Thanks, MoveOn: “Betray Us” ad a fundraising boon to GOP
posted at 5:15 pm on October 1, 2007 by Allahpundit
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This takes care of one of the two lies the left told last week to try to push this grand backfire out of the spotlight. “You’re only playing into MoveOn’s hands!” we were told, but it’s just as accurate to say that MoveOn played into ours. When you don’t have much of a record to run on, remind people what you’re running against. To wit:
Capitol Hill Republicans are getting a much-needed fundraising boost from a newspaper advertisement in which the liberal group MoveOn.org accused Iraq war commander Gen. David H. Petraeus of lying, strategists say.
Republican candidates and party committees are frequently citing the ad in fundraising solicitations and campaign materials to attack Democratic opponents for not condemning the ad, which was published in the New York Times three weeks ago today.
While it’s too early to tell how much money Republicans have raised using the tactic, party spokesmen say it has been an effective fundraising tool.
“The [MoveOn ad] issue is very hot with our base right now,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Rebecca Fisher. “We are using the controversy to reinforce our message that the Democrats in the Senate are beholden to the liberal wing of the party — and this is a perfect example of [their] pandering to the extreme wing.”
So much for lie #1. Lie #2 was the idea that partisan bombthrowing over tangential nonsense like this was a contrived distraction from the Iraq debate that was unworthy of space in the public discourse. A week later, after saturation coverage of the left screeching about Bill O’Reilly and now a week of screeching about Rush Limbaugh set to begin, how’s that second lie working out?
Exit question: Do we dare accuse the left of manufacturing a distraction? Whatever could they want to distract from?
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I admit I was in that camp. I guess you should Moveon the attention they so desperately desire.
lorien1973 on October 1, 2007 at 5:18 PM
Thanks Eli Pariser! Well done, dude.
Oh, my check’s in the mail…to the RNC.
Buy Danish on October 1, 2007 at 5:18 PM
LOL! What’s that old saying? Democrats always find a way to lose elections?
SoulGlo on October 1, 2007 at 5:21 PM
Good news
This needs to happen more often, lets keep the pressure on.
allrsn on October 1, 2007 at 5:24 PM
CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
CHING.
seejanemom on October 1, 2007 at 5:33 PM
Not much news in the MSM from Iraq on the Ramadan lull, so there must be something good going on over there, in the big picture.
They are becoming so predictable in their subterfuge.
bbz123 on October 1, 2007 at 5:34 PM
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to send money siting something positive that the Republican’s accomplished rathing than living off the Democrats stupidity?
PappaMac on October 1, 2007 at 5:36 PM
Hillary’s cackle? I swear my eardrums will implode if I hear that verbal vomit one more time.
infidel4life on October 1, 2007 at 5:36 PM
Yesssssssssss shine the light, challenge when you can and never be afraid to blast them publically. Taking the “higher road” will make you dizzy and being a middle of the roader will make you nothing but road kill.
MNDavenotPC on October 1, 2007 at 5:37 PM
The new focal point of the drive-byes?
Would it be best to let the MoveOn’s and so forth continue their smear campaign and get called on it? I don’t know if that would be wise.
We just won this battle, but now the lefts base is using congress to deflect attention away from MoveOn and onto Rush.
Kini on October 1, 2007 at 5:38 PM
If the Republicans want to raise funds in unprecedented amounts, just figure out a way to do a fake swearing in of Hillary as President. That should pry the money out of the tightest fist. Christian concervatives who talk about third party candidates must be reminded that except for one, every Republican candidate, even the ones not agreed with are preferable to Hillary Rodham Clinton and her loving spouse, William Jefferson Clinton. Charter members of the notorious Clinton gang our of Arkansas. Truly a criminal enterprise.
Zelsdorf Ragshaft on October 1, 2007 at 5:42 PM
ROTFLMAO………Yep show republicans coming out of the polls saying they voted 3rd party first then show Hillary getting sworn in, if that don’t get their attention nothing will.
doriangrey on October 1, 2007 at 5:58 PM
In certain areas of the country, just a fairly realistic version (with some kind of “this is just a simulation” subtitle) would do quite nicely. Roberts administering the oath, Hillary smiling so Hillaristically, Bill biting his lip Billiously while looking on…
CK MacLeod on October 1, 2007 at 5:58 PM
MoveOn stands behind the Freedom of Speech … The American Soldier stands in front of it.
(I wish I could claim that as my own qoute).
Tony737 on October 1, 2007 at 6:02 PM
Democrats: Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Hollowpoint on October 1, 2007 at 6:03 PM
1. What you linked to.
2. “So nothing can go wrong for the Democrats. Can it? Of course it can, and not just because of the party’s perennial penchant for cutting off its nose to spite its face”.
3. Number 2. contains: her ‘laughter’, his self-righteous indignation, his temper, both their utmost superiority and sense of entitlement to the presidency. Just because…
4. What’ (Hsu)p?
5. The ratings of the current Congress
6. The inability of the Congress with the first Madame Speaker and Mr. Senate Reaper to get nothing, nothing of substance, passed.
7. The fact that money buys commercials but it won’t buy the presidency. This will give Soros a heartache in ‘08, again.
Entelechy on October 1, 2007 at 6:13 PM
Here’s a glimpse of things to come – does it already make your hand itch for your wallet?
http://www.hillary.org/hillary/hill.swearing-in.jpg
CK MacLeod on October 1, 2007 at 6:14 PM
They did invent the phrase “wag the dog”.
There’s that, their 11% approval rating, the Hiliary cackle mentioned above, crooked donors to Hiliary making Wisconsin’s DemonRAT governor Jim “Craps” Doyle (WEAC/Potawatomi-For Sale) look like a piker. Need I go on?
steveegg on October 1, 2007 at 6:15 PM
Curse you, curse you I say for putting that evil vision into my poor abused brain…..(It wasnt abused until I saw that, it will take many beers to get that image to fade)
doriangrey on October 1, 2007 at 6:23 PM
Hey Entel! Southpark was making fun of (communist) Romania last night. Did you see it?
Tony737 on October 1, 2007 at 6:43 PM
No, I didn’t Tony. There’s plenty to make fun of, though :)
p.s. go see – I was a bit rough on ya on the Austria-plot thread of today. We’re still friends, though!
Entelechy on October 1, 2007 at 6:50 PM
The little contortionist girls episode? never heard of it… :p
doriangrey on October 1, 2007 at 7:10 PM
The Dems, they just can’t stand prosperity. The gift that keeps on giving.
They can’t keep their mouths shut, that is why we have a good chance of winning.
MoveOn, and now the Dems leadership defending Jessie, I can’t believe these gifts.
Use them wisely.
right2bright on October 1, 2007 at 7:23 PM
“I was a bit rough on ya” – Entel
You were? I didn’t see it. What did you say? Of course we’re still friends!
Tony737 on October 1, 2007 at 7:24 PM
That’s the one, Dorian. It was a remake of the Elian story. Pretty funny. I like how the commies had a gun to the dad’s head as he pleaded to get his kids back.
Tony737 on October 1, 2007 at 7:27 PM
They so over played their hand and now their patriotism can be openly questioned .
Mojack420 on October 1, 2007 at 7:44 PM
Entel, I saw what you said on the Austria story. That’s it! We’re through!
Naaa! Just kiddin’! You’re still my little Romanian buddy :-)
Tony737 on October 1, 2007 at 7:56 PM
Expect continued harassment by the press of leaders of Christian organizations, talk show personalities and GOP candidates. The press will “support” middle of the road candidates – that don’t have a chance in hell of winning – and will continue to belittle true conservatives.
Ten bucks says they’ve got M in their sights.
T J Green on October 1, 2007 at 8:15 PM
I don’t care if you’re giving me 100-1 odds; they already tried firing.
steveegg on October 1, 2007 at 8:25 PM
Too Funny!
Lawrence on October 1, 2007 at 10:20 PM
Wow. What a shock. The ad backfired.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
eanax on October 1, 2007 at 10:45 PM
best we can all hope for is that moveon and media matters keeps up thier tactics and we capitalize on their falsehoods. The average person needs to hear it over and over and over again like a drum beat for it to sink in……remember GIGO- garbage in garbage out, that is those two groups to a T
bones47 on October 1, 2007 at 11:47 PM
Breaking! Liberals Always Lose When They Succeed In Getting Their Message Out.
DannoJyd on October 2, 2007 at 12:42 AM
Hmmm.
Bradky must be waiting for instructions before trolling here. The 58% DISAPPROVAL (42% strongly disapprove) of the ad rating must have really surprised MoveOn.org (”Thuggery in Action”) and knocked them on their butts.
The rebuke from House and Senate Democrats who voted to condemn MoveOn.org must have hurt so bad it left a mark. Mark Levine is recommending filing formal complaints against them and Media Matters for violating their 501(c)(3) status, and macranger is preparing to do just that at least against Media Matters.
This is not a good week for the Treason Party.
georgej on October 2, 2007 at 4:14 AM
So the ROOT CAUSE of a GOP funraising boon is actually blowback from MoveOn? Is there anything that can’t be explained by blowback?
DonutsBlowback, is there anything they can’t do?BohicaTwentyTwo on October 2, 2007 at 8:05 AM
The Rush and O’Reilly business may be to take yours and the medias minds off the Democrat fundraising scandals (Yes, there is more than one).
davod on October 2, 2007 at 8:56 AM
The MoveOn.org ad cost them big around here. It just reminded our DEMs that their national party supports the terrorists more than our own troops.
Buzzy on October 2, 2007 at 9:02 AM
The Democrats are a distraction. That’s what they are; that’s what they do. Are they not a major distraction in our prosecution of the war in Iraq, and the WOT? Imagine how much more progress might have been made on these fronts if the Commander in Chief didn’t have to spend 3/4 of his time: fending off attacks on his staff; defending his generals, and soldiers against slanderous attacks; re-enlisting for the umpteenth time the support of the American people, which is being constantly sapped by negative Democrat talking points; cleaning up after legislators who have run off to enemy nations in an attempt to implement a parallel foreign policy; defending legitimate tactics (data-mining, money tracking) from legal challenge; heck–defending his war powers as Commander in Chief. And I’m sure I’ve left out five or ten important points in this list. Democrats manufacturing a distraction? They are a distraction.
smellthecoffee on October 2, 2007 at 9:18 AM
October 2, 2007
Dear Technical Sergeant Gentner,
Thank you for taking the time to contact me about General Petraeus. I value your views, and your input helps me to better represent the people of Indiana’s Second District in Congress.
As you know, on September 10, General David Petraeus delivered his report on the war in Iraq to a joint meeting of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Foreign Relations Committee. That same day, the public policy and grassroots political organization, MoveOn.org, ran a full-page advertisement in the New York Times questioning General Petraeus’ credibility, with the headline “General Petraeus or General Betray Us?”
I visited Baghdad in July and met with General Petraeus. That meeting confirmed the impressions I’d had of him since he first rose to lead our forces in Iraq: he is whip-smart and a man of integrity. Above all else, he is a patriot. Calling into question his commitment to our country is incorrect and unhelpful. President Bush is our commander-in-chief and as such, the buck stops with him when it comes to our Iraq policy. The general is doing his job serving the country and he continues to have my confidence as he and our brave service members work to make the best out of an extremely difficult situation in Iraq.
On September 26, Congress voted with my support to adopt language condemning the MoveOn.org advertisement and affirming that General Petraeus is a competent military leader and a man of great integrity.
Thank you again for contacting me about this important issue. Please do not hesitate to write, call or email me again if I can ever be of assistance. Also, if you would like to receive regular updates on my actions on your behalf in Congress, sign up for my e-newsletter, The Donnelly Dispatch, at http://donnelly.house.gov.
Sincerely,
Joe Donnelly
Member of Congress
Black Adam on October 2, 2007 at 4:39 PM
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