The Dems are Testing the Wrong Ad

The DNC has an ad playing in selective markets (e.g. Madison, Wisconsin) which actually has the negative effect of feeding the notion that all the Bush administration did was make a mistake regarding “sixteen little words.” The Republicans have successfully convinced the media to use this reference and the now the DNC seems convinced, as well. Well, that’s the wrong message. The problem isn’t “sixteen words.” The problem is a pattern of deceit that has not made us safer. Repeat: The problem is a pattern of deceit that has not made us safer.

The better ad:

It’s not just Sixteen Words…

Narrator: “In September of 2002, George Bush said Iraq ‘could launch a biological or chemical attack 45 minutes after the order is given.’ The White House also posted this statement in on it’s website. As it turns out, there is no evidence supporting this claim and Bush didn’t even ask the CIA to confirm this claim before making it. Why did he say it?”

While showing this quote highlighted from the White House website:

“The Iraqi regime possesses biological and chemical weapons. The Iraqi regime is building the facilities necessary to make more biological and chemical weapons. And according to the British government, the Iraqi regime could launch a biological or chemical attack in as little as 45 minutes after the order were given”.

Narrator:

In making the case for attacking Iraq, on October 7, 2003, George Bush indicated that Iraq was on the verge of assisting groups like Al Qaeda in staging an attack

While showing this quote:

"Iraq could decide on any given day to provide a biological or chemical weapon to a terrorist group or individual terrorists."
George W. Bush, October 7, 2002
Source Washington Post, July 21, 2003

Narrator:

In fact, the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) circulated five days before that statement indicated just the opposite—that Iraq was not likely to align with Al Qaeda or other terrorists groups unless made desperate by a U.S. attack. But George Bush told us just the opposite. Why did he do that?

While showing this quote:

… Hussein "appears to be drawing a line short of conducting terrorist attacks with conventional or [chemical or biological weapons] against the United States fearing that exposure of Iraqi involvement would provide Washington a stronger case for making war."

…Iraq would "probably" attempt a clandestine attack against the United States, as mentioned by Bush -- not on "any given day" as the president said Oct. 7, but only "if Baghdad feared an attack that threatened the survival of the regime were imminent or unavoidable."
Washington Post, July 21, 2003

Narrator:

The White House says it’s just sixteen words in one speech. The truth is, it’s a pattern of deception. And George Bush still hasn’t taken responsibility for so many false and misleading statements. Don’t we deserve to know the truth? And more importantly, do you really feel safer?

While showing a series of headlines questioning the accuracy/credibility of administration claims.

THE END


This ad does several things. It shows a pattern of deceit, not just a "slip up " with "sixteen words". It shows a reckless disregard of the available intelligence. It references Bush’s passing the buck, e.g. “still hasn’t taken responsibility…”

Any one with the means to produce and distribute this ad or an improved variation of it has my permission to do so.