On the 3rd anniversary of witnessing Bush's photo op in front of a giant banner declaring "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq, I thought I'd finally diary my investigative efforts into who was responsible for that giant piece of propaganda.
Note: I first posted this as a comment in an Open Thread a few days after joining Daily Kos in October 2004. I didn't diary it then because I hadn't passed the waiting period. I've not seen this anywhere else since then, so I decided to repost for the benefit of everyone who didn't see the comment in the Open Thread that night.
I'd always wondered what the real deal was with that stupid "Mission Accomplished" banner George W. stood in front of to declare the end of "major combat operations" in Iraq on May 1, 2003. Of course the White House claimed at first that they had nothing to do with it. Then they flip-flopped and said
they were asked by the USS Lincoln crew to make one and put it up there to say that their mission was accomplished.
"The 'Mission Accomplished' sign, of course, was put up by the members of the USS Abraham Lincoln, saying that their mission was accomplished."
President Bush
But the White House has never been fully forthcoming with details of who paid for the banner, etc.
Here's what a White House spokeswoman said about the banner six months after the photo op:
After the news conference, a White House spokeswoman said the Lincoln's crew asked the White House to have the sign made. The White House asked a private vendor to produce the sign, and the crew put it up, said the spokeswoman. She said she did not know who paid for the sign. (emphasis added) [story here]
Well I know who paid for that sign.
The sign was made by Thomas Graphics of Austin, Texas, a little graphics shop that practically has a monopoly on all Republican printing as well as close ties with Karl Rove (according to this story). Every banner you see behind Bush and Cheney, the graphics on their bus, their campaign literature--it all has the same look-and-feel for a reason. It's all coming out of Thomas Graphics.
Why is that odd? Because Thomas Graphics has earned a ton of cash from the Republican Party by way of graphics services, printing services and mailing services. In the 2004 election cycle alone, they grabbed nearly $1,150,000. So they don't just print up the propaganda, they mail it to the people as well.
What's the connection here? Well, The Center for Responsive Politics tells us on Opensecrets.org that on May 1, 2003, the Republican Party paid $3,066 to Thomas Graphics, Inc., for Printing Cost. It's the only 2003 expenditure to Thomas Graphics and it shows up in the 2004 election cycle. I guess that means Bush's re-election campaign really did begin May 1, 2003, aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, when he tried to claim "Mission Accomplished."
I won't be around to answer comments for a little while, since I will be at the hospital with my son. I'll try to respond as soon as I can.
Thanks.