Campaign defends ad depicting terrorist attack
Tancredo's new ad depicts a terrorist attack on an American mall.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo's new television ad depicting a terrorist attack on an American mall is raising eyebrows Tuesday, but the Colorado Republican's campaign says it doesn't cross the line.
"There's nothing over the top about this," Bay Buchanan, Tancredo's campaign manager told CNN. "It's quite accurate."
The 30-second ad, set to begin running on Iowa cable stations this week, depicts a hooded man walking into a crowded mall with a backpack. Over the sound of a ticking clock, the man abandons the backpack at a bench and an explosion is heard.
"There are consequences to open borders beyond the 20 million aliens who have come to take our jobs," the ad's narrator says. "Islamic terrorists now freely roam U.S. soil. Jihadists, who froth with hate, here to do what they have in London, Spain, and Russia."
Buchanan brushed aside critics who say the ad is playing the "fear card" and cited a recent FBI memo that said officials had received a tip Al Qaeda terrorists may be planning attacks on shopping malls in Los Angeles and Chicago during the upcoming holiday season. The FBI also said there is no indication the tip is credible.
"That's a common response of individuals who don't like your message," she said of those who have said the ad is designed to instill fear. "But the key is this: Is there a concern that this could happen to us at anytime? It has to be the case, the FBI just confirmed it."
"Washington doesn't have the guts, or the courage, or the will to do their job which is to secure their nation and that is why we face this threat," she continued. "Unless we speak about it, we can't expect the American people to put the proper pressure on Washington to do what they were elected to do."
Tancredo, who has placed the issue of illegal immigration front-and-center in his long-shot presidential bid, previously caused a stir in August when he said bombing holy Muslim sites would serve as a good "deterrent" to prevent Islamic fundamentalists from attacking the United States.
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I will go with what FDR said the only thing we have to feer is feer itself.
While i do not agree with the way that Tancredo is using the fear of terrorism, we as a nation have to accept the fact that, regardless of reason, a substantial portion of the world views us as the enemy. I agree that we do need a different foreign policy, but not one of retreat, nor of conquest. we need to find the happy medium of peace through strength. I wish Colin Powell would run for pres.
I will go with FDR, The only thing we have to fear is Fear itself
Hello, immigrants aren't taking anyone's jobs. In my opinion they do the jobs natural born citizens have become too good to do. Anyone in this country who truly wants to work can find a job.
Wendy, I hate to burst your bubble but that is entirely false. I know plenty of people with great worth ethics who struggle to find a job that can pay them enough to keep them above the poverty line. Jobs that you talking about only pay minimum wage which, by the way, cannot cover the cost of living anywhere. Immigrants have time and again taken jobs all over this country. They're given these jobs because they are willing to work for less money. Then they bunk up in 1 bedroom apartments and all pay a single persons rent. It's not fair to our citizens that they can't have the very same job and be paid fairly for it. Sorry...that's just the facts.
This Ad is in poor taste. Ads of this kind have been around for many years and I am sure they will continue for many years to come.
Some of those who see this ad will see it as the usual political manipulation that occurs in most elections.
Others will see it meaningful.
Terrorism is nothing new in this world. It's been going on for thousands of years. The U.S. has been lucky that it has not been the victim of much terrorism and I hope it stays that way.
We should remember not to be terrorists ourselves. When our leaders threaten to attack other countries, we become the terrorists.
Hey Matt from Reading, PA,
If he's so concerned about closing up the borders then why wasn't this an urgency after 9/11 when the Republicans were in control for the majority of the Bush Administration?
Just face it, they did NOTHING because they used this tactic to their advantage and they are still trying to but hopefully people have finally woken up to this immature and pathetic tactic!
"18 thousand die in this country each year due to inadequate health care."
Lack of health care insurance can kill you?? Oh my!!
In response to Wendy in Atlanta:
I'm guessing you never owned a construction firm or a landscaping business have you? Yes in fact illegal immigrants ARE taking those jobs. Go to any fast food restaurant and you will see hardly if any at all teenagers working behind the counters. That same old mantra "they do the jobs Americans won't do" is nothing but a campaign slogan for the corporations to rationalize hiring illegals over American citizens. Its not that Americans won't do the job, it that the Americans can't live on below minimum wages to do the job. Americans have to pay taxes, which are taken off every paycheck, Americans have to buy health insurance, Americans have to pay bills so their credit won't be messed up. Illegals pay no taxes. Illegals use our emergency rooms for routine medical care and never pay the bill. I think its sad you would insult Americans over the criminals who come into this country illegally. If you are here illegally, by our own definition you are a criminal. I'm sure CNN won't post this as it won't fit with their liberal agenda.
PW, Atlanta, GA
who puts global warming, baseball and britney spears in the same category?
Fear elected Bush to a second term and stupidity continues to agree with his policies! War debt at 1.6 trillion sound like fiscal responsibility to me?
Jerry Gertiser
good post!!
Be afraid, be very afraid, stay afraid; they will have you right where they want you. Just read what some on this site are writing, you can picture them dancing like puppets on a string.
This was written many years ago by G. Gurdjieff, and sadly, it's still so true today:
"The crowd neither wants nor seeks knowledge.
And the leaders of the crowd, in their own interests,
try to strengthen its fear and dislike of everything new and unknown.
The slavery in which mankind lives is based upon this fear".
Be afraid. Be very afraid. The terrorists are out to get you. The homosexuals are out to get you. The
Republicans are out of ideas.
Boo, now run and hide under your beds.
Dear Ms. Buchanan:
The FBI Memo stating they received "a tip" re: Al Qaeda terrorists planning attacks on Shopping Malls is an investigative bureau's report to enlighten citizens for their protection and safety.
Tancredo's Television Ad is a Campaign Ploy to win votes using Fear Mongering Tactics. A huge difference.
The FBI is concerned about citizens' awareness and safety. They issued a statement. Tancredo's only concern is votes and his poll margins. He televised an in your face Ad which has nothing to do with confirmation and everything to do with sensalization.
no Mees Jeannie, me no can go a home. me live here now. sorry I break law. so sorry. we alien illegals read your cnn ticker. ha ha. we take your joabs in rancho Spanish and aspeak broken Engleesh. Geesh. Christian or Satanist, defitely Nihilist, me wonders sometimes?
"Elect Tancredo or DIE!"
Well, that cinches it for me.
Since CNN censored my last comment, like I guessed they would, I'll edit down what I said. This is response to many posters who feel illegal immigrants are not taking jobs but Americans feel they are too good for the jobs. You have fallen for the campaign slogan of Corporate America who wants nothing but cheap labor. Americans do want these jobs. Recently there was a raid by INS at a meat processing factory. The next day Americans lined up outside looking to replace the jobs previously filled by illegal immigrants. I don't agree with all of Tancredo's plans but I do agree with him that illegal immigration is a very big problem in this country, one that is depleting public services and putting our country at risk. We as citizens have every right to demand our government know who is entering this country and for what purposes.
I get that nonbody important will read this (so if you are reading this..you aren't 😉 CNN stinks. news outlets all pander to sensational news nowadays. your editing of WWE and John Cena sucked ass. I get it you guys do it for headlines...well you got 'em 🙂 good job! just dont think we dont get that your job sucks and you need to cheat to get attention. its part of the process we call life but the 1 vote I have (assuming there was a vote 🙂 is that
you suck ('you' in the collective..I hope to assume some people working here have morals/intelligence).. then again, I suppose if your boss tells you what they expect, what are you gonna do. cha ching...paycheck=important. facts=not important
People, who wrote a negative response to the ad just didn't get it. Tom Tancredo first of all not really GOP candidate. He is anti-Bush and anti-current administration. In this ad he is talking about saving America and American people. It is great that at least one candidate represents American people, not big business and illegal aliens.