iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More

Taylor Marsh

Taylor Marsh

Posted: August 22, 2007 04:28 PM

White House Front Group Screens You Out


It's like showing up at a Bush rally but not being allowed in. It's just the phone version of it.

The new ads are deadly. They're meant to be. They're targeting any Republican who dares to walk about from the president's disaster in Iraq. The list is long. I guess Bush figures if he's going down he wants company. However, using soldiers to keep the surge may be the worst thing a commander in chief can do, but it doesn't stop there.

Ari Fleischer is the front man for "Freedom's Watch," just another swiftboating type group meant to do the president's bidding. Many of you know me through my anti swiftboating work in 2006, so when I talk about these types of organizations you can bet I know what I'm talking about.

Check out the number at the end of the ad: 1-877-222-8001. Go on, call it.

As I told my radio listeners earlier today, once you get through something amazing happens. The operator asks you a question. Yes, you're expected to take part in a survey before she puts you through to Congress. But there's a catch. The question asked goes something like this: Do you believe the Iraq war is important to the war on terror? They may have changed the question by now, because we're on to them, but that's what I was asked. If you say no, the operator immediately thanks you but doesn't connect you to Congress. Instead, she asks if you have anything else to say and then basically gets rid of you. They're only allowing people who agree with them through.

Slick.

Dishonest.

Busted.

I hope this backfires on Bush. It's long past time to take a stand and stop the escalation in Iraq.

But you have to say one thing for the Republicans. If you want to know how they win battles and beat Democrats this is a good lesson. When Congress runs astray from White House policy, the president's minions target them. This is a lesson for Reid, but also Pelosi, as Democrats get weak and the Blue Dog Democrats ponder aligning against the country's own interest and our soldiers on Iraq. That's why the Bush dog campaign is so important over at Open Left. It intends to hold wandering Democrats accountable for siding with Bush on Iraq (and FISA).

But when it comes to these new Iraq ads, Democrats in Congress take a lesson, but you better do it quickly. You're already one step behind.


Follow Taylor Marsh on Twitter: www.twitter.com/taylormarsh

 
 
  • Comments
  • 31
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2  Next ›  Last »  (2 total)
HUFFPOST PUNDIT
realpolitic
When in Rome.......
07:59 AM on 08/23/2007
The most despicable thing about the right is that they are always using soldiers as a prop for their views. Soldier's opinions are said to largely reflect those of society regarding the war in Iraq. That would mean most don't support it. They are professional soldiers and would go anywhere ordered. I'm sure they would prefer not to die. Why, then, are they constantly used as props for the right? If they speak for themselves in dissent of the war, these same soldiers are marginalized and villified by the right. I think the hard right supports the troops only if they will go off to far away lands with no explanation and die quietly.
12:59 AM on 08/23/2007
Dear Ms. Marsh,

You are a "Treasure" indeed! Agape.
12:11 AM on 08/23/2007
Went to Freedom's Watch website...."privacy policy":

Collection and Use of Personally Identifiable Information
FREEDOM’S WATCH collects certain personally identifiable information (“PII”) when you register with FREEDOM’S WATCH, submit comments for a bulletin board or forum, subscribe to receive emails or other notices from us, make a contribution through the Website, or otherwise submit PII to us. Specifically, we may collect the following personal information: your name, email address, telephone numbers, and other demographic information (like zip code, age, address, education or income level). If you make a contribution, we may also collect account information relating to your method of payment.

We use the PII information to process your requests or contributions, or to send you information or material for which you have subscribed or which we think you will enjoy. We also use the PII to assess and improve our services. We may allow entities assisting FREEDOM’S WATCH on technical and internal issues to access certain PII data on a need-to-know basis, subject to confidentiality protections. We will not share any personal credit card or other financial information associated with an individual with any third party, except as necessary to facilitate or process a financial transaction or comply with a legal obligation. We reserve the right to provide any successor in interest with our subscriber and user databases, and to comply with court orders or other legal obligations. We may share your name, email address, physical address and other demographic information with affiliates or entities with which we share common interests or perspectives.

We collect the IP address of our visitors and use that data to gather broad demographic information about our visitors. We also may use cookies to enhance your experience with our website. “Cookies" are small files downloaded to your hard drive that enable your browser to save and recall information. We may use this data to tailor our visitors’ experiences, showing them content that we think they might be interested in, and displaying the content according to their preferences. We may share demographic information with our members and supporters on an aggregate basis.."
11:06 PM on 08/22/2007
It will be like Nam? Perhaps the draft dodging awol drunken Shrub ahould have went and fought. With all his abilties as a warrior he may have turned the tide. Vietgnam as best I can tell is a peacful country making progress for its people after years of fighting of France then us.We were wrong get? Then and get over it chicken hawks.Arile is a scum bag.
10:43 PM on 08/22/2007
I love their ad.

He says "Those Congressmen who are calling for SURRENDER"

Surrender? I didn't realize we were at war.

Who's the enemy? The Sunnis or the Shiites? Or is it all the Iraqis.

Or just those who don't like us occupying their country?

Wait, I thought it was Saddam Hussein, and possibly his Baath party. Maybe a few cousins, Chemical Ali...

But wiat, they're all gone.

So why would us leaving them to fight their civil war be surrendering?

"Surrender's" just another hot word, like "Soft On Terror"

And the other part I love ..."If we left, things would get REALLY bad."

How? Except, that is, for American casualties dropping to zero.

The Iranians taking over the Iraqi oilfields? Big deal, they sell oil on the same open market as everyone else.

Our REAL enemies are ourselves, our energy addiction, our imperialism, and Ameria's failure to stand up to a pseudo-dictator like Bush.

Wake up, America.
09:30 PM on 08/22/2007
Interesting question -- and it's OK to answer YES. The Iraq war really IS important to the war on terror -- it's undermining our resources and efforts to actually target terrorists.
09:23 PM on 08/22/2007
I saw the ad on a local station during the news and I thought it sounded as insipid as anything Bush says. I doubt anyone's mind will be changed because the premise is so obviously wrong. My first thought was - who is paying for this?
photo
nypoet22
Psychology Ph.D., Civics Teacher, Songwriter
09:15 PM on 08/22/2007
That question is easy. The Iraq war IS important to the "war on terror." The Afghani conflict just isn't big enough to convince the citizens of Oceania that the fake war with Eurasia (or was it Eastasia) is actually global.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
08:34 PM on 08/22/2007
Thanks for the post Taylor. I called the number and the same thing happened to me, but I did get to mention that the war in Iraq was causing more terrorism and had diverted funds and troops from Afghanistan and getting OBL, which would help fight terrorism. Then they hung up on me - I hope that you are right and that this backfires on Bush!
08:20 PM on 08/22/2007
btw I agree with the comment about smug Ari Fletcher getting walloped by the MSNBC vet consultant...he pointed out although Ari would build a million dollar ad campaign around this vet's story,,,he didn't EVEN know the vet's name....SLAM!
08:09 PM on 08/22/2007
I think you've mistaken the audience this commercial is intended for, and what is the desired effect. After also hearing Bush for the first time link Viet Nam and Iraq, together with this commercial which STILL links 9/11 with Iraq War, and uses an amputee vet to sell this tear-jerker.
The audience for BOTH the commercial and the speech I believe is Anti War activists. I think they want so many of us, SO FROTHING with rage, they'll be able to find footage of our outrage to use in later commercials at the September votes on Iraq.
I'll do my best to temper my anger until the votes, then I'm giving in to my rage FULL TILT, and it won't matter a damn if a cowardly surge-cheerleader is Rep. or Dem.
07:58 PM on 08/22/2007
You know how easy it is to defeat a Republicon?
Ask them where is Bin Laden? I rest my case.
photo
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
indypete
11:59 PM on 08/22/2007
You're assuming they understand logic. They'll simply change the subject and attack you.
photo
BBackSoon
Hello, I must be going.
11:23 AM on 08/23/2007
You are correct. You cannot argue with someone that will not engage you on the issues. And if you turn the tables they start saying how you are merely spouting talking points and being evasive.

As much as I hate to agree with Hillary, we do have a 'Vast Right Wing Conspiracy" and either you are with then or against them. No room for dissent because they call that as treason.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
FearlessFreep
A radical leftist with a JS Woodsworth avatar.
07:46 PM on 08/22/2007
Here's a smart trick

Call 1-877-222-8001 and when they ask you if you support the Iraq War, say yes. Then when they put you through to Congress, show your true antiwar colors.
07:44 PM on 08/22/2007
OMG - I am having so much fun. I have called that number several times and I act very nice and when they ask me the question - which is a new one by the way - "Do you believe that surrender in Iraq will hurt the war on terror" or something like that - I get all confused and tell them that I thought this was a switchboard so that I could get connected to my congressman - I've called over a half a dozen times - I got the same person twice. Some get angry and hang up - I confused this one poor woman - she acted like she was trying to connect me and it wasn't working - others just give me the web address - then I say "wait a minute, I thought you were supposed to connect me to my congressmen" The last time I told them I supported the fight against terrorism but who said anything about surrender - she kept asking me the question so I finally asked if this was a trick.

It's been loads of fun. I think everyone should flood the lines and act really nice about it but "can't you just connect me so I can tell my congressman myself?"
07:23 PM on 08/22/2007
Democrats lose because they do not stand up what the Republicans have destroyed...peace,prosperity and Freedom for Americans and a government that follows the Constitution.
Bush and the neoCONS have destroyed the freedom that America held as its chief value.
09:40 PM on 08/22/2007
but heck the dems only want your means to protect your self.You know guns and ammo.