Controversial ad hopes to produce a balanced GOP

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06321/739113-85.stm

The 2006 election is over, and the 2008 election is 718 days away. So why is a pro-choice Republican group launching a controversial advertising campaign in Pennsylvania TV markets this week?

<snip>

"Our ad, which is, you know, purposely divisive, could have hurt Republicans in certain races," said Jennifer Stockman, national co-chair of the Republican Majority for Choice, itself an outgrowth of the former national Republican Pro-Choice Coalition.

The political action group, which focuses on abortion rights and other privacy issues, decided to wait until after the election to air the ads, with the hopes of getting an early jump on the 2008 presidential race.

The ad -- which began airing Sunday, only in Pennsylvania -- asks viewers, "What is the Republican Party today? Is it the party of Abe Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan?"

Or is it a vocal minority of extremists?, the advertisement asks, flashing images of evangelists Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Ted Haggard, as well as the ousted U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.

[MADem]

1. Ha! Swiping the Democratic playbook, eh? Head for the middle! NT

[krispos42]

2. Well, they just put racist Trent Lott back in power

And they fought tooth-and-nail for racist George Allen. And let's not forget that wonderful ad in Kentucy (or was it Tennessee?) against that Ford guy.

And Katrina. Blacks looting grocery stors, whites foraging in grocery stores.

Off hand, I'd say it was a party far more concerned that it's candidates a) go to the right church, b) come from the right race, and c) dig corporations, than actually worry about such trifles as intelligence, problem-solving ability, competence, knowledge, fidelity, or loyalty to the Constitution.

So are they trying to balance the Democrats, which we all know is 100% minority aethist homosexual communists that eat only granola and drive Priuses?

[Raine]

3. They are about 6 years too late

with this, they should have run ads like that along time ago.

[aquart]

4. Yes, it really is the scum party of Ronald Reagan.

As long as they think that trash was gold, there is no hope for them.

[rpannier]

5. Absolutely Disgusting

To even mention the name of ronald reagan with the likes of Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt is appalling.

Lincoln and Roosevelt were quality Presidents. It is true, both men has their faults, but they did many great things in their lives and their Presidencies enriched all Americans.

reagan was a 2nd rate actor who benefited from the hate and venom of a bunch of homophobic, intolerant taliban-types. He played upon the fears of the middle class that any day now their houses could be stormed by hoards of hippies, drug pushers and/or gang bangers.

[Jim Lane]

6. "The function of liberal Republicans is to shoot the wounded after the battle."

So said Gene McCarthy. This ad seems like a good illustration of his point.

[opihimoimoi]

7. The Pubs wanna rebound/recover....to give us more shit like they did these past 6 yrs?

The GOP should be disbanded as counter productive and demeaning of our Nation...The GOP is a bad thing period....look at their history and M.O. , Lie cheat steal

[tom_paine]

8. Take more than some ad to reform the Bushpublican Party

Those assholes are so far gone from the Constitution, and so close to Hitler-worship (the hard-core 30% that is) that I am not sure anything can dislodge them.

And when they start up the national vote-stealing & suppression operations fully in 2008 again, they will win no matter who votes for who.

2006's relative cleanliness (I was correct in assuming that they couldn't or wouldn't shut down their vote stealing & suppression totally, it was most notable in Florida and Ohio, both areas where serious vote stealing & suppression occurred in 2000-2004) does NOT invalidate the three previous stolen elections.

[Boston Critic]

9. When did Reagan...

became a moderate?

[KAZ]

10. On, or about September 12, 2001....

When Shrub's Compassionate Conservative mask came off.

[Boston Critic]

11. There's right and far right...

...and Reagan's still no moderate.

Leave such hagiography to the right who want to consider his pathetic presidency the Republican equivalent of FDR.

[Toots]

12. I don't believe either Lincoln or Roosevelt would be Republicans today

Neither of those historic figures believed in hating fellow Americans, Reagan on the other hand is a perfect example of todays Republican. Divisive and vindictive and petty.

[rodeodance]

13. they talk a lot of getting back to Reagan ideals

[rusty charly]

14. Every Repuke problem can be solved with an ad campaign

:sarcasm:

[denverbill]

15. Give me a break. Reagan was an extremist.

And to lump him in with progressives like Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt is sickening.