JK to despicable ad WOLVES: "FUTURE belongs NOT to FEAR, but to FREEDOM!"

[flpoljunkie]

I smell desperation. Just watched this ad on official Bush web site. It is really creepy, designed to frighten people into voting for this failed president, who has abused the public trust.

Rethugs say focus groups said it was so powerful, they saved it to the last. I prerdict this will backfire, as Cheney would say, "Big Time!"

More from ABC's The Note regarding this ad...

As for the new Bush ad, the AP says the spot is, "reminiscent of Ronald Reagan's 'Bear' ad that was credited with framing the 1984 race, (and) shows a dense forest from above. Scurrying is heard as the camera plunges deeper into the woods and pans sunlight-speckled trees. Shadows move through the brush before animals are seen amid the forest. Then, the ad reveals the type of animal: a pack of wolves rest on a hill. As the commercial closes, the cunning and ruthless predators stir, crawling toward the camera."

One Bush adviser tells ABC News, "The ad was produced and tested months ago. Voter reaction was so powerful that we decided to hold the ad to the end of the campaign and make it ONE of the closing spots. It will run to the end."

The campaign says the ad will start to air today on national cable and in local markets in battleground states. The AP is reporting the ad will run in 14 states and that with the RNC, the campaign is spending about $15 million total on TV ads this week.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TheNote/story?id=156238

Creepy, scaremongering "WOLVES" ad may be viewed at http://www.georgewbush.com



Video image from a campaign ad for President Bush released Friday, Oct. 22, 2004. President Bush's campaign, using powerful imagery of prowling wolves, suggests the country under John Kerry would be vulnerable to terrorists in the new television ad that says 'weakness attracts those who are waiting to do America harm.' (AP Photo/Bush-Cheney 2004)

[alphafemale]

1. Let me get this straight...They're actually...crying "Wolf!"...?

I'll be damned.

[flpoljunkie]

3. Alphamale, I think you are definitely on to something!

[Lilli]

4. LMAO

Perfect response!

[Texas_Dem]

5. I think that may be the way to go. Shrub cries Wolf in Iraq.

in the meantime while he is off chasing wolves that don't exist, the real wolves are hiding in Pakistan.

[flpoljunkie]

6. The GOP again proves they will do or say anything to win. Fear is their

weapon of choice, and it will not work.

[fishwax]

10. Excellent response! n/t

n/t

[janx]

15. Yes indeed they are!

That was my first reaction too, and you can bet that we aren't alone!

[txindy]

38. Fortunately, Junior & Co. don't understand the irony of "Crying Wolf!"

'cause they're morans. ;)

[Texas_Dem]

2. Heard about this one. They are supposedly saving it for the last week.

How do you think it will backfire? Shrub let the wolves in the yard by ignoring them and attacking the wrong country so to speak, but not sure how this can be used in a commercial, or ad.

[txindy]

39. Dems need to repeat, over and over, on TV, "B*sh has been crying

wolf this entire campaign. Fear and scare tactics are his favorite weapons. He has absolutely no record to run on." Or something like that.

[fugop]

7. LOL! Coulda seen this coming

You know, I was just thinking that no one had an ad like that bear ad this year. It was very powerful. Then.

The thing is, now it screams desperation to me. Because once again, the Bush people can't run on their guy so instead they're running on Reagan. Of course, all the pundits will fall all over themselves about how genius it is and how it invokes Reagan. But I think people are so "ad'ed" out this year that they won't care.

Especially when BIG BILL hits the trail next week!!

[RevCheesehead]

28. Just waiting for "Wolfie's" comment.

BTW - aren't Wolves still on the endangered species list? I have one on my license plate!

Or do I need a "Wolves for Kerry" sticker?

[endnote]

8. It's so stupid of Chimpy to accuse JK of using fear tacticts!

Even the dumbest people knows what fear is and WHEN they experience it. They remember feeling that during Cheney speeches WAY BEFORE Kerry started using the flu vaccine arguments... JK has to use these tacticts because they were used on him.

[flpoljunkie]

9. Rethugs are pulling out all the stops--fear is all they have left!

Can't run on their record!

[Cocoa]

11. not as effective now as in 1984

imo, believe it or not, people are more savvy. More likely to laugh than be scared.

The whores, however, will declare the stupid ad brilliant.

[Texas_Dem]

14. There you go. The media will tell the public it is effective.

There needs to be someone, or commercial ready to slap this down. Quick. We all know Shrub is out chasing foxes, while letting the wolves lay in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, but will most voters?

[Catfight]

12. Freddy Kruger tells kids that ifyou vote for Kerry you'll be dead!

These people really have to go, I'm serious, I say we ship the entire Bush family to Iraq or back to Germany! Send them into exile, they will stop at nothing to ruin this country.

[Supersedeas]

51. Happy Haaallloooween from the 'adults' at the RNC - old two face himself

in the bottom right hand corner.

[Thrill]

13. I hope the Kerry Campaign

has been waiting for the last week to remind people that 9/11 happened under Bush's watch. They better have something hard hitting prepared for the last week too

[Cocoa]

18. I wouldn't be surprised to see some surprising ads from Kerry

Bush reading goat book, something with Bush and the Saudis, AWOL, etc.

[flpoljunkie]

22. Official Response, Fact Check from the Kerry Campaign to "Wolves."

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=38674

Kerry-Edwards campaign spokesperson Chad Clanton released the following statement today in response to the Bush-Cheney ad "Wolves:"

"These are desperate days for the Bush campaign with the president's job approval in the danger zone. They are desperately using the politics of fear to try and distract from President Bush's failed record on the economy and Iraq. But it won't work. This only reminds people that it's time for a fresh start and a new direction in America."

much more...

[Thrill]

25. This stuff does nothing

you have to hit back with an ad. The majority of Americans don't even see or hear about these press releases

[flpoljunkie]

31. News release goes out to media. Clanton was on MSNBC responding to ad.

John Kerry will be speaking shortly. Perhaps the man himself will respond.

[Atman]

16. This should be OUR talking point

Ridicule the Bushies for crying WOLF once again. This ad is so idiotic..."don't vote based upon FEAR...but look at all these SCARY WOLVES that will attack your babies if you vote for KERRY!"

Sadly, plenty of idiots will fail to see the hysterical irony in this.

New DUCOMIX today!

[DemocracyInaction]

17. Response ad

..should be a shot of Kerry from Nam or from the goose hunting trip, the pack of wolves, gun shots, and a bunch of dead wolves. And the voice says, "they wouldn't be out there if George could track, hunt and shoot straight-- time to give the gun to Kerry".

[flpoljunkie]

19. JK: "We gave Bush a loaded gun, and he shot himself in the foot with it."

This ad reeks of desperation. Bush has shown that he cannot be trusted as Commander-in-Chief by taking nation to an unnecessary war in Iraq which has increased terrorists ranks.

It is time for him to go. The American people must hold him accountable on November 2nd!

[Tansy_Gold]

20. No, no dead wolves

the wolf is a powerful symbol of the environmental movement -- just take a look at how many DUers have the wolf for their avatar.

The wolf is loyal and family-loving, a fierce defender of its territory and the progenitor of the domestic dog.

If anything, the Kerry people (or surrogates) should show the wolf in its best light -- free, wild, and yet capable with the right treatment of being a faithful companion. And the caption, "If you build your house securely, there's no reason to be afraid of the big bad wolf."

Jon Stewart had a funny line the other night on The Daily Show, after showing a clip of Kerry making remarks about Native American spirituality. Stewart claimed the Native Americans had dubbed Kerry something like (and he did it far better than I can reproduce it here) "spouts statistics and esoteric information that no one could possibly understand or need. . . . . .with wolves."



Tansy Gold

[DemocracyInaction]

21. okay---we will just have him put the wolves in cages

Or I guess another angle is to ask if the wolves are to represent terrorists or do they represent the slimy republicans and their corporate partners as they circle to feed off the American people.

[Tansy_Gold]

24. I think you missed my point

The wolves aren't the "bad guys" in the eyes of the environmental movement. They aren't something to be afraid of, something to be put in cages, something to be labelled terrorists or parasitic drug companies or out-sourcing corporations.

The point I was trying to make is that it might be more effective to take the fear out of the image, neutralize it, turn it completely around. Otherwise we just keep building the fear, and it doesn't do any good to say, "Yeah, but now it's working for us." Fear never works for anyone.

[Lorien]

27. Well, the Native Americans have a name for Bush*, too:

"we call him Walking Eagle, because he's so full of shit he can't fly!"-Native American comic Charlie Hill.

I really like your line "If you build your house securely, there's no reason to be afraid of the big bad wolf.". Please send it to the Kerry campaign. I hope they'll be listening.

[prodigal_green]

23. This shows the chimp believes we are all sheep. EOM

[bread_and_roses]

54. "We are not sheep, we are CITIZENS."

doesn't malign the wolves.

btw, LOL to "Walking Eagle" and "Freddie Kruger." This is one damn witty group on this site; the wit impaired like myself are grateful! I don't know where I'd get my laughs these days if not here.

[fugop]

26. OK watched it

I just watched this ad. But first, I went and watched the Reagan bear ad again. Know the biggest difference? Reagan's ad is so beautifully subtle , whereas this is another shrieking "liberals bad!" ad. Reagan's ad never mentions negativity. Never slams an opponent. Never mentions specifics. The beauty of the Reagan ad is that you don't even freakin' know it's a political ad, really, until the very end. This one slaps you in the face right up front with more whiny "John Kerry and the liberals" garbage. I have to wonder if the people who are so sick of politial ads will even pay attention after that. Maybe I'm wrong, because I actually just watched the Reagan one and compared.

I didn't like Reagan, but damn. Bush just keeps trying to pretend he's Ronnie Reincarnate and just keeps showing he's just a wannabe.

[flpoljunkie]

29. Link to Reagan's ad, "Bear?"

[fugop]

52. I watched it here

I watched it here: Reagan Bear Ad

Just scroll down to the right ad.

[flpoljunkie]

62. Thanks for the link. Interesting analysis from Adam Smith.

[lawladyprof]

30. Kerry needs to counter with

either an ad built around the little boy who cried wolf (Iraq) or an absolutely over the top parody--perhaps based on Little Red Riding Hood. Showing a John Kerry look alike inviting the wolf in to eat Grandma, sitting down with the wolf and serving him tea, promising the wolf health care and a defense contract, signing over Grandma's house to the wolf, etc. I believe humor and cleverness might be the best way to pull the teeth (pardon the pun) on this one. Or alteratively showing a Bush figure getting a PDB (wolves in the neighborhood, wolves on the prowl) and sending out Little Red Riding Hood anyway. "That report on wolves was just historical. You just go ahead with those goodies for Grandma, Honey."

[Lilli]

40. GOOD Stuff!

:)

[Irishladdie]

32. LOL!!!

HA HA they have a lie that anyone can see right in the AD!
They say JK cut intelligence after 911. Then it show little text of the Vote in question and it says 94'!!

[flpoljunkie]

33. You sharp-eyed, Irishladdie! How can you tell the Bush campaign is lying?

Their lips are moving!

[Radio-Active]

45. Actually, they meant

September 11th, 1994

[liberalpragmatist]

59. I know! They just say "First Terrorist Attack on America"

Implying that it was after 9/11.

But any idiot can see the ad says '94.

[democrat_patriot]

34. * crying wolf! * crying wolf! HAHAHAHAHA!!

[Malikshah]

35. WHere is the wolves lobby???

I for one am sick of the negative portrayal of wolves.

What a lame lame lame lame ad.

This tested well? Puh-leeze.

[Tansy_Gold]

61. See my posts #20 and #24.

I completely agree. There should be no reliance on false, negative portrayals of wolves.

"Little Red Riding Hood (and george boosh) lied -- Restore the Wolf."

Wolves are endangered in the U.S. because they were trapped and hunted almost to extinction. They are intelligent and cooperative hunters who keep other wildlife species in natural balance by "culling" the weak and sick, leaving the strong to reproduce.

The only thing keeping wolves from becoming successfully re-established in their traditional territories are misguided humans with guns.



Tansy Gold

[RevCheesehead]

36. Re-Thinking the Wolf as Symbol

I've been looking up information about Wolves and Native American totems. The bush campaign might want to re-think their ad!

See link:
http://www.markings.bc.ca/mind/wolf/first_nations.html

>snip<
The Iroquois word which is translated in English as "clan" in fact means "Your presence on Earth carries responsibility".

The Clan system has existed within the Iroquois Confederacy for centuries. One of these clans is the Otha yu:ni or the Wolf Family Clan.

The deeper meaning of Otha yu:ni in the language speaks of making a path and leading of providing a way for there to be unity on the path for everyone in the house. This path is the journey Ukwehuwe or travel during a lifetime. Otha yu:ni, the wolf, has the responsibility of working to keep the family together and keeping unity among those who must live together. At the same time, the individual is given the opportunity to have their own vision and dreams. In the world of the Creator, Otha yu:ni provides an example of individualism being able to exist within the collective group.

(more)
*************

Fascinating Reading! I'd suggest that the Kerry clan gather advice from Native Americans on how best to respond. There's a lot of irony in bush choosing a wolf image!!!

[PerfectSage]

37. Dem Response ad:

Cartoon Ad of Re:puke: Elephant stomping/shitting on wounded bald eagle then JK leads a pack of Dem mules to kick elephant ass.

:party::toast:

[txindy]

41. A good comeback ad for JK would be just like the one already planned

It isn't from his campaign, but I'm sure one line could be added to it. It's the ad that shows Junior searching under tables, joking how he's "looking for the WMD." I suggest the added line be something like, "George W. Bush cried wolf in Iraq when he lied to us about WMD and he is still crying wolf with his current scare tactics."
http://www.winbackrespect.org/ads/

[maxsolomon]

42. THAT'S their best shot?

please, those wolves are CUTE!

if you stay seated in your hummer with the windows rolled up & the AC on, what do you have to be afraid of, exactly? is bush saying that soon the oil will run out & we'll have to get out of our hummers?

[shivaji]

43. Praying on the fears of another imaginary 3000 murdered? Shame!

[popstalin]

44. It amazes me that people react to this "so strongly"

I find it kinda dumb...

As far as saving this for the final week, I'd guess is actually a bad move on their part (good for us) 'cause I think by the final week, people are actually tuning this crap out, especially in the oversaturated swing states.

In 2000, I got sick of seeing the ads long before the final week.

[bigpathpaul]

46. It's sick. If these'll help counter it, please help yourselves.

Full-size downloads at: http://www.bigpath.net

[fob]

53. You know what, BPP, your flyers are so good, I'm gonna print em out

and distribute them at work, hell maybe they'll fire me, but that's a small price to pay to maybe clear some of bush*s fog of war out of some of these repubs I work with.

[canuckybee]

47. I agree with everyone

I went to view expecting something powerful, something that I would reject, but that others might be blown away by. I found something so weak it is laughable. I can't believe they left themselves open to the "cry wolf" charge like that. Each day I become convinced Rove is like the monster under the bed.....no substance other than what we gave him.

[indie_voter]

48. Meanwhile:U.S. Raises Estimates of Iraq Rebels - N.Y. Times

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&e=25&u=/nm/20041022/ts_nm/iraq_insurgency_dc

[bigpathpaul]

49. PLEASE SEE MY AD/FLYER WITH THE "CRY WOLF" RESPONSE TO * AD!!!

PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE FULL-SIZE PDF OR JPEG for http://www.bigpath.net
I'm on my way out of town. I saw the brilliant idea in the DU forum at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1137677#1137703 and whipped this up. It's not perfect, but I think it gets the point across:



IF YOU AGREE, PLEASE POST IT EVERYWHERE YOU CAN.

I will be on the road until Saturday and can't get this done myself.

http://www.bigpath.net

[nonpareil]

50. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself...

I think that the perfect response would be a simple ad with just John Kerry speaking directly to the viewers saying something like this (borrowing from the first paragraph of FDR's first Inaugural Address): "This is the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. We need not shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself--nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.
This is as true today as it was 60 years ago when similar words were spoken by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the depths of the Great Depression. We must not give in to fear. We must take the practical steps needed to protect our homeland and defeat our real enemies-Al Quaida and the rogue states who, unlike Iraq, truly possess weapons of mass destruction. We must not allow our economy to be wrecked by a staggering national debt and dangerous schemes like the privatization of Social Security. We must not continue to allow our environment to be endangered by corporate greed. We must not trade away our freedoms for an illusion of security. I believe in the courage and strength of the American people. I believe that the future belongs not to fear, but to hope and freedom."

[Francine Frensky]

55. It's the conservative Christians that will GET this, but aren't they

already in his boat?

What's interesting to me, is I've long thought * was the wolf in sheep's clothing. What else is a compassionate conservative but someone who pretends on the outside to be cuddly and soft, but on the inside is cruelly destroying evertything good about America.

So it's interesting to use this image.

[Generator]

56. Yeah but this is nothing new

It's their one and only story and if you haven't already bought it, why would you now? Kerry weak, Bush strong. It's OLD.

[Rockholm]

57. What a STUPID ad! One note I found chilling tho.......

The ONLY thing I found interesting was when the announcer said "the first terrorist attack." UM, there has only been one. Sounds like projecting to me. Just like when people refer to the "1st Gulf War." Is there to be a second Gulf War anytime soon? Are the Bushies getting us mentally psyched for the next on? PLEASE....George, go F$*K yourself.

[liberalpragmatist]

60. He's sneakily referring to the first WTC attack in '93

The car bombing that killed 12 people. But he's implying that Kerry cut funding after 9-11.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

58. Wolfowitz is the Leader of the Pack

He's the fat wolf with the comb in its mouth.