Now that John Kerry has wrapped up the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, the George W. Bush re-election campaign is ready to start up for real. In the next few months, we will be witness to millions of dollars' worth of attacks, manipulations and artificial portrayals of Americana. Very little in the world of political campaigning adheres to rules of morality and civility, but that doesn't mean that campaign advertisements can't rile up some anger and resentment in the voter population.
President Bush's new political ads, which include images from the Sept. 11 attacks, have come under fire from numerous sides.
Many victims' families have publicized their disgust with the ads, calling them "despicable" and "absolutely inappropriate." The victims' family group Peaceful Tomorrows has urged Bush to pull the ads, saying that their message to all politicians is to "keep your hands off Ground Zero."
The International Association of Firefighters union, which has endorsed Kerry, has also urged Bush to pull the ads, and asked him to "apologize to the families of firefighters killed on Sept. 11 for demeaning the memory of their loved ones in an attempt to curry support for his re-election."
But Bush supporters claim that Sept. 11 is a testament to Bush's leadership and the ads serve as a reminder of the events. Campaign adviser Karen Hughes defends the ads, saying, "Sept. 11 was not just a distant tragedy." Others have said that America is already forgetting Sept. 11.
How could we have forgotten Sept. 11? Besides it being the most significant event of our lifetimes, not a day has gone by without Bush and his minions preaching to us about the war on terror. We haven't been allowed the possibility of forgetting it with the "war on terror" incessantly pounded into our psyche.
As much as it denies it, the Bush campaign is simply trying to use Sept. 11 to pursue its own agenda. This time, it's just more obvious as it tries to ensure his re-election.
Americans should not be shocked by Bush's exploitation of Sept. 11; he's been using it for his own personal agenda ever since the tragedy. Whether it is to unseat a dictator who had absolutely nothing to do with the attacks (Iraq) or to use the associated sluggish economy as an excuse to cut taxes for his wealthy patrons ÷ oops, I mean, "political contributors" ÷ Bush has used Sept. 11 and the war on terror as a catch-all excuse to do whatever he wants.
Granted, in the days immediately following the attacks, the president did handle his role admirably, especially with his impromptu speech to firefighters on Sept. 14, 2001. However, just as I told my mother on the day of the attacks, Sept. 11 was the best thing that could possibly have happened to Bush.
Recall that prior to Sept. 11, Bush was about as popular as a paper cut. Then came the attacks. So long as he condemned the terrible act and said that those responsible for it would be dealt with, his popularity would know no limit. It would have been the same for any person serving as president; it was not a special case of leadership, as Bush supporters claim.
Suddenly, Bush was immune to question. Even the comedic teasing that all presidents (and all other public figures, for that matter) face, such as impersonations and skits on TV programs, like SNL and late night talk shows, were no longer permissible. Such facetious questioning of our leader was labeled as "unpatriotic" and "distasteful." After all, we were attacked under President Bush's watch ÷ why should we be allowed to question his actions in any way?
With these ads, President Bush is just trying to do what he's been doing ever since Sept. 11: use the attacks to serve as a distraction from all of the pitfalls and exploitations of his administration. You can understand why his campaign wants to use Sept. 11 as much as possible.
What else can Bush promote himself with? The poor state of the economy and its phantom recovery? The astonishing budget deficit? The devastation of Social Security funds? The under-funded education system? Bush can't afford to let his actual record as president be an issue in this election, so it's Sept. 11 to his rescue once again.
Exploiting Sept. 11 for the political manipulation of America is just standard operating procedure for this administration. It should not be surprising to anyone that Bush has tried to use Sept. 11 at the first opportunity in his bid for re-election; we just need to realize it and not let him get away with it anymore.
Brett Berry is a regional development sophomore. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.