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

[SmackwaterJack]

Excellent, Taylor, that is exactly how to do it exposure, this is why a call them fascist, it's Machiavellian.

[TexasDem0]

If Harry Fletcher claims to support this war, hand him a rifle and send him to Iraq.
P.S. I know, it’s “Ari Fleischer”, but if the neo-cons can trivialize people by deliberately mispronouncing their names, why can’t I?

[klmebane]

was it just me or did that soldier look like he didn't really believe what he was saying?? no time for politics? he must be blissfully unaware that that is why we are in iraq in the first place. iraq didn't attack us, so to say they'll do it again is blatantly false.

was he under orders to make that video or did they pay him?? probably trying to combat that report that some grunts on the ground wrote that said the troop surge was failing miserably. hmmmm, i wonder.

[ncwoodland]

Using 3 little words can be turned around on used on the Republicans as well...Stay the Course.
This admonition comes from a president who never served in war when he could have, and a vice-president who had
"other priorities." Their response to stay the course was to cut & run...not me, nossir, somebody else. I'm special.
I agree with Paul Reichoff who said today that vets (as in the Republican ads) are not props, nor are they chew-toys. From the horse's mouth...not from a bunch of wimpy, too busy to serve, candyass war mongers.

[mommadona]

I just watched his little "coming out" on HARDBALL.

He got his little batwings clipped.

The host, (I can't remember the name - Mike...(?)who's usually Mr. Right-Wing cuddle) really pinned him to the board.

And the young man from the Vet's group laid it alllll out.

They just don't "GET IT"......Ari's been out of the koolaide bath for awile - he should KNOW better (or he's really,really,really desperate because his "Adjustable Rate Mortgage is due to double next month)

[dawlishgal]

I watched Hardball too. Fleischer didn't even know the name of the poor deluded maimed veteran that they are exploiting this time (we are supposed to feel guilty on this guy's behalf if we leave Iraq without killing a few thousand more of our military, so this guy won't feel that he "wasted" HIS leg).

They had similar commercials before the '04 elections in which families of dead veterans begged for the killing to continue so their children won't have died in vain.

Amazing how a bunch of chickenhawks can always find ways to exploit the brave people who actually serve in combat and to seduce their families into advocating more killings of our military.

When I hear the VFW complaining about being used as tools of those who found the very idea of fighting in combat to be so far outside of their own "priorities," they had to call on rich fathers to bail them out, then maybe I will buy their poppies on Memorial Day.

When they start worrying about the REAL problems of veterans (such as adequate health care), then I'll take them seriously.

In the meantime, they are just another propaganda branch of the Bush administration.

[chazaroo]

Why, when the opportunity arises, would anyone pass up the chance to ask the fascist pimp fleisher et.al., "Were you in the military, if not why not". They all cower and shrivel up on that one.

[hopeless277]

"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."

Uh, beat Democrats? Even I know how to beat Democrats. Three words send them running like little girls for their momma's protection.

Soft On Terror.

That's all it takes. Three little words. They are a bunch of disgraceful cowards. Sent into battle for the life and soul of this nation. And what have they done? MORE troops to Iraq. MORE power to the president. MORE slaps in the face by no-shows under subpoena. They are a bunch of pathetic wimps. Scared of their own shadow. Save the nation? Hell, they're lighting the matches and handing them to Bush so he can burn the nation down! Disgusting cowards, all of 'em.

[nottoworry]

Do you not understand how our government works. If not, call your representative or senator and ask. Better yet, read some law on procedure in congress. It is not as easy as it sounds.

[TexasDem0]

nottoworry, As you have probably already deduced, I live in Texas, heartland of the 20-plus-percenters who worship BushCo. I have written repeatedly to both senators, and my representative. Senator Cornyn doesn’t bother to respond. Senator Hutchinson sometimes replies, and then only with computer generated BushCo cheerleader propaganda which occasionally addresses the actual issue. Representative Burgess’s Rovian replies are equally inane. Most recently, he touted the hollow credentials of Alberto Gonzales and proclaimed him to be an effective, competent Attorney General.
They cover their ears, stamp their feet, and shout praises to BushCo.
I studied Constitutional Law as a graduate student. My observation is that the GOP members of Congress have apparently never read the Constitution and show no indication that they have a clue as to how this government is supposed to work. They behave as if they have violated their oath to “support and defend the Constitution” by swearing a loyalty oath to protect the criminals in BushCo. Every passing day, they provide more evidence to support the supposition.

[Rescisco]

Three little words that should aptly describe the leaders of this generation in the history books of tomorrow: "Short On Brains."