still effects us today, I think it's very relevant.

I guess those that lost loved ones feel is trying to benefit off the tragedy of thers.

I think that if enough people feel it's disrespectful, then they should voice their distain and not vote for him.

i find it quite disrespectful and (fortunately) i didn't lose anyone in the attacks. my feeling is there is a time and a place for everything, and this is not the time and place for it. to me, it seems like Bush is using these national tragedies to make sure he stays employed, in a way.

Does that mean that a firefighter whos job it is to put out fires that cause people a lot of misery shouldn't list his or her experience on their resume?

I really fail to see why these folks are "offended" about this (or if they actually are). I think this is an entirely politically motivated attack. Bush is highlighting the fact that he and his supporters think he's done an excellent job as President following the 9/11 attacks.

Just mudslinging.

Monarchies, without civil rights, are tasteful. Democracies are sloppy.

It is perfectly reasonable for President Bush to highlight how he reacted to 9-11, a defining moment in American history, and something still unresolved.

It is also reasonable for the American people to withdraw their arbitrary support for the President, and begin to view him critically.

Any American who refrains from taking a critical look at the President, during the election season, in my opinion, is a bad American.

Also, in my opinion, any American, who uses emotional impact, and subjective standards of taste, to admonish those who seek to discuss an issue as important as 9-11, is a bad American.

People who are offended by the 2004 method of selling political ideas, via mass media, simply need to get over it. Rest assured that the Kerry camp will use similar methods against President Bush, as is the Kerry campaign's constititional right.

That's not what I was saying. What I was saying is that the families of victims believe he is profiting/benefiting from a tragedy.
While it is a firefighters job to save lives and put out fires...and yes they are tragedies, a figherfighter doesn't go around showing pictures of the people he saved to prove to employers that he's a good figherfighter. These are two different things.
This is kind of like when people were trying to sell mugs and t-shirts with victims vaces on and their familes protested. Because they felt these retailers/sellers/manufactures were trying to profit of the death of their loved one not preserve their memory.


And yes it is a pollitically motivated attack. This is politics afterall.

Already happened.

By the same standard, Kerry shouldn't be using his 4 months in Vietnam to enhance his image since he turned around at the time and marched with Hanoi Jane.

I see a difference.

Kerry, I think, uses pictures of himself. The Bush ads use pictures of others.

I wonder if they got release forms from the Firefighters in the video?

If so, the argument is moot, I guess.

Yes, I think this is the main problem. If he had put the pictures of himself rallying the workers or giving speeches or something it wouldn't be such an issue. But to see a dead body being removed on a strecher? I do think it's a bit much - and I'm not one of the people who believes the area is "sacred ground" b/c people died there.

All broadcasters should be fined by the FCC for this and we need to have this banned in several cities.

-Rudey

I see your point Lady Pi Phi...but the 9/11 victims sure didnt mind benefiting financially from their own tragedy by demanding more and more $$ on a state and federal level.. Of course thats not Politically Correct to say...but its the truth. (An aside I actually think its insane to talk about the 9/11 victims as if they all think the same....but that seems to be the way the convo is going.) THe 9/11 victims do not own this tragedy.
BUSH's presidency has been and will be defined by 9/11 and the war on terror...and for anyone to suggest that he shouldn't talk about that is just good ol' partisan politics at its best. Dems and Liberals alike will crap their pants if he finds Bin Laden ...its so crazy...its not about the war on terror...its about hating a president and his administration..

I am so glad I am above the fray and don't get bogged down into partisan, one-track mind politics...

HOO RAY for the Independent thinkers in the world!

I can't even believe anyone is offended by this. It just goes to show how far ingrained that political identification is in our election process. People don't even look at things objectively. It's "It's a Republican conspiracy to gain sympathy votes. Bush is benefitting off the deaths of innocents!!" Seriously, anyone that believes that is an idiot. It's the same with the right-wing side. Soon as Kerry comes out with something that is slightly controversial eveyone will get fired up about that.

I also think it's funny that more people will probably decide on who they are voting for over something like this than an actual issue.