Tuesday, April 29, 2008
DNC Ad Shows U.S. Soldiers Being Blown Up
By: Jim Meyers
The Democratic National Committee has sparked outrage among veterans and others across the internet by running an anti-John McCain ad that shows U.S. soldiers being blown up.
After the new ad’s voice-over castigated McCain for suggesting that the United States may stay in Iraq for “maybe 100” years, the footage becomes shocking.
The DNC ad then shows an explosive device detonating near two soldiers standing beside a palm tree. The two soldiers disappear in an explosive fireball. The video also shows images of burning vehicles.
The footage appears similar to film taken by jihadists who videotape IED explosions that kill American combat troops. The jihadists place the video on the internet to tout their "kill Americans" campaign success. The Army estimates that more than 6,500 jihadist Web sites promote violence against America and American troops.
Many U.S. media outlets have refused to air excerpts from such videos for several reasons - including out of respect of the servicemen and women depicted in the videos.
The DNC apparently does not agree. Calls to the DNC for comment and for information about the footage went unreturned.
The Republican National Committee harshly criticized the ad, stating: “It is becoming clear that [DNC Chairman] Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee will say and do anything to defeat John McCain.” The RNC demanded that the ad be stopped.
The McCain campaign and the RNC contend that the Democrats have been distorting McCain’s comment that the United States may remain in Iraq for "maybe 100” years. Such critics say McCain’s comments have been taken out of context.
The Associated Press reported that he actually went on to say:
“As long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed, it's fine with me, and I hope it would be fine with you, if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where al-Qaida is training, recruiting, equipping and motivating people every single day."
Republicans also allege that the DNC violates federal election law by coordinating its ad campaign with the Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton campaigns.
The RNC counsel has sent letters to the heads of NBC, CNN, and MSNBC demanding the ad be pulled.
By: Jim Meyers
The Democratic National Committee has sparked outrage among veterans and others across the internet by running an anti-John McCain ad that shows U.S. soldiers being blown up.
After the new ad’s voice-over castigated McCain for suggesting that the United States may stay in Iraq for “maybe 100” years, the footage becomes shocking.
The DNC ad then shows an explosive device detonating near two soldiers standing beside a palm tree. The two soldiers disappear in an explosive fireball. The video also shows images of burning vehicles.
The footage appears similar to film taken by jihadists who videotape IED explosions that kill American combat troops. The jihadists place the video on the internet to tout their "kill Americans" campaign success. The Army estimates that more than 6,500 jihadist Web sites promote violence against America and American troops.
Many U.S. media outlets have refused to air excerpts from such videos for several reasons - including out of respect of the servicemen and women depicted in the videos.
The DNC apparently does not agree. Calls to the DNC for comment and for information about the footage went unreturned.
The Republican National Committee harshly criticized the ad, stating: “It is becoming clear that [DNC Chairman] Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee will say and do anything to defeat John McCain.” The RNC demanded that the ad be stopped.
The McCain campaign and the RNC contend that the Democrats have been distorting McCain’s comment that the United States may remain in Iraq for "maybe 100” years. Such critics say McCain’s comments have been taken out of context.
The Associated Press reported that he actually went on to say:
“As long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed, it's fine with me, and I hope it would be fine with you, if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where al-Qaida is training, recruiting, equipping and motivating people every single day."
Republicans also allege that the DNC violates federal election law by coordinating its ad campaign with the Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton campaigns.
The RNC counsel has sent letters to the heads of NBC, CNN, and MSNBC demanding the ad be pulled.
