Dirty Deeds at the RNC

A Night of 9/11 Manipulation
The Republicans are off and gunning.
By Matthew Rothschild
The actor Ron Silver set the lip-curling tone. Within seconds, he invoked 9/11, and he snarled and shouted his way through his speech, setting a high bar for stridency.
He also asserted, without defense and contrary to a mountain of evidence, that "history shows we are not imperialists."
After ridiculing his so-called friends in Hollywood, he pledged his "support and respect for the commander in chief," saying, "The President is doing exactly the right thing."
Next came Representative Heather Wilson, who said we need "a commander in chief who is a beacon, not a weathervane." Not too subtle that.
Cut to an RNC video on an aircraft carrier, and to an obvious pitch for the veteran vote. George Bush the First said, "To all vets, past, present, and future, we thank you for your selfless service. We salute you. No one can ever take it away from you." (No one except the Swift Boat squad, yet Bush Senior had no qualms about recirculating their stench in The New York Times Tuesday morning.)
Then some Republican genius thought it would be cute to have fake reporters holding up RNC mikes and interviewing veterans in such swing states as West Virginia, New Hampshire, and Minnesota with such tough questions as, "What has the President done for you as a veteran?" (Note to Ed Gillespie: Those RNC "reporters" are hokey to the point of parody.)
The ode to veterans concluded with another RNC video, which was an elaborate bow to the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marines.
OK, we get it.
Up next was Bernard V. Kerik, who was police commissioner of New York on 9/11. He praised the "strong and decisive leadership on that day," including that of "our commander in chief." With Michael Moore in the audience, it was difficult not to conjure up the image of the President lingering bewildered in the Florida elementary school. Strong and decisive he was not.
But Kerik, on theme, said the nation needs "decisiveness, not contradiction." He said Bush's "courage and inspirational leadership" earned his support, and, raising the stakes, he said, "For the future, safety, and security of this country, I pray to God he has yours."
By the end of these four days, God may be getting a workout.
Then the Republicans angled for the votes of union workers, especially firefighters and police officers. The RNC choreographers found two locals that were endorsing the President, including one in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a swing state. The national firefighters union has endorsed Kerry, but this local, with signs reading, "Milwaukee Supports Bush" and "Firefighters Support Bush," made it appear otherwise. For Bush, that was effective propaganda.
One of the weaker propaganda efforts was Former Assistant Attorney General Robert Khuzami's lame attempt to defend the USA Patriot Act. He tried to rebut two of the main criticisms of the act. First, he defended the sneak and peak provision. He asserted that police can't go into your home without a warrant. But what he didn't say was that police can enter your home when you're not there, thus not allowing you to inspect the warrant, which is the essential safeguard. He also said police can't indefinitely refuse to tell you they were there. But actually they can, so long as they say there is still an ongoing investigation of you under way. Second, he said the police aren't interested in what books you're reading in the library, and that the police can only seek such information with a judge's permission. But that is not reassuring, and he failed to mention the gag order then imposed on librarians.
He ended with a dig against Kerry and Edwards, saying, "Some politicians have waffled on their commitments safeguarding America."
Cut to a sepia-toned RNC video on Bush, replete with someone holding a "God Bless You, President Bush" poster. Bush, in compassion mode, talked gently with Laura about the importance of education, and the video showed both with minority students. Then came solemn music and pictures of 9/11, a quick shot of Dick Cheney, and excerpts from Bush's speeches on the war on terror. Bush is quoted indirectly linking 9/11 with Iraq, saying the Iraq War is an "essential mission in the war on terror." The video ended with pictures of Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, a black teacher, and more Laura.
To personify the Iraq War, the RNC brought on stage Zainab Al-Suwalj, executive director of the American Islamic Congress, who lived under Saddam. "We could only dream of a day when we could speak freely," she said. "Today, I come to tell you, Iraq enjoys a new day. . . . America, under the strong, compassionate leadership of the George W. Bush, has given Iraq its most precious gift: the gift of democracy." This was a propaganda coup for Bush.
Cut to another RNC video, "President Bush: Fulfilling America's Promise." Playing for the women's vote, Bush talked about how better off women are now in Iraq (a very debatable point, given the rise of fundamentalist Islam there), and Laura again talking about women in Afghanistan. Laura then brags on her husband: "I've watched my husband make the world better and safer." (Karl Rove is hoping Laura can help carry George over the finish line, so watch for more of her.)
Yet another RNC video, with the same title, ran a few minutes later, with Bush extolling his optimism and boasting about his education reform. (Note to C-SPAN: When Bush is sounding compassionate, there is no need for you to hunt out the few black faces in the crowd to help him try to look good.)
Senator Lindsey Graham, in introducing John McCain, took a jab or two at Edwards, saying, "Our opponents talk of two Americas. John McCain will talk about a united America." And Graham said, "There will be no class warfare in this house tonight." No need for that: The rich delegates have already won.
And after McCain spoke, three 9/11 widows took the stage, and their political message was clear. As Deena Burett, whose husband died on Flight '93 in Pennsylvania, said, "We're going to do something, and we hope you will."
This was the most manipulative use of 9/11 in a night of 9/11 manipulation.