Robert Gibbs was the spokesman for outfit that run Republican-like attack ads against Howard Dean!

[Better Believe It]

THE 2004 CAMPAIGN: ADVERTISING; New Democratic Group Finances a Republican-like Attack on Dean
By JIM RUTENBERG
December 16, 2003

A new Democratic group that is running advertisements against Howard Dean and has not yet disclosed its sources of financing has introduced by far the toughest commercial of the primary election season.

Though the advertisement, which began running on Friday in South Carolina and New Hampshire, is paid for by Democrats, it offers a taste of a likely Republican strategy against Dr. Dean should he win the presidential nomination.

The spot opens with a Time magazine cover featuring Osama bin Laden as synthesizer music seemingly out of a post-apocalyptic science fiction movie is heard.

As the camera focuses on Mr. bin Laden's eyes. the following words flash on the screen: ''Dangerous World,'' ''Destroy Us,'' ''Dangers Ahead'' and ''No Experience.''

''Americans want a president who can face the dangers ahead,'' an announcer intones. ''But Howard Dean has no military or foreign policy experience. And Howard Dean just cannot compete with George Bush on foreign policy. It's time for Democrats to think about that -- and think about it now.''

The advertisement is the latest salvo in what amounts to a ''stop Dean'' campaign sponsored by the new Democratic group, Americans for Jobs, Health Care and Progressive Values.

Its spokesman, Robert Gibbs, recently resigned as the press secretary for Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, another presidential candidate.

The mystery about who is financing the group, which began its efforts about two weeks ago with an advertisement highlighting past support for Dr. Dean from the National Rifle Association, infuriated Dr. Dean's campaign staff.

''Whoever is behind this should crawl out from underneath their rock and have the courage to say who they are,'' said Tricia Enright, a spokeswoman for Dr. Dean. ''It is hateful, it's cynical, it's exactly the kind of ad that keeps people from voting, that keeps people from getting involved in the process.''

See the TV ad at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1DqOwP3Xzc

Read the full article at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/16/us/2004-campaign-advertising-new-democratic-group-finances-republican-like-attack.html

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. K&R

Primaries are indeed battlegrounds, but this again demonstrates the willingness of the corporate wing of the party to go after the Democratic wing of the party.

[fadedrose]

2. It's about they came out with the truth publically,

We've all sensed their animosity towards Progressives for a long time.


Wish Dr. Dean would run in 2012...

[DFW]

3. Howard will not be running in 2012

Please take him at his word on this. But he has most definitely NOT forgotten Gibbs. I'll leave you all to draw your own conclusions.

[laughingliberal]

4. K & R nt

[progressoid]

5. Hmmm...

And Dean wasn't offered a position in the administration. What a coincidence.

[gateley]

6. That always really bothered me -- they just kind of ignored him. Yet he keeps

fighting for the Party. He's a bigger person than I.

[mod mom]

8. I'm sure chief in asshole, rahm, had a say in that.

[blm]

13. Gibbs and Rahm had a hand in stopping Kerry as SoS, too. I didn't want Kerry as SoS but I damn sure

didn't want another Clinton team in the WH....Obama got spooked, imo, and started believing he would NEED the Clintonites' experience once he realized the WH was a certainty. Worst move he could have made, imo, and we've been stuck with their bs center-right antics ever since.

[gateley]

7. Except for the tag line, you would swear that was a spot run by the Republicans.

That's despicable. Now I REALLY don't like Gibbs. I never thought he was that good -- thought Obama could do much better. I was willing to give him a pass on his outburst (like anyone cared what I thought) but now I want him GONE. This speaks to the kind of person he is. Despicable.

[Poboy]

9. Well now, what a fine how-do-you-do. As my grandmother used to say,

'He tore his drawers'.

[TBF]

10. And now this surfaces. Eagerly awaiting the administration's response. nt

[JonLP24]

12. I've actually known about this for years

Highly doubtful the administration would say anything about it now. I knew this before Obama was elected.

[corpseratemedia]

11. wow..just wow

'Americans want a president who can face the dangers ahead,'' an announcer intones. ''But Howard Dean has no military or foreign policy experience. And Howard Dean just cannot compete with George Bush on foreign policy. It's time for Democrats to think about that -- and think about it now.'' :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

[Better Believe It]

20. So Obama can compete with Bush on foreign policy. In what way? More militarism?

[amborin]

14. K&R

[Carolina]

15. What a slimy bastard

another choice that says something about POTUS as well!

[Radical Activist]

16. It sounds a lot like some of the ads Hillary ran against Obama.

Remember the one with scenes of WW2 and famous world disasters? Or the 2am phone call?
She didn't bother to start a front group.

[Radical Activist]

17. Kitchen Ad

Here's the one I was thinking of. Anyone who has seen the documentary "Our Brand is Crisis" knows that the intent was with this ad. I strongly recommend that movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt6W3rVTLhw

[mnhtnbb]

18. I remember this since I was a Deaniac.

[LiberalEsto]

19. "Americans for Jobs, Health Care and Progressive Values"?

THAT's the name of the group that ran ads against Dean?

:rofl:

Gibbs doesn't seem to be for jobs, REAL health care or progressive values now. If ever.