GOP Ad Pairs Clinton With Bin Laden

(AP)  A Republican hoping to challenge Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton this fall is running a television ad that pairs Clinton's face with Osama bin Laden's and accuses her of opposing national security programs that may have helped thwart a terror plot on U.S.-bound flights from London.

The ad by former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer's campaign suggests Clinton is "playing politics with national security." It shows images of newspaper headlines about the terror plot, followed by photos of Clinton and bin Laden.

"Senator Hillary Clinton opposed the Patriot Act and the NSA program that helped stop another 9/11. She'd leave us vulnerable," the narrator says.

Clinton adviser Howard Wolfson called the ad factually inaccurate. Clinton voted for the Patriot Act, which expanded the federal government's ability to track terror suspects, in 2001. Last year, she was part of a Democrat-led filibuster that forced Republicans to accept curbs on the government's power to investigate suspects, but she then voted to renew expiring sections of the Patriot Act.

"Mr. Spencer's history of making wild-eyed angry falsehoods like these are among the many reasons why no one takes him or his campaign seriously," Wolfson said.

The ad also includes a spelling error: The words "Islamic fascists still hate us" appear on the screen early in the ad, but "fascist" is spelled "facist."

In the past, political ads linking lawmakers to bin Laden, the al Qaeda mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, have been highly controversial.

In 2002, Republicans used an image of bin Laden in an ad questioning whether Georgia Sen. Max Cleland, who opposed a Bush homeland security bill, had the courage to lead. Cleland, a Democrat who lost three limbs in the Vietnam War, was ultimately defeated by Republican Saxby Chambliss.

Spencer spokesman Rob Ryan defended the Clinton ad Tuesday.

"The ad speaks for itself," he said. "It's about the failure of Senator Clinton to take proper action to defend the state in a time of war."

Spencer faces Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland for the GOP nomination to challenge the heavily favored Clinton. The primary is Sept. 12.

[jacehoch]

FEAR FEAR FEAR. That's what they want. Open your eyes, put 2 and 2 together. The only way the republican party can stay in power is by fear. How can't you see that. Have you not noticed that the summer before every election, they start pulling all of these terror warnings out of there a**. And right after the election you don't ever see them again. Don't be afraid of them (republicans), that's what they want.

[fartnocker2]

Why not . It is in the records that Bill while President was given 3 oppertunties to have OBL shot and at the urgeing of Hillary on the last 2 times he decided not to have the shot taken . So which lead to the 911 later on to be thought of and carried out.Both have always had a hard time deciding who is foe or friend . Most cases turned up that if you gave enough money your were friend no matter who you were .

[jsglyag]

why dont these people check their facts bill clinot used the same law that President George Bush but because he is a Republican he's fair game

[gladys_over]

I meant, the 2006 elections.

Sorry.

[gladys_over]

"She'd leave us vulnerable," the narrator says.

If he means "us Republicans," they will be very vulnerable in the 2008 elections without any special help from Hillary Clinton.

This own folly has made them so.

[cptnorrys]

Comments like these have spilled bitter venom from Republican mouths for the last six years and yet they still remain in power. They say these things simply because they know that they can get away with saying these things. John Spencer, like other Republicans, knows that all the GOP has to do is to once again fire up the base voters of the party with references to the war and things will go fine for them.

What I'm hoping for is that the next trip to the well (Iraq) will show that the bottom has finally fallen out of the bucket for Bush and the Republicans and they can remember to take care of home while licking their wounds.

Walter De La Poer
Exham Priory

[cptnorrys]

Comments like these have spilled bitter venom from Republican mouths for the last six years and yet they still remain in power. They say these things simply because they know that they can get away with saying these things. John Spencer, like other Republicans, knows that all the GOP has to do is to once again fire up the base voters of the party with references to the war and things will go fine for them.

What I'm hoping for is that the next trip to the well (Iraq) will show that the bottom has finally fallen out of the bucket for Bush and the Republicans and they can remember to take care of home while licking their wounds.

Walter De La Poer
Exham Priory

[edjohn66]

How did the Patriot Act and NSA warrantless wiretapping help foil the London terrorist plot? From what I understand, the British did all of their own detective work to foil the plot.....

And is there any proof that the Patriot Act and the NSA warrantless wiretapping has foiled ANY terrorist plot?

The Republican-led "anti-terror" programs and laws have not helped protect our country, they have only eroded our civil liberties.

Too bad Senator Clinton decided it was more important to show how she voted for the Patriot Act then it was to criticize bad laws and policies.... She could take a hint or two from Ned Lamont and Russ Feingold.

[gladys_over]

Saying that Hillary Clinton is opposed to wiretapping terrorists is a complete falsehood. She is opposed to doing it without a court order, which could be obtained after the fact. This is just another partisan distortion. It's like saying that former President George H. W. Bush is against police efforts to stop drunk driving, just because he protested the beating of Rodney King.