RNC releases Web video, Internet ads targeting Kerry
WASHINGTON (AP) — Coming soon to a computer near you: John Kerry as … Austin Powers?
A new GOP Web video pokes fun at the Democratic presidential nominee-to-be, dubbing him “the international man of mystery” for declining to identify foreign leaders he has claimed support him over President Bush.
“Who are you? Honestly?” the fictional 1960s British spy, a creation of actor Mike Myers, asks.
The Republican National Committee e-mailed its video to 400,000 GOP supporters Friday. The committee also was placing two Internet ads — including one criticizing Kerry’s vote against the $87 billion aid package for Iraq and Afghanistan last year — on news and general interest Web sites.
The Web video is a spoof of the “Austin Powers” films. As it shows several clips of Kerry, the video includes comments Powers makes in the movies, the same background music and psychedelic colors.
“Allow myself to introduce … myself,” Powers says as two identical pictures of Kerry playing the guitar appear on screen. Phrases written in bubble letters say: “John Kerry: International Man of Mystery” and “And My Foreign Supporters.”
Jano Cabrera, a Democratic National Committee spokesman, said, “That’s quite groovy baby, but we think that Bush cat is far more deserving of that ‘man of mystery’ title.” Citing the millions of jobs lost and the increase in the federal deficit, Cabrera said, “The bigger mystery is how he hopes to win in November with a record like that.”
The DNC sent its own Web video to supporters Friday in which a cartoon Bush says, “We can balance the budget in the year 2005.” An announcer responds, “That sounds like a lot of hot air to me.”
Aside from Web videos, the RNC has been placing ads on various Web sites highlighting the GOP agenda. Friday’s launch is the first to include an anti-Kerry ad that will run on some 1,400 news, sports, technology, entertainment, music and business Web sites.
The front page of the ad claims: “Senator Kerry says his own vote to ‘abandon our troops’ was reckless and irresponsible.” Kerry’s campaign said the ad mischaracterizes the Massachusetts senator’s comments.
It’s only after clicking on the ad do viewers see Kerry’s entire quote from a Sept. 14, 2003, interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” — a month before he even cast the vote on the $87 billion spending plan. The ad also includes links to a video showing Kerry’s answer to a question about whether he would “vote against the $87 billion” if another amendment, which would have repealed Bush’s tax cuts to pay for the same programs, failed.
Kerry’s response: “I don’t think any United States senator is going to abandon our troops and recklessly leave Iraq to whatever follows as a result of simply cutting and running. That’s irresponsible. What’s responsible is for the administration to do this properly now.”
Kerry said last week that he voted “no” on the bill after the other amendment failed because he did not support the president’s military and reconstruction plans.
“What Kerry opposed was writing a blank check for Bush’s failed Iraq policy, which included billions in no-bid contracts for Dick Cheney’s friends at Halliburton,” said Chad Clanton, a Kerry spokesman.
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On the Net:
http://www.rnc.org
http://www.johnkerry.com