Balkinization: Official Website Compares Bush Critics to Hitler

Official Website Compares Bush Critics to Hitler

The Bush-Cheney official website is now running an ad that suggests that Al Gore, Howard Dean, Michael Moore, and Dick Gephardt (yes, Dick Gephardt) are wild eyed lunatics like Adolf Hitler.

The spot juxtaposes images of these men criticizing Bush with clips of Hitler taken from an ad that appeared briefly on the Moveon.org site. That ad was part of a contest among the general public, and when people complained about the entry, Moveon.org took it off the site.

The official line is that the Bush-Cheney ad is just showing what different critics of Bush are willing to say about the President. The real point of the ad, however, is to weave angry speeches by Gore, Dean, Moore, Gephardt (and finally, John Kerry) with angry speeches by Hitler.

Note that this is not some random person off the street comparing Bush critics to Hitler. It's the official website of the President.

Posted 9:25 AM by JB [link]

Comments:

Emphyrio here.

But note too its ineptitude. By running the cut from the MoveOn ad, with Hitler's salute intercut with Bush's, it's the Bush-Hitler connection that's the strongest impression the ad gives.

And I'm not so sure the negative comments about Bush being repeated are a bad thing.

My take: this is merely red meat for the base that visits the website. They'd be fools to air it to be seen by the dazed middle, who would take away only a subliminal Bush-Hitler association.

Speaking of dazed, how about that pic of Bush in the last shot?

# posted by

Anonymous : 11:53 AM

I agree that the ad highlights the Administration's ineptitude in crafting and delivering a coherent message. However, it is consistent with some of the rhetorical themes we've seen from Bush and his most fervent supporters (e.g., us versus them, those who criticize us are unpatriotic, dissenters give aid to the enemy, etc.). Probably an effective appeal to the hard right who will vote for Bush regardless, but I have to believe this makes the Administration's moderate supporters cringe.

To the left, it must appear as a desperate act from a desperate Administration. How can any credible candidate draw comparisons between legitimate critics of the President and Hitler? Has the Bush re-election campaign really come to this?

Does Godwin's law apply to webpage content, or just to weblog commentary?

# posted by

Anonymous : 1:29 PM

The Right made such a big deal about the MoveOn.Org site showing that Hitler ad submission. I wish this ad would be talked up by the Left because I think it's bizarre. Also, as I read somewhere in the blogsphere, the rage concept is especially silly following Dick Cheney's recent "GFY" message to Sen. Leahy and his subsequent admission that he was angry. Not very optimistic of Dick to be cursing on the floor of the Senate, is it?

# posted by

Anonymous : 2:42 AM

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

# posted by

Emma [LittleFish Web Design] : 12:09 PM

Yes it is possible to maximize your penis size, hardness and stamina with herbs. Our formula has been used by
over 1,000,000 people around the world,with a 95% success rate.

Be the man that women desire, with a larger thicker penis. The Naturamax improves penile blood flow,
which not only enhances your erection size, but also the size of your penis when soft. Continued use can lead to permanent gains, which are noticeable even once you
stop.

# posted by

sexual-problems : 8:33 PM

I never get jealous when I see my ex with someone else because my parents always taught me to give my used toys to the less fortunate.
Agen Judi Online Terpercaya

# posted by

Unknown : 1:49 PM