U.S. Newswire : Releases : "MoveOn PAC Responds to Rove/Bartlett Attacks"MoveOn PAC Responds to Rove/Bartlett Attacks
6/24/2005 2:06:00 PM
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To: National Desk, Political Reporter
Contact: Trevor FitzGibbon, Jessica Smith, or Steve Smith, 202-822-5200, all for MoveOn PAC
WASHINGTON, June 24 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by MoveOn PAC:
Karl Rove and Dan Bartlett have attacked MoveOn in the last two days, including on this morning's Today and CBS Early Shows.
"Well known political hatchet men Rove and Bartlett are trying to divert attention from the President's reckless, failed policy in Iraq by attacking us," explained MoveOn PAC Executive Director Eli Pariser. "Attacking a 3.3 million member organization of Americans is bizarre and won't work."
"It reminds me of another President who, while sinking under the weight of a failed war, created an 'Enemies List.' MoveOn is apparently on Bush's updated version," Pariser added.
"Rove is well known for twisting the facts and deceiving the public in his campaigns. He and Bartlett are lying about MoveOn's record. The organization never opposed the attack on Afghanistan post 9/11. In urging a multi-pronged approach to fighting terrorism, the organization has always supported measured military action as part of the mix," Pariser continued.
"My own then-unaffiliated Web site, which I started prior to joining MoveOn, said U.S. response should be 'moderate and restrained,' to avoid provoking more terrorism and enmity against the U.S.," he went on. "Only two days after the attack on the towers, with no proof of who was responsible, urging care was appropriate. Of course I believe the attack on the camps in Afghanistan, which came weeks later, was appropriate, as was other military action against Al Qaeda," Pariser said.
"Contrast this with the reckless, extremist and deceitful Bush policy on Iraq. Our fears that 9/11 would be distorted and misused were prescient. We now know that the White House and the Defense Secretary began immediately to plan what has become the failed war in Iraq, using 9/11 as a phony excuse. They fought the wrong war, and we are all suffering the consequences, especially our soldiers," concluded Pariser.
Early next week, MoveOn PAC will release print and television advertisements opposing the U.S. failed Iraq policy on the day of the President's speech. Stay tuned.
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