Editor,
I am a New Yorker, born and raised, in my fourth year as an art education major here at Ohio University. President Bush has told us he wouldn't use the Sept. 11 terror attack for political purposes. As reported by the Associated Press on Jan. 23, 2003, Bush said I have no ambition whatsoever to use this as a political issue. Now he's doing precisely that.
The Bush re-election campaign unveiled its first three campaign commercials last week showcasing Ground Zero images, angering some victims' families who accused President Bush of exploiting the tragedy for political advantage. It's a slap in the face of the murders of 3
000 people said Monica Gabrielle, whose husband died in the twin tower attacks. It is unconscionable.
By using Sept. 11 imagery, President Bush's re-election ads cheapen a profoundly significant event that killed thousands and hurt all of us. As reported in New York's Newsday on Feb. 20, Bush-Cheney spokesman Kevin Madden responded to charges that the White House has overtly politicized Sept. 11 by saying I can't believe [they] said that. They are playing politics with national security.
As the New York Daily News reported, many family members are especially upset because President Bush still refuses to meet with the whole Sept. 11 commission, which was set up to determine what went wrong in the lead-up to the attack.
The political use of Sept. 11 is a major part of the Bush re-election strategy. The 2004 Republican Convention is scheduled for the first week of September, timing which, according to the New York Times, will allow Bush to begin his formal campaign near the third anniversary of Sept. 11. Should this political move surprise anyone by now?
Please think carefully on whom we, as constitutional citizens of this country, want representing our country as president of the United States come next year.
Alex Anastas
aa190200@ohiou.edu
17
Archives
