Kucinich calls for Bush to pull TV ads

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Fri Mar-05-04 11:37 AM
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Kucinich calls for Bush to pull TV ads

http://www.kucinich.us/pressreleases/pr_030404.php

Kucinich calls for Bush to pull TV ads
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2004

Contact: Matt Harris: (o) 216.889.2004, (c) 216.403.3980, press@kucinich.us

Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich today denounced television commercials produced by the Bush/Cheney re-election committee for using the Sept. 11, 2001 "national tragedy" as a "political prop" and for their insensitivity to the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks on that day.

Kucinich called on the President to pull the ads from the airwaves -- a call echoed by families who lost relatives that day, the Democratic National Committee, and the executive board of the International Association of Firefighters, which unanimously passed a resolution denouncing the ads as "hypocrisy at its worst."

"September 11th was a day of profound national tragedy," said Kucinich, an Ohio Congressman, "not a political prop. It is an outrage to seek political advantage from the deaths of thousands of Americans, and an indescribably insensitive assault on the emotions, lives and memories of family members whose loved ones were lost on that day."

Kucinich, one of only three Democrats still campaigning for his Party's nomination to face Bush in the November general election, also said it was ironic that the President is "trying to capitalize politically" on the events of that day while, at the same time, he is "refusing to fully cooperate" with inquiries into the facts and circumstances surrounding the event, including possible failures of intelligence gathering and analysis.

"Iraq has been a political prop. A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier has been a prop. And now the rubble and suffering of America has become yet another prop," Kucinich said. "What the President is doing is wrong. Indecently wrong."

The Bush/Cheney re-election committee launched one of the largest television buys in the history of American politics with an initial ad blitz of $4.5 million in 16-or-more states, including broadcast and national cable media outlets featuring three 30-second spots and one 60-second spot today. The ad blitz is being planned to go through the August Republican National Convention set for New York City.

Published reports indicate the states will include Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin -- all "battleground states" for the November 2 national election.

Kucinich was campaigning in Florida when he saw the Bush television commercials. He will be campaigning in Bush's home base of Texas tomorrow.

For information about the National campaign: http://www.kucinich.us

For Congressman Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm.

To schedule an interview with Kucinich or a spokesperson: jonathans@kucinich.us