NRCC "Hezbollah" attack ad

by PA08, Tue Oct 26, 2004 at 08:28:04 AM EDT

Anyone out there still think I am exaggerating about the Pennsylvania Republican Party?--Chris

In all my years in politics, I have never seen a hit piece so disgusting as the "Hezbollah"(pdf) piece the NRCC sent. From the Morning Call:

The mailing sent to 8th District houses includes a caricature of the film's director, Michael Moore, and the headline "Ginny Schrader: The 'Hate America' crowd has found their candidate."

Bo Harmon, a spokesman for the national Republican committee, said his group produced the literature and stands by its message. He said a British newspaper reported in June that Hezbollah offered to distribute Moore's film to its supporters.

Harmon said the film "does contain propaganda for Hezbollah. It's outrageous and out of the mainstream."

More, lots more, please recommend.

Ginny, to her credit, didn't put up with Republicans grouping her with Hezbollah:

Democratic congressional candidate Virginia Schrader stalked out of a debate Monday after complaining that Republican leaders have circulated campaign literature criticizing her for raising money through a screening of the film "Fahrenheit 9/11," which the literature alleged contains "propaganda" supported by the terrorist group Hezbollah.

Schrader called on Republican Michael G. Fitzpatrick to disavow the literature and issue an apology. When Fitzpatrick remained silent, Schrader walked out of the debate, which was sponsored by the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce and League of Women Voters of Bucks County.

"I will not stand here for this debate until Mr. Fitzpatrick apologizes to me and my family and to every single person who received this hate mail," Schrader said.

We need to support Ginny on this. They're sending one last piece of mail, how much we contribute in the next 48 hours decides how many pieces they print.

Contribute Today

Tags: (all tags)

Comments

13 Comments

Sort by

permalink

Hezbollah is so last week

Now they're saying she supports the Taliban as well. They know no shame.

by eRobin 2004-10-26 06:57AM | 0 recs

permalink

Big one

My republican brother who lives in the district got the mailing. He thinks it is low for his party. He said everyday he gets some type of flier or phone call just by living in the 8th district.

by Matt42 2004-10-26 08:01AM | 0 recs

permalink

Schrader in PA08

I've added my $25 to Ginny's mailing fund. How about you?

by MD in MA 2004-10-26 08:07AM | 0 recs

permalink

Fighting back

I'm in for $20.
I hope it works.

by eRobin 2004-10-26 08:30AM | 0 recs

permalink

I know

but "stalking out" of a debate probably wasn't such a great move.

by BigModerate 2004-10-26 08:32AM | 0 recs

permalink

Slam the sleaze: write the Inky re Gerlach/Fitz

Exactly the same in the PA 6th: ad run by both the NRCC and Gerlach against Lois Murphy: TV and robo-calls implying Murphy is connected to the Taliban and sanctions kidnapping and rape. Also attacking the Sierra Club (which got pissed and just put out a press release firing back at Gerlach).

Guys and gals, can we slam this hard with the press? Write the Inquirer and see if we can get a letter to the editor. And email Tom Ferrick -- who does those smart, funny, sleaze awards. And post the same on the other big Philly blog: atrios.blogspot.com.

Keep it short. Say what call or ad you got. Say something about yourself and why you are outraged.

Here are the addresses:

Tom Ferrick: tferrick@phillynews.com. From what I can tell from his writing Ferrick is nobody's fool. Give him data to do what he will with. Be straight with him.

Letters to the Editor: inquirer.letters@phillynews.com. <200 words. Include home address and day and evening phone numbers and email.

by Anandi in PA 2004-10-26 10:18AM | 0 recs

permalink

Just saw two of them in a row.

For Gerlach and then for Fitz.

Almost the same exact script.

The fuckheads.

by clawed 2004-10-26 03:16PM | 0 recs

permalink

OK

This motivated me to send $20 to Ginny, $10 to Lois, and for good measure $20 to Allyson Schwartz.

It's not a lot, but hopefully it will help make a bit of a difference.

by clawed 2004-10-26 03:30PM | 0 recs

permalink

can it stick?

Those are suburbs of Philadelphia, not Atlanta!

I guess on this side of Mason-Dixon line people have no difficulty in seeing profound differences between Michael Moore and Hezbollah.

And the way the connection was made! Should the passanger trains run on time? Perhaps not, that is what Hitler wanted. My party shall not rest until every train that still runs is not at least one hour late!

Is it possible that some undecided readers may feel upset that they are treated as hicks?

by Piotr 2004-10-26 05:23PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: can it stick?

I don't know that these ads are effective. I hope not but you never know.

Certainly I don't think we can just sit around and let them pull this kind of crap without a sharp and decisive response.

by clawed 2004-10-27 04:58AM | 0 recs

permalink

"Hate America Crowd"

is exactly the sort of thing that we can no longer sit and take anymore.

We've been taking it up the rump for too long. Time to fight back.

by clawed 2004-10-27 04:57AM | 0 recs

permalink

UPDATE

Yesterday, MyDD and Atrios and the Swing State Project blasted the NRCC "Hezbollah" mailer. Day 2 of the scandal gives the columnists a chance, from the Inquirer:

So much venom to dispense, so little time. By golly, the Republicans are churning it out this year.
Which usually means one thing: They are in trouble.

But this extreme stuff is reprehensible. It poisons the (small "d") democratic process. It is, at its root, soulless and corrupting. My suggestion: In the voting booth next week, do what you can to stop it.

That's right, it is backfiring.

We know two things for sure about the "Hezbollah" attack:

People who don't think politics should be conducted in such a manner are donating (have you?)

The GOP is scared of Ginny. Some might say "scared shitless"

While it hasn't been proven yet, I have a hunch that voters don't get the link between Ginny Schrader and the Hezbollah, but they do get the link between Fitzpatrick and the NRCC goons.

Please help Ginny Schrader get her final piece of mail to as many people as possible, your contribution today will increase the size of the universe:

http://actblue.com/list/ssp-schrader

by PA08 2004-10-27 06:44AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: UPDATE

We HOPE it's backfiring but they are playing these ads CONSTANTLY and I don't know for sure that they're backfiring. I don't know that the Inquirer or any other editorial department is that influential in this matter. Maybe they are and maybe they aren't. I do know that it angers me and hopefully it fires up some of the base, and that is a sort of backlash I guess.

by clawed 2004-10-27 06:53AM | 0 recs