Here's an ad to change the field of battle.
(on screen) CHOICES COUNT
(voice over as a variety of relevant pictures roll): "As a young man, Mr. Bush chose to dodge Vietnam duty and was arrested 3 times. As president, Mr. Bush chose to take 38 vacations and give two press conferences in four years.
He chose to ignore the advice of generals, statesmen and allies to rush to war in Iraq with too few troops and too many contractors, without aadequate armor nor a plan for peace. He chose to let the wealthiest Americans borrow a trillion dollars that must be repaid in the future by the children and grandchildren of the working poor and middle class. He chose to let the largest corporations write national policy in their interests."
(on-screen) RESULTS MATTER
(on screen timed with voiceover):
We've lost: 1000 US lives
$200 billion spent in Iraq
Osama bin Laden
Millions of jobs
The health insurance of millions
The credibility of our President
The respect of the world community
Now we have:
Al-Queda recruiting at higher levels.
Prescription drug prices ballooning.
Outsourcing of jobs out of control
Real wages dropping
(slight pause in the rhythm)
A divided nation (let the visual linger slightly)"
(on screen) ACCOUNTABILITY
(voiceover)Mr. Bush still thinks that "stay the course" is an adequate plan for our economy and our nation and that attacking John Kerry is an adequate plan for reelection.
Show him that he is wrong on Nov. 2."
The DNC should probably run something like this one to avoid the calls for repudiation of a 527 ad. Maybe it's just me, but I think defending the shit storm that this ad would generate on the right would be downright fun and put the SCLM back on-track with issues Kerry needs to hammer. It will give Kerry surrogates venues to elaborate and explain the truth of these assumptions and make the Bushies defend the undefensible. It also should allow Dems from downticket some cover to campaign from strength.
Kerry should himself call out Bush about his loyalty-oath approach to campaigning--challenge his courage under enemy fire and continue to ask him to repudiate the SBVfT ads, but otherwise stay positive on the stump.
MoveOn's "Switch" ads look great and will complement this approach well I think.
Please factcheck me, offer your thoughts,and take the poll.