An Attempt to Crush Political Speech!

The first of Bush's reelection ads are drawing fire, from Kerry supporters (several relatives of people who died in the 9/11 attacks and the Firefigher's Union that has endorsed Kerry) because of the use of video graphics from 9/11. This argument is of a piece with Josh Marshall's apparent belief that the way you counter criticism of Kerry's voting record is to point to his medals from Vietnam. The AP is reporting that "several relatives of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and a firefighters union that has endorsed Democratic rival John Kerry demanded the ads be pulled." Hugh says Dan Rather and Katie Couric have joined the criticism.

And I'll bet they don't want any films of him visiting the troops at Thanksgiving or greeting the sailors on the aircraft carrier either, not because they can't answer them, but because they're "in bad taste." So how successful do you think this will be with the voters? The most important images in this campaign is the clips taken on 9/11 of those jetliners flying into the WTC and Pentagon, because they explain like nothing else that terrorism is not a matter for the criminal courts, but a matter of national defense.

Update: Here's what Karen Hughes told CBS News' The Morning Show: /

With all due respect, I just completely disagree, and I believe the vast majority of the American people will as well.. . . 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.�

I do too.