Fear Ad on TV must be Countered

This ad was put out by.... (4.00 / 5)

our so-called centrist friends at The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, which was started by former US Ambassador to the UN Jeane Kirkpatrick and has amongst its highest "advisors" Joe Lieberman, Donna Brazille, who was Gores campaign manger, former CIA Director James Woolsley, and Newt Gingrich.

If you want to read more about these fear mongering fools, go to http://www.defenddemocracies.org

It was only a matter of time before we saw something like this and I found it interesting that they neglected to mention anything about immunity for the telecoms and that FISA is still in effect.  It's a dishonest ad by a dishonest group full of dishonest people.

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by: snorwich @ Sun Feb 24, 2008 at 14:26:00 PM CST

Lieberman should be asked to comment by the CT press (4.00 / 2)

Joe Lieberman is listed as a "Distinguished Advisor" on the FDD website. He should be asked his view on the these advertisements that are being run by a group that he is directly affiliated with in a prominent way.

Link to Joe Lieberman's bio on FDD website:
http://www.defenddemocracy.org...

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by: joejoejoe @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 13:29:38 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Hold off on Knocking Brazile (4.00 / 2)

I was shocked when I read this posting, and looked into the Defense of Democracies group. I emailed Donna Brazile, and among other things she wrote... "I am working up a statement for my website denouncing FDD and stating my objections for using my good name."

It appears that the group took a hard turn to the right, and the reasonable people left them ages ago, but they refuse to update their site...

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by: CPinCT @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 14:52:56 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Brazile's comments are up... (4.00 / 2)

You can read Donna Brazile's reply at http://www.donnabrazile.com/vi...

As a member of the Board of Advisors of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, I strongly condemn their misleading and reckless ad campaign. The organization is using fear mongering for political purposes and worse, their scare tactics have the effect of emboldening terrorists and our enemies abroad by asserting our intelligence agencies are failing to do their job. I am deeply disappointed they would use my name since no one has consulted me about the activities of the group in years...

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by: CPinCT @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 19:20:07 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Rip Van Brazille ought to wake the hell up (4.00 / 2)

I commented about the membership of this group of wretches back on August 30, 2006, which can be found here http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/sh...  I find it hard to believe that she joins a group that includes uberscumbags Richard Perle and Newt Gingrich and is only now aghast to find that they are misusing her good name.  Chuck Schumer was also a member at the time.

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by: snorwich @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 20:27:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Excellent Point (0.00 / 0)

And why did she settle for just a dissenting statement? Why didn't she resign her position?

Ever since I learned that Brazille was buddies with Karl Rove, I haven't trusted her. Her actions have done little to change that dynamic ever since.

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by: CTPatriot @ Wed Feb 27, 2008 at 09:31:05 AM CST

[ Parent ]

According to Courtney's E-mail She Did... (0.00 / 0)

...resign:

Because of the blatant politicization and distortions of this sensitive issue, Democrats such as Donna Brazile who had served in an advisory capacity of this "educational" organization, have announced their resignation and disgust at these tactics.  In a public statement yesterday, she said:

"Unfortunately, due to the influence of their funders, in the last few years, FDD has morphed into a radical right wing organization that is doing the dirty work for the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans."

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by: dauphinb @ Wed Feb 27, 2008 at 14:05:52 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Her Name if Off (0.00 / 0)

Looks like they have removed her name from their site...

http://www.defenddemocracy.org...

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by: CPinCT @ Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 07:27:41 AM CST

[ Parent ]

How the add should really go... (4.00 / 5)

Drinking Liberally in New Milford
ePluribus Media

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by: Connecticut Man1 @ Sun Feb 24, 2008 at 22:41:52 PM CST

Obi Wan Pelosi (3.75 / 4)

She might be here on earth, but her priorities and leadership skills are definitely in a galaxy far, far away.  

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by: snorwich @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 06:33:58 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Much more realistic ad (4.00 / 3)

Thank you Connecticut Man1.  I sure did need that video after seeing the scare ad on TV practically every time I turned on the tube.

I only wish we could run that one.  That group The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies seems to be yet another swift boat group with megga bucks to put on ad after ad.

Bunch of low lifes.

It was our own moral failure and not any accident of chance, that while preserving the appearance of the Republic we lost its reality. - Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman, orator, writer (106-43 BC)

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by: CTpeon @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 07:46:40 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Been there, beat that... (4.00 / 3)

Was this made by the same firm that made those obnoxious Nancy Johnson ads that started "A missile leaves Pakistan"? when she lost to Chris Murphy?
The youtube video (I LOVE it!) notes the most important aspect, I think, which is that Bush would veto it based solely on the telecom immunity issue. How important does that make OUR security?

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by: Glenn Koetzner @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 11:27:19 AM CST

I literally just saw the add... (4.00 / 1)

horrible, just horrible

"Join the resistance and there will be no resistance." - My Grandmother

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by: Rusty5329 @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 13:32:28 PM CST

FISA (4.00 / 3)

 Is a terrible affront  to   our civil liberties ..anything  that Lieberman supports  has  to be bad  for the average citizen.

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by: BruceRubenstein1 @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 13:43:03 PM CST

FISA (4.00 / 2)

As I understand it, FISA requires a warrant to be filed (within 72 hours).  I don't consider that a huge violation of my civil liberties.

FISA is reasonable.  Warrantless wiretapping is not.

Then again, the whole damn thing is confusing, so it's possible that I've gotten it all wrong.  I get my info from CT Bob.

|Spazeboy.net|Spazeboy's Guide to Political Videoblogging|

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by: spazeboy @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 15:07:13 PM CST

[ Parent ]

My video response (4.00 / 6)

I have a cold.  Do I sound nasal to you?

Connecticut Bob

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by: Bob Adams @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 14:54:07 PM CST

Do you have the original ad (0.00 / 0)

without the editorial clarifications?  I want to see how bad it is on its own.  I promise to close my eyes so that I won't go blind.

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by: mas @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 15:51:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Original Ad (0.00 / 0)

Ick.

|Spazeboy.net|Spazeboy's Guide to Political Videoblogging|

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by: spazeboy @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 16:19:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

attacks on Murphy then and now (4.00 / 3)

Here's the version attacking Chris Murphy:

Murphy is already using it to raise money for his campaign in an e-mail solicitation.

Doesn't it remind you of another attack ad on Murphy... by Nancy Johnson?

Very similar, down to the green and black sci-fi graphics, TV screens, and ominous narration.  May even be the same narrator.  The end is garbled in the Youtube version, but the sight of the crowd saluting and on the watch for New Britain terrorists at the end of this mpeg video version is pretty comical.

our so-called centrist friends at The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, which was started by former US Ambassador to the UN Jeane Kirkpatrick and has amongst its highest "advisors" Joe Lieberman,

Wherever there is fear mongering, there is Joementum!  On the attack against CT Dems!

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by: mikect @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 20:59:11 PM CST

If you haven't called Courtney yet... (4.00 / 2)

A friend of mine did call today and said the trend of calls they are receiving is running 60/40 in favor of Courtney voting to allow telecom immunity.

Seems the scare tactics are working...we don't have the bucks to counter this kind of ad, just word of mouth and actually following through with making that call.

Joe Courtney local phone#(860)886-0139

If he isn't your congressperson, find out who is and give him/her a call.  We are talking about our 4th amendment right to privacy.

Just what are the telecoms and government hiding that would provoke them to resort to this kind of ad tactic?

The telecom could be found guilty of non-compliance with the FISA law, but the act of obtaining the search warrant is up to the government.  

They could change the FISA law itself and allow this one time extension beyond the 72 hours normally given to say six to twelve months and produce the paperwork that justified their need to eavesdrop on the terrorist suspects.  Just what are they hiding?

Once immunity is granted we will never know.

That is the whole point behind FISA, you cannot conduct secret spying without some sort of paper trail.

Please call and protect our Constitution.


It was our own moral failure and not any accident of chance, that while preserving the appearance of the Republic we lost its reality. - Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman, orator, writer (106-43 BC)

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by: CTpeon @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 13:14:17 PM CST

Thanks for the number (4.00 / 2)

I just called.  

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by: Missy's Brother @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 15:56:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Me, Too (n/t) (4.00 / 2)

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by: dauphinb @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 16:48:23 PM CST

[ Parent ]

It has been countered (4.00 / 3)

From Crooks & Liars

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by: Missy's Brother @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 16:22:28 PM CST

Please call your Representative if you haven't already! (4.00 / 2)

If you have called your rep. there are still others who need to hear from you.  

Senator LIEberman - (202) 224-4041   He is a member of advisory staff of defense of democracies.

Oh and give those folks a call too at Defense of Democracies (202) 207-0190

The airing of this commercial is equitable to the act of someone yelling "Fire" in a theater when there is no fire.  It is tantamount to terrorism.  With all that the citizens of CT have to be truly concerned with, economy, jobs, healthcare, price of oil, price of everything going up it is despicable to add this undue and unjustifiable fear.

Oh and here are some more folks to call.  Let your local TV stations who are airing and profiting from this commercial know that they are fueling fear in their audience without due cause.  Perhaps as a public service the station should look into the commercial and assess it like CTBob did and do a little report of their own on it.  (Well, call and ask them to review it, anyway)

WFSB (3) - (860) 728-3333

WTNH (8) - (203) 784-8888

We have called these two stations already as we have seen the commercial run on them.  If anyone else has other stations they have viewed this abomination on please call and post their station numbers as well!

It was our own moral failure and not any accident of chance, that while preserving the appearance of the Republic we lost its reality. - Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman, orator, writer (106-43 BC)

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by: CTpeon @ Wed Feb 27, 2008 at 16:58:48 PM CST

HOLY CRAP!!!! (4.00 / 2)

The media did its job, at least on WTNH (8)  They just did a fairly good in depth report on the commercial and allowed both Murphy and Courtney to speak about it and explained that several members of the Defense of Democracies group have resigned.  

They also stated that Senator Joe LIEberman is with the group and that he has not resigned and said it was a separate group (well---whatever)

A small scrap of faith in the 4th estate has graced us.  We are in shock and awe!

This excerpt from the WTNH web page...

The ads running in Connecticut target both of Connecticut's freshmen Democrats, Joe Courtney and Chris Murphy. A spokesman for the group says they are targeted because, "We felt they could be most affective in taking the message to the House leadership for a vote."

Chris Murphy calls the ads unfair saying, "This is a Republican group that is running ads only against targeted Democratic freshmen. These are political ads that really, grossly, mis-state the truth."

And Joe Courtney said, "The notion that somehow the system went dark or that we can't act quickly to put new taps is false. The fact of the matter is, under the pre existing law, which is in place now, we can put taps on with a three day window to get approval....after the fact."

Several Democratic members of Congress have resigned from the board of advisors of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies' because of these ads. Connecticut's Joe Lieberman is also listed as a member of that board and has not resigned.

The Senate version of the bill, the one that the group wants passed, gives retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies who cooperated with the Bush administration's warrantless wiretaps.

It was our own moral failure and not any accident of chance, that while preserving the appearance of the Republic we lost its reality. - Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman, orator, writer (106-43 BC)

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by: CTpeon @ Wed Feb 27, 2008 at 17:26:50 PM CST

[ Parent ]