Republicans have unleashed a blistering mailing against Barack Obama that invokes the 9/11 attacks with a disturbing image of a jumbo jet and a warning that the Democrat nominee isn’t “who you think he is.”
The attack flier reportedly has been landing in homes in Missouri and Virginia – two states that the Democrats have been working hard to convert to blue in November – in the last few days, according to Politico.com and Time magazine’s “The Page” Web site.
The front cover shows a plane with its nose aimed squarely at a few travelers in an airport waiting area, and warns, “Terrorists don’t care who they hurt.”
The image of a plane in conjunction with terrorism was a clear reference to the airplanes-as-weapons attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Inside the mailing, by the Republican National Committee, is a picture of an angry-looking Obama pointing his finger as he talks, and a headline that reads, “Barack Obama thinks terrorists just need a good talking to.”
As evidence, it quotes his debate answer during the Democratic primary season, when he was asked whether he would meet unconditionally with dictators of rogue nations. Obama answered, “I would.”
The mailer also uses a quote from Obama saying that the threat to the nation currently isn’t as “dire” as the one during the Cold War, adding, “We shouldn’t allow our politics to be driven by the fear of terrorism.”
The mail piece adds, “Islamic terrorists want our laws changed, our culture changed and our families converted. We don’t. What is there to talk about?”
And it concludes, “Barack Obama. Not who you think he is.”
Asked by reporters if he was proud of the mailer, McCain promptly replied, “Absolutely.”
Obama’s campaign ripped the RNC and McCain for the flier.
“The fact that John McCain is actually proud of this deplorable mailer is another indicator of how dishonorable his campaign has become,” said spokesman Tommy Vietor.
“The narrow, polarizing campaign he’s running is part of the reason why Gen. Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama as the leader with the judgment to keep America safe and respected in the world.”
The use of 9/11 images in politics has been controversial in the past – President Bush did it briefly in a TV ad using pictures of Ground Zero in his 2004 re-election, and Rudy Giuliani also briefly invoked the attacks in a spot during this year’s primary campaign.
When Bush aired the 9/11 ad, his supporters privately said it was an effective way to refocus the public debate on an issue that favored the president.
And with the economy dominating the headlines and clearly favoring Obama, the mailing is part of a broader effort by Republicans to capitalize on rumors and e-mail smears that the Democratic nominee is a shadowy figure and potential secret terrorist.