Will the "purple heart bandaid" episode wound Bush?

[yellowcanine]

I feel that it almost has to have some effect - particularly the full frontal pic of Pat with her big grin, dubya button and the bandaid stuck to her chin. I am not a vet yet alone a wounded one but I would think that picture would not sit well with anybody who has earned a purple heart or has a family member who received one.

[ClassWarrior]

1. Make it an issue!!

Wear a silver star for JK:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=700513#701034

[ezekiel333]

8. Yes! Make it an issue!

And don't just wait for the Kerry camp. Get out and do something yourself.

[incapsulated]

2. Not unless the Kerry campaign

Makes damn sure it does. They don't have to do it overtly, send outraged surrogates to demand an apology, make a stink, get the media's attention. They love that sort of shit, the campaigns "fighting".

[snippy]

11. Exactly right. The surrogates should be people with military backgrounds

and families of military people. One of the things the surrogates should say is: "What kind of people do things like this?"

[mbali]

24. Military folks are great surrogates on this, but civilians effective too

Ordinary people who respect and honor the troops should express OUTRAGE about this!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. They already have. Pay attention, read the threads. DNC responded already

This bandaid bonanza has already backfired on the RNC. They had to tell the ultra-right guy to stop distributing them. Terry McAuliffe of the DNC has already responded. The media have jumped on this, smelling blood in the water. It just distracted from the RNC message.

No Kerry response needed.

[ClassWarrior]

14. So has Max Cleland, Charlie Rangel and John Lewis.

[RetroLounge]

38. Well, look, here you are again

telling everyone to be nice.

"No Kerry response needed."????

Glad you don't run any campaigns...

RL

[Bernardo de La Paz]

48. No, I'm not telling everyone to be nice. Give Bush hell on the issues:

No, I'm not telling everyone to be nice. Give Bush hell on the issues: This "people of compassion" is a hypocritical smokescreen just as much as "compassionate conservative" hid the true hard-right Bush who cut vet benefits, underfunded "no child left behind", and is trying to fight three wars (terror, Afghanistan, and Iraq) with three tax cuts for the rich.

[mbali]

17. WE are the Kerry campaign!!! Why wait for the guys at the top to do it

They have enough on their plate - Do it YOURSELF!!!

[terrya]

32. Thanks for kicking my ass. I sent an email to the Hardball blogger.

About this disgusting episode. If that bandaid horseshit gets a mention in the Chicago Tribune, I'll send a letter to the editor about it.

[mbali]

35. YAYYY! That's Great!!!

[TeeYiYi]

18. They already did . . .

"Rangel, at the convention for a TV appearance, called an impromptu press conference with frowning Republicans around him, said Democratic National Committee spokesman Matt Bennett. "He demanded that President Bush put a stop to this outrageous and disgraceful behavior," said Bennett.

GOP Chairman Ed Gillespie later said he spoke to Blackwell and no more bandages would be handed out."

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/227538p-195423c.html

''It is inexcusable for a delegate to mock anyone who has ever put on a soldier's uniform,'' said Democratic Chairman Terry McAuliffe. ''It is inexcusable to mock service and sacrifice.''

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-ohio31.html

TYY

[incapsulated]

29. Just now on CNN>>

paraphrasing here:

Blitzer: "this could backfire on them..."

Strategy Guy (forget his name): "Only if the Kerry campaign is able to make an issue of it. Is their rapid response team as good as the republicans?..."

This is going to take more than a few responses, just for one day. To make a "story" takes a lot of effort by the campaign. And NO, WE CANNOT DO IT OURSELVES. It takes known Democratic surrogates on tv and all over the media right now, rapid response, as in immediately, while the story is hot. Wearing a star pin in response to a story that most people missed because it was over in 24 hours does nothing. It's up to the people who actually have access to the media to make this a story over the next several days.

[tblue37]

50. I want Wes Clark

and Max Cleland to go ballistic over this.

[democratreformed]

59. ME TOO!!!!!!!! n/t

[Shopaholic]

3. Only if we can get someone in the Kerry campaign to raise hell

about it, and if we can get the media to cover it and its implication on the service of current military personnel and their bravery & honor, etc. That's doubtful given the media's never-ending attempts to silence our protests.

[terrya]

7. I think it's time to ask Max Cleland.

To be a patriot again. Max is the perfect person to slam this bandaid bullshit.

[incapsulated]

9. Perfect

He is the perfect person to go to on this. :thumbsup:

[DrFunkenstein]

13. Triple Amputee Vs. Pat?

Who's going to win that one?

[ezekiel333]

22. Yes it is time for Max!

He rocks in the media!

[Bandit]

34. I am not sure Max received a Purple Heart

He should have because he was in a Combat situation when he picked up a grenade that would not have been there had there not been Combat going on. That accident would never have happened in any other environment.

[leftynyc]

40. I was thinking Wesley Clark might be better

n/t

[ClassWarrior]

10. They are already!

Max Cleland, Charlie Rangel, John Lewis... I expect Howard Dean and Wes Clark soon.

Now WE need to raise hell!!

[ezekiel333]

23. Kick

[calimary]

39. Yes. DOG-on-a-PANTS-LEG.

We need to make a BIG stink about this. It's absolutely a slam against ALL vets. We have first-person testimony about that, here at DU, in fact, from some vets who are insulted and outraged that these schmucks are taking the name and essence of their hard-won Purple Hearts in vain.

We need to POUND and POUND and POUND on the concept that THIS SHIT is what they REALLY mean by "Compassionate Conservatives!" I've already called CNN to complain about the outrage, and to urge them to cover it further.

[mbali]

19. Why do you think everything has to be from the top down?

If enough people on the ground raise their voices, the press will cover it whether or not the Kerry campaign jumps out in front of the issue.

This is one thing we can learn from the Bush campaign. A good deal of the buzz generated comes from folks outside of the official campaign.

Don't wait for the campaign to go out charging on every front - if you think it's important, do something about it yourself.

[ezekiel333]

25. Kick

[sui generis]

4. slimebags -- utter human slime

they don't care who they hurt, ever. The ends always justify the means, no matter how despiccable. And these people have the balls to call themselves "moral", and to claim the side of right in the battle between "good and evil". They claim to be the adults in charge.

They are just a bunch of pathetic twisted ugly throwbacks that have no place in modern society.

[aquart]

44. They are human beings and fellow American citizens.

They don't get what we get. And they've done great harm because of it.

But dehumanizing them doesn't make us superior.

[sui generis]

46. I wasn't dehumanizing them

I was decrying the fact that they happen to be human. I like to imagine that we collectivey are better than they are subjectively.

We are on separate evolutionary paths - whether by nature or nurture doesn't matter. They are hardwired to live in fear and by fear, addicted to it.

I can honestly say without the smallest shred of misgiving that I don't like them, even that I despise them. I would never be uncivil to someone because I actually am a grownup - but I can be honest about my feelings.

[gasperc]

5. I sent a letter to my local NPR station and crossfire feedback

I'll send out more copies soon. I think everyone on this site should do the same.

my letter

I was very troubled and disturbed this morning to learn that many delegates at the GOP convention are wearing purple bandages with purple hearts on them. Nearly 7000 soldiers have been wounded in Iraq and over 1000 have died. This band-aid mocking the purple heart is the most appalling show of disrespect I have ever seen in my lifetime. How can anyone hold up a sign stating "We support our troops" while simultaneously mocking those soldiers that have been killed or wounded in Iraq? The soldiers in Iraq are brave simply by having the courage to be in Iraq. Dozens of attacks occur on a daily basis and more than two Americans, on average, are dying per day. Americans are coming home wounded or dead, and whether they got their arm blown off by an RPG or scratched by the shrapnel that killed their buddy, no American should mock their bravery or courage. Political expediency does not justify the mockery of our nation's soldiers. The ends do not justify the means. No weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq. No factories or labs that may have made WMDs have been found. No trucks or barrels which would need to number in the thousands(to equal the claim in Mr. Bush's SOTU speech) have been found buried someplace in Iraq and no evidence of where thousands of trucks or barrels are buried have been found, despite the inhumane torture of thousands of Iraqis. Our neighbors, our sons, our daughters, our friends, our souls are in Iraq. They are surviving in unbearable heat, they are being wounded and killed on a daily basis and they are fighting for the cause of democracy, or so we're told, in the Middle East. They were sent to forcibly topple the government of Saddam Hussein and recover and secure WMDs so that they do not get into the hands of terrorists. It has been over 18 months since the invasion, the old government has been dissolved, no WMD's have been recovered and yet our soldiers continue to fight and die in Iraq. These are very brave men, all of the wounded deserve a Purple Heart and to those that feel compelled to mock the medal, one question, Have you no shame?

Regards,
Gasper

[QuidditchFan]

6. Whether it does or it doesn't, it is effin despicable...

If you were a soldier in Iraq watching someone's valor diminished and mocked, how would you feel? These people really are beyond shame.

[Chef]

15. Band Aide

I simply don't know any more? I am beyond even having any rational understanding of the electorate, the republicans or where we are headed. I guess things aren't bad enough and these people and their little man haven't pissed off enough people to make them take any action.

[Warren DeMontague]

16. Did This, Posted in Other Thread-- Duplicate But Enjoy And Use

[SiouxJ]

51. Thanks, I've already passed it along

nice work!

[LiberalPersona]

20. No it won't

Unless it gets real media coverage, which it won't, it isn't going to do Jack to Bush.

[gardenista]

21. YES! But it would help if a coalition of vets did a TV spot. nt

[yellowcanine]

26. I am betting Pat won't even be on the floor tonight - or the guy who was

handing out the bandaids - at least I am sure they won't be allowed to talk to the media. Rove may be obtuse but he will recognize a political clusterfuck and do what he can to get it toned down. We are so lucky those pictures got taken. This will follow old Pat back to whatever hole she crawled out of. Thanks Pat!

[QuidditchFan]

27. If you haven't emailed someone (ANYONE) about this, then you...

aren't doing your job. Attention has to be called to this, and I agree with other sentiments in this thread: Take control since the media isn't on our side.

[Spazito]

28. This is how republicans feel about veterans:

This woman is laughing:






at this veteran:







I have NEVER seen anything more disgusting than this!

[Generic Other]

30. Ask the veterans you know what they think of it

Start asking them about their medals, how "easy" they are to earn, etc. If you avoid getting punched, bring the conversation around to asking what they think of this latest Bush tactic.

One thing is for sure, we all know some decorated veterans, don't we? Let's hear what they have to say about whose medals count and whose don't.

Daughter of a WW2 bronze star recipient. He carried a wounded man 10 miles under enemy fire during the Battle of the Bulge.

on edit: my deceased father's medals

[nofurylike]

56. that is who she laughed at. your brave and honored father!!

all the brave and honored...


shrieking!!: shame! for SHAME!!!

i became nauseated watching her


weep

my deceased grandpa got a bronze star there too

:hi:


peace!!

[Stew225]

31. Yes, make it a freaking issue!!!!!!!!!! eom

[Gothmog]

33. This was an insult to vetrans and wounded everywhere

We need to make this an issue and keep the story alive until it hits home to the vetrans and wounded soliders from Iraq.

[mondo joe]

36. It Will Only Wound Bush if the Kerry Campaign HITS HIM With It

They need a commercial showing the bandaids, saying THis is what the Bush camp thinks of our soldiers.

[progressivebydesign]

37. You KNOW that the bandaids were embraced until they got busted for it..

The bandaids would have stayed around as long as it took for the national media to criticize it. Newt Gingrich thought it was "funny". I think there were more than 250 out there in the hall.. I guarantee it. Compassionate? Christians? God's Own Party? Evil, greedy bastards is more apt. Those fuckers will attack anyone if they think it will benefit them financially. Make no mistake, the rest of the stuff is just window dressing.. the main reason people are Republicans is that they believe (foolishing unless they're multi-millionaires) that the GOP is the party that lets them keep more of their money, and the party that gives less and does less for the poor. Greed is the top value in the GOP. Greedy Old Philanderers is really a better description.

[LuminousX]

41. Call Bush Campaign, ask where you can get some of those bandaids

[ezekiel333]

45. Kick

[wryter2000]

42. From a conservative at work

I assume they think they're being cute, and that they think they're only mocking what they believe to be Kerry's less than serious war wounds. However, they're trivializing every purple heart ever awarded. This is the absolute lowest you could possibly go. What a bunch of dirt bags. Kerry is looking better every day.

This person is pretty right wing. He announced a while back that he wouldn't vote for Bush, but no way could he vote for a Democrat. Look how far he's come.

Thanks, a-hole R's.

[ibegurpard]

43. kick

:grr:

[DinahMoeHum]

47. This stunt won't play well with my dad's buddies in the AX-POW

chapter they belong to. That's an ironclad guarantee.

Those filthy POS 'Pukes had better duck for cover.

BTW, thanks for the info on the POS (Morton Blackwell) who dreamt this up. I'm passing it along to my dad and other Kerry supporters in my area. Blackwell's organization is gonna get a nasty shit-storm from us.

:nuke:

[Protected]

49. CNN and AP report on the bandages

"Probably a lot of people are handing them out because they are very symbolic," <Donna Cain, an Oregon delegate> said. Kerry, she said, "has made the war that he served in far more important than his recent records of the last 18 to 20 years."

...

But Cain said she didn't see the bandage as a jab at U.S. troops who have been wounded in combat -- more than 6,000 of them so far in the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

"It is not in any way defaming of them, because I know people who have received Purple Hearts and I know that they're not boasting about their war record. They're proud of their serving their country. And, I mean, I just met a woman who lost her husband yesterday in Iraq. And there's a whole entirely different mood."

CNN Article

AP Article

[oasis]

52. The mean spiritedness of Republicans won't play well w/moderates.

[ibegurpard]

53. No it won't. But if they don't hear about it then it doesn't matter.

It's up to us to keep a fire under this disgusting story.

[LuminousX]

55. Email Political Cartoonists

This is ripe with visual appeal and can be used in many different ways.

[yellowcanine]

58. It's all over - its an AP story - This could deflate the bounce.

Houston 92 and Pat Buchanan - this has that potential imo if it gets enough play. Newtie defending it by saying he thought it was funny will fan the flames. The guy who did this is a Carl Rove confidante so that is interesting. Hard to believe that Rove would approve of something this stupid but it he HAS engaged in similar types of dirty tricks before and maybe he hasn't learned his lesson.

[terrya]

54. I'm looking forward to seeing how Keith Olbermann will handle this.

And he will, count on it. A good perspective from Keith.

[LuminousX]

57. Colin Powell should be asked about this...

he earned a Purple Heart. I believe he is the only decortated vet in Bush's adminisration - he would be a relevant person to get a comment from.