An open thank you letter to Ari Fleischer

Dear Ari Fleischer,

Thank you. The news today about a $15 million TV ad campaign targeting Republicans in the name of a group called "Freedom Watch" is probably the best thing we could want right now. It is a gift.

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 Des Moines 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):

41 Congressional Members are targeted

37 Members, or 90%, are Republicans