Bush's 9/11 TV Ads Spark Anger

President Bush's use of images from the Sept. 11 terror attacks in campaign commercials has drawn criticism from the families of some victims, who say the ads are in poor taste.

But the president's re-election campaign is defending the use of the ads.

"With all due respect, I just completely disagree, and I believe the vast majority of the American people will as well," Karen Hughes, a Bush campaign adviser, told CBS News' The Early Show.

"Sept. 11 was not just a distant tragedy. It's a defining event for the future of our country. ... Obviously, all of us mourn and grieve for the victims of that terrible day, but Sept. 11 fundamentally changed our public policy in many important ways, and I think it's vital that the next president recognize that."

Hughes, who served as Mr.Bush's White House spokeswoman, is being used as a surrogate for the president. She appeared Thursday on three morning TV news shows, and has already begun taking shots at Mr. Bush's Democratic rival, John Kerry.

The ads will air in 17 states where the Bush campaign expects a real contest, and so far they are positive focusing on "steady leadership in times of change," with two of the four spots referring directly to Sept. 11, reports CBS News Correspondent Bill Plante.

These ads don't mention John Kerry, but later ads are expected to turn negative, attacking Kerry's Senate votes and charging that he has shifted repeatedly on the issues, reports Plante.

"For about a year, nine Democrats have been out on the trail beating up on President Bush, attacking him. There's been something in the neighborhood of $30 million worth of ads run by them criticizing the president, so now it's our turn," said Republican strategist Charlie Black.

The first three Bush ads, unveiled Wednesday at campaign headquarters in suburban Washington, will run on broadcast channels in about 80 markets in 18 states, most of which are expected to be critical to the election, and nationwide on select cable networks.

"It's a slap in the face of the murders of 3,000 people," Monica Gabrielle, whose husband died in the twin towers, told the New York Daily News for its Thursday editions. "It is unconscionable."

"It's really wholly inappropriate to use Sept. 11 in a political way. Three thousand people died on September 11th and it's really not up for," Lorie Van Auken, a Sept. 11 widow, told CBS News Correspondent John Roberts.

Ignoring family pleas, White House officials defended the ads as highlighting a pivotal moment in the nation's history and suggested politics was behind some of the criticism, reports Roberts.

The firefighter's union -- which backs John Kerry -- wants them off the air, saying President Bush has shortchanged first responders on critically needed equipment and training.

"He's trying to capitalize on the image of great heroics and a great tragedy, I guess, trying to somehow show his leadership," said Howard Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters. "The fact of the matter is I think his leadership has failed when it comes to the nation's first responders and firefighters."

But other first responders rushed to the President's aid, reports Roberts.

"He led this country through it's darkest day in our history and people can't forget that. And those images -- they're instilled in our history. This isn't about politics, this is about reality," said Bernard Kerik, former NYPD Commissioner.

Two of the spots show the destruction at the World Trade Center and include an American flag flying amid the debris. They also feature images of firefighters working through the wreckage.

"It's as sick as people who stole things out of the place," said firefighter Tommy Fee. "The image of firefighters at ground zero should not be used for this stuff, for politics."

The ads do not mention Kerry, focusing instead on improving Mr. Bush's image after criticism by Democrats in recent months.

"I would be less offended if he showed a picture of himself in front of the Statue of Liberty," said Tom Roger, whose daughter perished on the plane that crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. "But to show the horror of 9/11 in the background, that's just some advertising agency's attempt to grab people by the throat."

Hughes said the ads are a tasteful reminder of what the country has been through the last three years.

"I can understand why some Democrats might not want the American people to remember the great leadership and strength the president and first lady Laura Bush brought to our country in the aftermath of that," she said.

On Wednesday, Hughes came out swinging against Kerry.

She said the Massachusetts senator has "has railed against the Patriot Act, against the No Child Left Behind education reform, against free trade and
NAFTA. Yet, he voted for all three of them."

Tossing another punch, Hughes thanked voters in the Democratic
primary process for choosing Kerry.

"It took Howard Dean to make John Kerry look electable," she
said to laughter and applause of about 600 people attending the
speech sponsored by the National Center for Policy Analysis in Dallas.