Response to DSCC’s New Ad

Update [2006-8-17 15:7:0 by Man Eegee]: They moved the video away from the link provided. Not sure if they trashed it or just moved it away to keep it away from drawing more negative attention. Still hearing crickets instead of an explanation or apology, however.

Dear Senators Schumer, Boxer and Reid:

I am writing today in response to the new advertisement by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), entitled Secure, which the DSCC unveiled earlier this week as part of the fall election campaign.  According to the DSCC’s blog, From the Roots, you are promoting this commercial as a way to “make the nation safer and challenging GOP opponents on their national security stance.”

Your Communications Director’s decision to include the segment regarding illegal immigrants alongside imagery depicting the 2005 London train bombings, Osama bin Laden, and leaders of Iran and North Korea is nothing short of despicable.  At a time when thousands of local activists are working to engage and register new voters, many of them Latinos, to support you in the fall elections, this type of fear-mongering does nothing to instill confidence in Democrats’ ability to advocate for the forgotten communities of this nation.

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If you recall, earlier this year the streets of the United States were filled with hundreds of thousands of people to rally and protest the moves by the Republican-led Congress to demonize the undocumented immigrant community and its supporters with House Resolution 4437.  Many of your colleagues, including Senators Kennedy and Obama, attended and addressed the rallies that rose up from true grassroots leadership.  Have you forgotten us already?

The Bush Administration has used potent fear as a weapon against the American people since the 9/11 attacks.  Your decision to follow their lead and attempt to scare the voters into voting for you this fall is yet another negative frame, one that does not empower the electorate to stand with you for the values the party claims to uphold, such as equality under the law, fiscal responsibility and a foreign policy based on coalition-building and diplomacy.

If “securing our borders” is truly a national security issue, then why is there only attention given to the southern border?  I have yet to receive an answer from any elected official to that valid question.  The Minutemen and other racist vigilante groups would be proud of the message your advertisment sends to the American people – that illegal immigrants are terrorists.

I call upon you and rest of the DSCC’s leadership to request the removal or amendment of the ad immediately from your website and from all media outlets.  I also request a direct apology to the grassroots activists of this country, whose wind you’re ripping out of our sails, for this affront to the communities we live within and call family.

The DSCC has a decision this fall to either promote electoral successes through positive messages of hope and a commitment to human rights, or through the ongoing campaign of fear that has dominated this country’s political narrative.  I hope you will choose a more empowering and uplifting path, as it not only withers the GOPs divisive propaganda but also energies your base which you will need to show up on November 7, 2006 to end the Republican Rubberstamp Congress’ reign.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
[Man Eegee]
Tucson, Arizona