Take Back the Media needs proof for TV Commercial to be aired

[symbolman]

I have a request for the crack DU Research Team (which is all of you).

We're trying to clear the 'Army of One' TV ad for broadcast throughout January in New Hampshire, leading up to Primary Day. Everything looks good, but there's a slight hitch.

The people at the Cable Networks are now asking for solid proof on every claim in the ad. There aren't many of them, but we need a solid confirmation of each one from a reputable source.

Here's the script:
The war they won has been declared over by the same man who lied them into it.

Their reward?

Combat pay cut in half.

ESPECIALLY THIS ONE. Was combat pay ever reinstated after the Pentagon said they were cutting it?

1.5 billion cut to your families, 20 billion cut to military health care. No health care for reservists.

They said they'd be going home 3 times now.

Bad food, no water, thousands wounded, hundred dead and no end in sight.

If you guys can find links to back up these claims, we would be forever in your debt - and the ads will run in NH for most of the month of January. A good run in NH means the ad could follow into all primary states.

We have until Monday at the very latest to provide proof to the guys. In fact they gave us a deadline of today, but we haven't heard back

Got links? Post 'em here! Thanks, all, and Happy New Year!

[The Away Team]

1. Take Back The Media Needs Proof

This isn't proof, but it's about combat pay.

Bush supports eliminating danger-pay raises (i.e. halving current combat benifits):

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/135143_troops15.html
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0803/14paycut.html

[alcuno]

3. Welcome to DU, The Away Team

Pitching in already. Good for you.

[newyawker99]

21. Hi The Away Team!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Hekate]

25. Nice of you to drop in, Away Team!

:hug:

Symbolman's right: as usual, the DUers have come up with an abundance of useful sources. But yowie, what a deadline.

Did I ever send you the article about the disparate medical treatment for wounded soldiers here in the US? Seems that "regular army" get their medical care at Walter Reed hospital, while Reserves and National Guards were (and maybe still are) warehoused remotely. Here's the link and header from my files, and I hope my format is up to snuff:

http://www.upi.com/index.cfm
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20031017-024617-1418r

> Sick, wounded U.S. troops held in squalor
>
> By Mark Benjamin
> UPI Investigations Editor
> Published 10/17/2003 3:36 PM
>
> FORT STEWART, Ga., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Hundreds of sick and wounded U.S.
> soldiers including many who served in the Iraq
> war are languishing in hot cement barracks here while they wait --
> sometimes for months -- to see doctors.
>
> The National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers' living conditions
> are so substandard, and the medical care so poor, that
> many of them believe the Army is trying push them out with reduced
> benefits for their ailments. One document shown to UPI
> states that no more doctor appointments are available from Oct. 14
> through Nov. 11 -- Veterans Day.

I do not know to what extent the situation has been rectified since October, but once it was reported by UPI it only took another week or so for Senators Kennedy and Leahy to go have a look for themselves and hold a press conference to express their disgust. Apparently the source of the disparity was that NO PLANS HAD BEEN MADE FOR WOUNDED RESERVISTS & NAT'L GUARDS. I still cannot wrap my mind around that. There is just no excuse on gods' green earth for sending soldiers off to war without fully-implemented plans for rehab of the survivors.

At any rate, when a VFP friend of mine tried to gain access to Ft Stewart while on vacation in Georgia later on in the fall, he couldn't get past the guards at the gate. Guess you have to be a Senator.

I appreciate this thread: it and its links are going in my files. Here's another for you all:

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/dec2003/suic-d05_prn.shtml
World Socialist Web Site www.wsws.org
WSWS : News & Analysis : Middle East : Iraq

> Alarming rise in suicides among US troops in Iraq
> By Jeff Riley
> 5 December 2003

> One grim indicator of the sinking morale of US occupation forces in
> Iraq is the alarming number of suicides among American soldiers.
>
> The deaths of at least 17 US troops in Iraq—15 Army personnel and two
> Marines—have been confirmed as suicides over the past seven months,
> according to a recent Associated Press review of Army casualty
> reports. Nearly all of the suicides have occurred since May 1, when
> the Bush administration declared an end to major combat operations.
>
> This number represents more than 10 percent of non-combat deaths
> there. According to one estimate, US troops in Iraq are committing
> suicide at three times the usual rate. Dozens of other deaths are
> currently under investigation, and the real number of suicides could
> be significantly higher. Over 500 soldiers have recently been
> evacuated from Iraq for mental health reasons. The Army has sent a
> team of mental health specialists to Iraq to assess what is perceived
> as a growing problem of both depression and suicide.


The point is, of course, that to Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld, Inc. and the entire Neocon cabal, soldiers are only useful tools, to be discarded when broken. Out of sight, out of mind.

We've gotta vote these conscienceless s.o.b.s out of office.

Yours for better days.

[bobbieinok]

2. do they ever ask for solid proof on any pro republican ad???

I know - I know

This is the post 12-12 alternate reality.

[alcuno]

4. A scavenger hunt.

http://www.wgcltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1469146 Senate passes a bill in October 2003 for health benefits for reservists.

And more http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2003/12/13/army_facing_medical_crisis/

[jfxgillis]

5. Change the wording.

From:

"The war they won has been declared over by the same man who lied them into it.

"Their reward?

"Combat pay cut in half."

To

"The war they won has been declared over by the same man who lied them into it.

"Their reward?

"Proposed Combat pay cut in half."

Then cite the P.I. headline linked above

[papau]

6. Correct - I believe it will be or has been restored to old level by Congre

but Bush did proposed the cut.

[rfranklin]

9. How about "George Bush tried to cut their pay..."

Isn't that who we're talking about?

[librechik]

10. yeah, that one's better!

[otohara]

7. I Would Sure Like To Know

if they require this from the candidates.

The Dean loves Bin Laden spot was inaccuate, but it ran in NH.

They have the right to refuse a spot, but I have never heard of this sort of requirement. Is this "proof" claim somewhere in the contract you signed when you placed the buy? I don't know if with political advertising if there is a different contract. I do know that political ads are handled separately - but only as far as the rates. I don't know if content is or ever has been an issue. Think about it - the lies that were told about Al Gore, Max Cleland - every democrat who ever ran...

I'm curious also, how long has this buy been placed, and why did they wait until the Friday before the buy is supposed to begin to spring this on you?

I used to be a media buyer - I would be really pissed if they pulled this shit at the last minute.

[blm]

8. symbolman...

go to Veterans for Kerry, Max Cleland heads it, or call Kerry's office. They have all the hard stats you need on veterans and combat issues.

[Nlighten1]

11. Here

PVA’s Fox Denounces House Budget Committee’s Funding Cuts in Veterans’ Benefits and Services
http://www.pva.org/NEWPVASITE/newsroom/PR2003/pr03018.htm

Republicans Seek To Slash VA Budget
With our military poised to attack Iraq, the Republican Party is poised to devastate the budget of American veterans
http://www.vaiw.org/vet/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=59

Veterans Battle Budget Cuts
http://www.legion.org/pub_relations/2003_releases/pr_nr_031703_budgetcuts.htm

As thousands of sailors and Marines are sent abroad for a possible war with Iraq, the Bush administration is proposing to cut education funding for many children of military families
http://signonsandiego.com/news/education/20030216-9999_1m16fedcuts.html

Veterans For Justice names a new holiday in honor of the Republican-led U.S. Government … “Veterans Betrayal Day” (2/12/03)
http://www.vetsforjustice.com/VeteransBetrayalDay.htm

Court Overturns Ruling on Vets' Free Lifetime Health Care
http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/11/19/retired.veterans.hearing/index.html

Bush Threatens Veto of Concurrent Receipt Even As He Prepares to Send Military into Preemptive War (11/02/02)
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=10856&archive=true

American Legion: Billions For Baghdad, Nothing For Veterans (10/31/02)
http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/prime/1031-102.html

American Legion is the Latest Victim of GOP Campaign Tricks
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/20/politics/20VETS.html

As Bush Seeks to Create New Generation of Disabled Vets, He Withdraws Desperately Needed Aid from Past Veterans (9/16/02)
http://www.msnbc.com/news/809143.asp

Bush’s War Against Military Veterans:
Bush Refuses to Allow the VA to Inform Vets and their Families of Benefits They Have Honestly Earned (9/02)
http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=141

Don't Tell, Maybe They Won't Ask
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/20/opinion/20KRUG.html

Bush Breaks Promise to Veterans
http://www.legion.org/pub_relations/2002_releases/pr_nr_081402_healthfunds.htm

Paralyzed Veterans of America are Upset by 'Wholly Inadequate' Funding for Sick and Disabled Vets (7/12/01)
http://www.pva.org/NEWPVASITE/newsroom/PR2001/pr0173.htm

Disabled Veterans Enraged over Bush Stonewalling on Provision to Aid Disabled Military Retirees
http://www.military.com/MilitaryReport/?file=MR_DAV_Denounces

[Nlighten1]

12. Rotten food

http://www.organicconsumers.org/corp/halliburton121903.cfm

Halliburton Serves Up "Dirty, Rotten" Food to U.S. Soldiers in Iraq

[Deb]

13. Water rations

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/6218852.htm

Responding to congressional concerns about water and food rations, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard B. Myers recently acknowledged in a letter that "some problems exist," particularly in remote spots far from supply depots.

But he assured U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri that most troops are well supplied with drinking water -- even if it may be the locally "purified" variety that tastes funny.

snip...

Skelton, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said he began receiving several complaints about water and food rations last month from colleagues who were contacted by worried constituents.

In a letter to Myers, Skelton relayed a report that one military police unit in Iraq was "down to only two MRE's (meals ready-to-eat) and two sixteen-ounce bottles of water a day." A platoon of the 1st Marine Division outside Baghdad reportedly was getting by on one meal a day.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[Moderator]

22. Deb

Per DU copyright rules
please post only 4
paragraphs from the
news source.


DU Moderator

[seafan]

14. Three more....

This was from the Army Times editorial of June 30, 2003 re: proposed pay/benefit rollbacks.

Source: Army Times
Title: "Nothing but lip service"
http://www.dailykos.net/archives/003248.html




I no longer have the link to this next article, but here is the relevant info to find it:

Source: Austin American-Statesman (statesman.com) on July 10, 2003:
Author: Gary Chapman
Title: "Bush's 'Bring 'em on' speech rings hollow as he cuts benefits for soldiers, veterans"




Another link from msnbc that no longer works, unfortunately...
http://www.msnbc.com/m/pt/printthis_main.asp?storyID=992826

Source: msnbc.com (Saved as a printout on 11-12-03)
Author: Lisa Myers and the NBC Investigative Team, NBC News
Title: "National Guard pay delayed, denied"

[seafan]

15. Mandatory extensions of tours of duty

Source: Washington Post, 9-9-03
Title: "Reserve Tours Are Extended"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A45553-2003Sep8?language=printer


Sure hope the cable execs *demand* the same due diligence from the *other* side. Not holding breath.

The truth is hell, ain't it?



:kick:

[symbolman]

16. Thanks!

Appreciate all the help..

Mandatory extensions?

Watch them start walking now.. this needs to get out as well..

[DUreader]

17. Bush move to TRIPLE veteran co-pay costs, rob $4.2 billion from HOT vets

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=981262&mesg_id=981262&page=

[AP]

18. I hope cable applies this same standard to Republican advertisements.

I doubt they will. Might be a good subject for a future ad.

[Bozita]

19. How about a 2nd ad paired to the first that explains the hurdles...

...encountered when airing non-administration points of view?

Lotsa possibilities. Here's just one:

Show the documentation for the first ad in the second ad. Explain that such verification was REQUIRED to run the first ad. Ask if all ads will be subjected to the same scrutiny.

[OneTwentyoNine]

24. Yeah,wonder if they'd give Bush and Rover the "until Monday" deadline?

Bullshit,they'd take their millions and run the shit out Repig ads--awww,so what if Chimpboy and Co. bent the truth just a bit....


David

[kaitykaity]

20. Randi Rhodes is all over veterans issues and Bush.

She's former air force, keeps a close watch on
the bullshit the Bushies are trying to pull.

Check out the archives on here site here:
http://www.therandirhodesshow.com

[ElsewheresDaughter]

23. Bush* new 04 budget..."to cut housing vouchers for the poor"

he gives massive money to the wealthy but fucks the poor again