Obama Cast As Neville Chamberlain-Like Appeaser In Citizens United Ad (VIDEO)

The conservative activist organization Citizens United is up on the air with a new ad that pushes a traditional trope: President Obama as the reincarnation of Neville Chamberlain.

Titled "Stop Iran Now," the spot includes footage of the former British prime minister who famously appeased Adolf Hitler, implying that Obama is doing the same with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"If Barack Obama repeats the same mistakes today and Iran gets nuclear weapons, how many would suffer?" the ad goes.

The ad is airing nationally, a spokesperson for the group said. But the slots have been booked on Fox News -- suggesting that the group seeks to arouse conservative complaints about the president rather than persuade independents.

Still, the footage and message are remarkably direct and, in many respects, misleading. The Obama administration has just helped shepherd the toughest sanctions against Iran in United Nations history. The president has done little to suggest he is comfortable with Ahmadinejad's temperament or posturing (though Republicans would argue he could have more forcefully backed the uprising after the country's disputed elections last year). And when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with the president on Tuesday, he went out of his way to compliment the White House's for its "unbreakable" bond with Israel.

All of this, by Citizens United's account, is comparable to pre-Holocaust appeasement.

Comments

[toosinbeymen]

01:04 PM on 07/08/2010

Yeah, citizens united, clearly we need to start another war. In fact I think it would be wonderful if everyone in or associated with your group join the military and volunteer for ME duty.

[foxfan]

12:48 PM on 07/08/2010

Looks like MoveOn.Org has a nemesis.

[Discomustachio]

12:45 PM on 07/08/2010

It always amazes me when rabid Conservatives blame Obama for their own failures. 8 years of Bush, most in a post 9/11 world, saw Bush invade Afgahnastan, Iraq, and flank Iran from the north in Uzbekestan with a military base there. Iran is essentially flanked on from every direction if you include our carriers off of the coast. So, let's say 5 years of stalemate in which anybody with a shredd of common sense knows that attacking Iran is plain nuts. The country is massive, their army is massive, their navy is actually worth taking note of and is designed specifically to defeat the US navy, and they can attack our bases in the Middle East with rockets, not to mention their ability to force Israels' hand with Hamas. Fast forward to the Obama Presidency and everything is essentially the same: Hope Iran doesn't get the bomb, accept the fact that they will, find a way to contain the effects of that". That was the Bush strategy. This is the Obama strategy. It is US strategic national interest. It crosses party lines.

Yet, citizens united calls Obama an appeaser when Bush did the same appeasing. IT's pathetic.

[hatmadder]

12:39 PM on 07/08/2010

Same tools that brought you the Swiftboat campaign and the Willie Horton ad and championed Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court...these guys still think that the Reagan "revolution" was a success (ie, deregulate everything, privatize everything, and blame everyone else for the consequences); they're still bitter that Robert Bork isn't on the Supreme Court and that the Clintons aren't in jail over Whitewater. Almost funny to see them trot out the N@zis...

[sobernserene]

11:28 AM on 07/08/2010

Actually I think that President Obama is doing so much more than could be truly expected in the present political climate. I also think that in his second term he will be unstoppable. He will no longer need to worry about who he upsets in that second term. He is a good and honorable man and we better start appreciate the great things he has been capable of doing rather than complaining all the time that it is not enough. We will start believing our own complaints and then we are all in trouble.

[Pandaforum]

11:18 AM on 07/08/2010

obama is continuing carter's failed foreign policy. apeease our enemies and stab our allies in the back.

[sobernserene]

11:23 AM on 07/08/2010

Please read the article. You are mislead by the conservative news.

[PWM]

12:00 PM on 07/08/2010

Sure sounds like the GOP's policy. Remember how we betrayed Tiawan to cater to communist china.

[Okiemama]

11:06 AM on 07/08/2010

Why are the Democrats not fighting back? I am fed up with my party for rolling over and playing dead when these ads are being run. How can Obama be a Nazi, a Nazi appeaser, a communist, a Muslim, an angry black man out to destroy the economy for revenge, the anti-Christ, etc. all at the same time? Don't some of these things cancel each other out (Muslim and a communist for example)? These ads will work if there is nothing to counter them.

[sobernserene]

11:32 AM on 07/08/2010

I totally agree. We either roll over or we join the chorus of those saying this president has done nothing right.

[PinkOne]

10:04 AM on 07/08/2010

the right wing conservative cult is nothing but a bunch of nazi's ... period ... and the Rove playbook is transparent .... i wish all their heads would just explode already with all fear and hate they drive each day ... come the midterms .. the GOP will be burnt to the ground ...

[Pandaforum]

11:20 AM on 07/08/2010

hate mongering befits you. the GOP will be triumphant in November, thanks to your encouragement.

[stav506]

11:27 AM on 07/08/2010

Hate mongering? Please research the majority of the ads, blogs and talking heads from the GOP and Tea Party.

It's really amazing how you can get your foot in your mouth while having your head up your arse at the same time.

[PinkOne]

11:35 AM on 07/08/2010

the last time i looked the GOP did not exsist anymore ... it has been replace by the right radical cult ... or didn't you notice that people have left the party in DROVES .... Party is done .. go thank Sarah ..

[Johnnyash]

09:49 AM on 07/08/2010

I've always thought that Obama was endangering America by constantly trying to appease the GOP

[Pandaforum]

11:21 AM on 07/08/2010

you mean because obama is Bush lite III?

[anothermansopinion]

09:43 AM on 07/08/2010

Well, in an ironic way, I do think that President Obama is an appeaser of a sort -- but the ones he's been appeasing when he shouldn't be are the Republicans.

[DevonTexas]

09:09 AM on 07/08/2010

well, I guess the economic depression will be cured by all the money the big corps spend in advertising between now and 2012!

[swengnikaerb]

08:52 AM on 07/08/2010

Another war? With Iran?? Whose population is mostly under 40? Seriously?? This is the best the GOP can do?

Provoke ANOTHER WAR????

[vlm1948]

09:34 AM on 07/08/2010

They do love their wars.

[PinkOne]

10:06 AM on 07/08/2010

they live for war and guns ... oh and don;t forget Jesus Inc ..

[JackND]

08:43 AM on 07/08/2010

No surprise that they aren't taking it to the independents anymore. The GOP response to BP has begun a slow but sure mass turnoff of independent voters, at least those who actually deserve that label and aren't just claiming it.

[fictioneer]

08:43 AM on 07/08/2010

Citizens United is just Rove and the GOP's latest attempt to bait another shooter for the president. They know they can't beat him in an election and the shooters they've baited thus far have all failed. The person they hope will assassinate Obama most likely watches FOX. The GOP is hoping to win independents via a militia-backed coup after that. Note the death threats against Democratic senators and congressional reps.

[JackND]

08:40 AM on 07/08/2010

How can Barack Obama be both Adolf Hitler AND Neville Chamberlain?

[DevonTexas]

09:10 AM on 07/08/2010

he switches moustaces?

[JackND]

09:12 AM on 07/08/2010

best retort ever!