The revival of your role as salesman-in-chief for the White House’s failed war policy is also welcome. We were looking for a way to connect this mysterious “Freedom Watch” outfit to the White House Iraq PR machine. And then it turned out that you made our job very simple—you are in charge. This is the “White House Ad campaign.”
Our researchers tell us your ads are targeting 90% Republicans (37 out of 41). We’ve had strong fundraising but we never thought a $15 million TV buy was in the works. Every extra minute of TV time talking about Iraq is another drip, drip, drip of bad news for politicians who won’t break with Bush. So, thanks.
I hope we can meet in person. Perhaps your schedule is clear now that you are no longer a witness in the Libby trial or a spokesperson for the White House. (Have you thought about writing a fiction novel about yellowcake and Niger?)
Also, how do you define “progress” in Iraq? This is now the bloodiest summer since the war began. Already 243 Americans have been killed in June, July and August. Last year 169. In 2005, 217 were killed.162 in in 2003 and 113 in 2003. The Iraqi parliament is on vacation. Nearly half the Iraqi cabinet is boycotting the government. The surge has failed.
Now, for the first time, we’re not the only campaign on Iraq making Susan Collins, Norm Coleman, Mitch McConnell and others look over their shoulders. If I were you I wouldn’t answer phone calls from the NRSC, the NRCC or the RNC. I don’t think they’re too happy about these ads.
Thanks again.
-Tom Matzzie Washington Director, MoveOn.org Political Action campaign manager, Americans Against Escalation in Iraq
P.S. Here is where the ads are running. (See the ads)
A close examination of their first ad buy, which is already public information, shows that Freedom’s Watch is targeting 37 Republicans with a direct message - stand with Bush’s failed Iraq war strategy.Freedom’s Watch is spending at least $5.8 million in the next four weeks.What follows is an analysis of the ad buy - Republicans are in bold and Democrats are in italics.
Member
Market
GRPs
Total Money
Heather Wilson
Pete Domenici
Albuquerque
1,271
$254,190
Susan Collins
Olympia Snowe
Bangor
Portland
1,413
1,443
$105,995
$158,780
Chuck Grassley
Tom Latham
Cedar Rapids
DesMoines
Sioux City
1,182
1,671
1,035
$118,165
$200,520
$56,925
Vernon Ehlers
Grand Rapids
1,014
$177,435
Arlen Specter
Todd Platts
Jim Gerlach
Tim Murphy
Charlie Dent
Mike Castle
Chris Smith
Mike Ferguson
Harrisburg-Lancaster
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
1,560
1,230
1,117
$226,265
$922,325
$251,290
Norm Coleman
Jim Ramstad
Mich. Bachmann
Minneapolis
818
$220,750
Jon Porter
Dean Heller
Las Vegas
Reno
241
1,382
$63,900
$138,210
George Voinovich
Steven LaTourette
Youngstown
471
$32,935
Jim Walsh
Randy Kuhl
Syracuse
Rochester
1,450
1,560
$144,955
$187,235
John Warner
Tom Davis
Washington, DC
557
$473,570
Gordon Smith
Bend
Medford
1,473
1,860
$66,285
$83,710
Mark Pryor
Little Rock
2,158
$248,190
Wayne Gilchrest
Salisbury
2245
$145,925
Elizabeth Dole
Bob Inglis
Greenville-Spartanburg
868
$108,470
Mitch McConnell
Lexington
Louisville
1,407
1,073
$126,635
$134,140
Chuck Hagel
Lincoln
1,237
$80,395
Richard Lugar
Brad Ellsworth
Indianapolis
Evansville
1,528
1,532
$351,420
$137,870
Saxby Chambliss
John Barrow
Macon
Savannah
1,173
622
$82,100
$56,000
Ric Keller
Tampa - Sarasota
898
$296,255
Lamar Alexander
Nashville
1,078
$188,575
John Thune
Stephanie Herseth
Sioux Falls
207
$16,545
$5,855,960
Freedom’s Watch is spending at least $5,855,960 over the next four weeks (from 8/22/07 to 9/23/07):