I just received this e-mail from Gerry Birnberg, re: DSCC ad

[lavenderdiva]

August 15, 2006



Senator Charles Schumer

Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

120 Maryland Ave NE

Washington, D.C. 20002



Dear Senator Schumer:



As chair of the Harris County Democratic Party, I demand that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee pull the repulsive ad it is currently running on its website likening “illegal immigrants” to Osama bin Ladin, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Kim Jong-il. To imply that there is any equivalence between those terrorists and madmen and immigrants who come to this country seeking a better future for themselves and their families, lured here – albeit unlawfully – by the promise of jobs and freedom, is shameful and appalling. Without doubt, the border needs to be sealed and secured for the sake of the wellbeing of this country, but to suggest, as your ad does, that Americans should fear immigrants in the same way we should be afraid of bin Ladin, Ahmadinejad, and Jong-il is outrageous fearmongering and does not in any way represent the values the Democratic Party of this county stands for.



I have urged, and hereby call upon, all Democrats to withhold sending any money to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee because the DSCC apparently wastes its resources fanning the flames of bigotry and discrimination for the sake of manipulation of popular opinion. If people wish to contribute to individual senatorial candidates, that’s fine, but they should avoid giving money to an organization which displays such insensitivity to core principles of the Democratic Party, gratuitously insults important members of our society (Latinos who are in this country legally), and wrongfully inspires fear among our citizenry of foreigners who do not deserve such characterization (dangerous terrorists).



You owe an apology to all Democrats and to the entire nation. I am embarrassed and ashamed for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.



Gerry Birnberg
Chair, Harris County Democratic Party

[cosmik debris]

1. I went to the web site and I didn't find that material

Can you give me a little more direction?

[merci_me]

2. I just came here to post this very e-mail

There are many times, I don't agree with Gerry, but he deserves the highest praise from all of us for taking this action. To say I'm appalled at Senator Schumer's action is putting it mildly.

Now, I'm going back to my e-mail and write to him and tell him just that. And as soon as I calm down, I'm going to be e-mail Senator Schumer, too.

[cosmik debris]

3. Have you seen the ad in question?

Where is it?

[merci_me]

4. I don't have the proper download on this computer

to see the video, but from what Gerry said in his letter, I'm guessing it's this:

http://www.dscc.org/news/multimedia/20060813_secure/

[cosmik debris]

6. After watching the video

I believe the outrage might be a bit excessive. The ad links illegal immigrants to security threats, but it seem to be a reach to say it links illegal immigrants to Osama.

Perhaps a better explanation would enlighten me.

[merci_me]

8. So, now I wait, lol

I said, I don't often agree with Gerry, in fact I first typed "I usually don't agree" and yes, in my opinion, Gerry has been known to "overstate".

I haven't e-mailed my thumbs up to Gerry yet. Probably more importantly, I didn't pop off on Senator Schumer. I was just shocked at what Gerry said Schumer did.

I sat at a table with Gerry 2 weeks ago at Galleria Area Democrats and disagreed with almost EVERYthing he said. My husband kept bumping his foot against me. Sooooooo, I guess I wanted to e-mail my agreement this time, so he doesn't think I ALWAYS disagree.

Thanks for the info. I'll calm down and wait to see where this is going.

[cosmik debris]

7. Here is the youtube link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsZVQ7SwEks

[lavenderdiva]

5. I have looked and looked at the DSCC website, and can't find

anything related specifically to illegal immigration as an issue. I've tried using the 'search' feature on that site, and it tells me that it is 'under construction'... I wish Mr. Birnberg would have provided a link in the e-mail, so I could see for myself what he is referring to. If someone knows what he is talking about, or is aware of the specific ad, would they please provide a link here?

[WestHoustonDem]

9. Watch the ad - after the page load there's a link in upper right

section of the content.

I think the outrage is over the frame where the "illegal immigrant" has something white on his head that resembles a turbin, implying that it's a terrorist.

The concept that everyone with a white turban is a terrorist is equally offensive to equating immigrants with terrorists and it does seem that this is what it's trying to imply.

[cosmik debris]

12. two seconds of ambiguous video

doesn't outrage me.

[cosmik debris]

10. I've thought it over

And I have decided it is in bad taste. It is also bad politics to bring up the opposition's issues. But hell, I don't like the DSCC in the first place. And even so, I don't get outraged over this.

I still have an open mind. Can someone out there in DU land tell me why this is so outrageous?

[WestHoustonDem]

11. I think that it was offensive on two counts

1. Implying all immigrants are terrorists
2. Implying all people who where white turbans are terrorists.

We're supposed to be the defending against racism, not propagating it.

That said, I'm not sure if it rises to the level of outrage in Gerry's letter so much as it's just plain stupid.

[VelmaD]

13. They could have easily fixed this...

by saying something like "porous borders" rather than "more illegal immigrants".

[muse]

14. Here's my take

I assumed they were trying to say to Republicans, look you are all about how terrible illegal immigration is, but guess what, it has increased on your watch.

Still, the one thing is inflammatory (showing a hispanic person going over the border) and comparing it to all of the other bad things they point out. It probably means this was done by someone from a state that has no clue how this plays on the border.

[cosmik debris]

15. Remember, the southern Vice Chair of the DSCC is Mark Pryor

He has decided to support Lieberman over Lamont. The DSCC doesn't exactly support the "Democratic wing of the Democratic party". We should not be too surprised when they show this kind of non-Democratic bias.

[cosmik debris]

16. The ad is gone!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1955920

Found this in another forum