When you're a Republican, it's OK

[Lanya]

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2006/nov/02/two_gop_ads_show_images_of_flag_draped_coffins


Two GOP Ads Show Images Of Flag-Draped Coffins
By Greg Sargent | bio

Question: When is it okay to run a political ad with images of the flag-draped coffins of soldiers? Answer: When you're a Republican. Back in July, the National Republican Congressional Committee held a press conference to denounce its Dem counterpart, the DCCC, for running a web ad showing such coffin imagery. Many other senior Republicans, including House majority leader John Boehner, condemned the ad, and it was a raging controversy for days until the DCCC pulled it. But guess what: Now there are not one, but two Republican ads which show an image of flag-draped coffins -- and one of them has been paid for by, yep, the NRCC. More after the jump.

[Image Of Flag Draped Coffins In GOP Ad]

The above image is a screen grab of an ad which was paid for by the campaign of GOP candidate Paul Nelson, a former Marine and real estate developer who's running against Dem Rep. Ron Kind in Wisconsin's third district. You can watch the ad right here.

Election Central reached an aide at Nelson's office a few minutes ago. When we told him that the DCCC ad with similar imagery was roundly condemned by leading Republicans in July, the aide told us that he wasn't aware that this had happened. He declined comment and referred us to the campaign press secretary, whi didn't immediately return an email for comment. (We've also asked the NRCC for their take on the ad given their condemnation of such imagery in July.)

So that's the first ad.

The second ad showing flag-draped coffins comes courtesy of, yes, the NRCC. As the Associated Press reports today, the ad has been running since Tuesday in Georgia's 12th district against Dem Rep. John Barrow. Barrow is fending off a challenge from GOP candidate Max Burns.

The NRCC ad against Barrow shows images of TV screens showing the DCCC ad originally condemned by the NRCC. A narrator says: "Barrow is funded by an organization that used coffins of dead American soldiers in a fund-raising ad." That's a reference, of course, to the DCCC. Here's the key screen grab:

[Images Of Flag Draped Coffins In NRCC Ad]

Even though this GOP ad -- unlike the one by in Wisconsin -- is using the original Dem footage of flag-draped coffins in order to attack Dems, the NRCC ad has nonetheless drawn criticism not just from Dems, but from GOP candidate Burns, too. Burns said any use of the imagery at all is out of bounds -- even if it's referring to the Dem ad -- and demanded that the NRCC pull the new spot:

    "It is unacceptable for them to use American soldiers' coffins in any advertising," Burns told The Associated Press. "They need to remove those immediately."

Dem Barrow also blasted the NRCC for running the ad:

    Barrow called it "utter hypocrisy" that Republicans would attack him with images they considered off-limits months ago.

    "They're not trying to insult the memories of fallen soldiers to raise money, they're doing it to get votes," Barrow said. "It's just as insensitive either way."

So both the Republican and Dem candidates agree that any sort of use of this imagery at all is out of bounds in a political ad. Nonetheless, the NRCC is refusing to pull it. "Our production of the ad is completely independent of former congressman Burns and we have no plans to take it down," NRCC spokesman Jonathan Collegio. told AP.

With the two above ads in mind, then, let's look back at what the NRCC said in July about the use of this imagery in an ad. Here's what NRCC chief Tom Reynolds had to say about the Dem use of it in July:

    Rep. Tom Reynolds, R-N.Y., held a news conference to denounce the ad.

    "It makes my stomach turn to see national Democrats so blatantly exploit the sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed forces," Reynolds said.

John Boehner:

    "It's disgraceful that ... the Democrats would use images of caskets of dead American soldiers to raise money. I think they should pull the advertisement immediately and sincerely apologize to our men and women in uniform and their families and the American people."

So there you have it. Watch the NRSC's ad below:

[Plane]

Poor judgement.

[The_Professor]

Indeed. But then again, during this vicious election season, poor judgement runs amok. Locally, the Democrat Jim Marshall hada comfortable lead over his Republican challenger, Mac Collins. Now, after several weeks of negative campaigning by Collins (and some from Marshall, admittedly), he has pulled even with Marshall Of course, two visits by President Bush in this military-dominated, heavily Republican area didn't hurt either. In THIS area at least, the President does indeed have coattails. There is also local concern that Democrats will cut the Defense budget, therefore negatively impacted the military base here, Robins Air Force Base.

"Robins Air Force Base is the largest single-site industrial complex in Georgia. It is situated on 8,435 acres and contains more than 14 million square feet of maintenance, administrative and storage facilities. Robins has the largest runway in Georgia and more than 1,400 family housing units. Currently, the base employs more than 27,020 civilian service workers, military members, contractors, and non-appropriated fund employees. Peripheral services created to serve these personnel have been roughly calculated at an additional 36,855 jobs. Together the Robins jobs plus the peripheral jobs total 63,875 jobs or approximately 30.84% of the jobs in the area!"

http://www.warner-robins.com/employment/RobinsAirForceBase.asp

[Plane]

Both the incumbent and the Republican canadate have some Congressional time in office so the issue of clout in appropriations is unusually absent in this race.


Marshall isn't bad , his opponent isn't bad but they are both indulgeing the trend to advertise negatively and fudge on the facts.