McCain, Palin invoke live footage of 9/11 planes crashing in RNC video

The Boston Globe has reported that decency and good taste have been abandoned by John McCain, Sarah Palin and the Republican Party after they aired footage of a plane crashing into one of the towers on September 11th, 2001 in one of the videos shown at the Republican National Convention this evening.

From the Boston Globe:

One of the most enduring taboos in American politics, the airing of graphic images from the September 11 attacks in a partisan context, died today. It was nearly seven years old.

The informal prohibition, which had been occasionally threatened by political ads in recent years, was pronounced dead at approximately 7:40 CST, when a video aired before delegates at the Republican National Convention included slow-motion footage of a plane striking the World Trade Center, the towers' subsequent collapse, and smoke emerging from the Pentagon.

The September 11 precedent was one of the few surviving campaign-season taboos. It is survived by direct comparisons of one's opponents to Hitler.

The images that have been used in the past in campaign ads and videos have not been so blatently disrespectful to the families involved, and all Americans for that matter. The actual events have never been shown. Glimpses of the twin towers or planes have been used, yes. But the events of that day as they actually happened? Absolutely not. Those are off limits for political gain. Shame on McCain, Palin and the Republican Party.

Comments

[A name]

1. You are reporting on news that is being reported by the Boston Globe. Laughable.
2. The video was a 9/11 TRIBUTE. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw1vEzqld0I

Are people not allowed to make tributes to the tragedies of 9/11? Shall we just forget 9/11 altogether? What do you propose?

What point are you trying to make by re-posting a news story?

[Auditna]

This is an all-time low for the McCain clan. ANYONE that votes for this man .....

[A name]

I might also add that images/videos of 9/11 are NOT taboo to Americans, only to bleeding heart liberals.

True Patriots are reminded of the hate in this world when they see images/videos of 9/11.

Let's lock all those images/videos up in a vault, forget it ever happened, and stick our heads tightly back in the SAND.

[Jason]

You have to be kidding me... How many times have you seen the 9/11 footage? You really think that is indecent. Also, do your homework... Hillary already used 9/11 footage in commercials and rallys. So did Guliani.

[just another guy]

Hey don't say that liberals don't love this country. I mean really has your mind been devolved to the point where u think being liberal means hating ones country. Stupidity at its max.

[Another name]

The point is this:

This video is being used solely to further the political agenda of John McCain and the RNC. This was not a "tribute", it was an ad for McCain, beating the drum of nationalism and stirring painful memories in order to associate McCain with the "war on terror". It's disgusting and vile, and I honestly thought that McCain was a better man than this.

[just another guy]

Hey don't say that liberals don't love this country. I mean really has your mind been devolved to the point where u think being liberal means hating ones country. Stupidity at its max.

[Another Name]

What you call a "tribute" video I call a piece of fearmongering propoganda used to scare people into voting for a certain party.

Are people allowed to make tribute videos? Absolutely. It should be not only acceptable but encouraged as it helps us ALL remember events, people, etc. Should videos like this one be used in a political venue to "scare" up extra votes? I think not. This is not about a tribute, in my opinion. It's about furthering the idea that if you don't vote for candidate A, and instead vote for candidate B, you are putting your life (or that of your family, friends, countrymen) at risk. That, my friend, is beyond laughable. That is unfortunate. More unfortunate still is stuff like that undoubtedly works on some potential voters to divert their attention from other issues and messages which pertain to one political party vs. another.

[Ed Hernandez]

My cousin died in that terrorist act. Is the Boston Globe implying that I should forget that? Why is it a taboo to use video or reference to 9/11? Is it because it would remind people? What is wrong with that anyway?

I think we should all be reminded constantly and never again let our guard down. Yes, it brings pain and a lot of questions but I want a leader who will never forget what happened to my cousin. I couldn't care less if it's a republican or a democrat. I want someone who will never allow that to happen ever again.

[my Name]

You have to be kidding me. I mean it happened. It's recent history. It wasn't done in poor taste and both sides have used it from time to time. (OK Guliani... a little too much)

Get some real news and stop the flame bait.

[Ray]

Well actually... it isn't about the hate in this world... it's about the hate in this country, and the control the media and government have over us, and the insane things those with power will do to wage war on other countries. You see, the way 9/11 happened isn't the way most americans believed it did. http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

[Mike Caprio]

Planes crashing into the towers is a tribute? To whom, the terrorists?

Crashing planes is not a tribute. Pictures of the towers standing undamaged is a tribute. Showing the names of victims who died is a tribute. Showing pictures of the heroes who died rescuing people is a fucking tribute, you imbeciles.

Come to New York some time, "A name". Look around at the real tributes and murals people have erected, and count how many of them show planes crashing into the towers. Maybe when they build the Freedom Plaza and museum, they'll have a giant TV screen on an endless loop that shows the planes crashing - wouldn't that be an excellent tribute? Idiot.

[Amit]

What people aren't seeing is this tragedy happened on the Republican watch. I am only using their terms because they love to question what scary things would happen on a Democrats watch.

[John]

"All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

Hermann Göring, 2nd in command in Adolf Hitler's Third Reich.

Anyone saying "liberals hate America" is playing right into this. True patriots like liberals don't follow the ruling class and their faux news talking points blindly.

[inmemory]

In response to A name:
"Are people not allowed to make tributes to the tragedies of 9/11? Shall we just forget 9/11 altogether? What do you propose?"

As someone who lost a family member on 9/11, I propose that a political party not use 9-11 'fear mongering' videos that they say are 'a tribute' during their campaign for any reason. This was not a tribute!

If you lost a family member to this tragedy you would be devastated, infuriated and heartbroken that they sunk so low to do this! What kind of tribute to my brother's life or any life of 9-11 is watching the RNC use others and my brothers death for their own purposes? and call it TRIBUTE! You obviously have no clue what this is like for 9-11 families. We are attending 'real tributes' in just a few days and did not NEED this insult at this time.

You think they did this to show respect to victims and as a tribute? you all fail to remember it is not just about what 9-11 did to the country and trying to use it GET VOTES- out of fear. It is about individual families and RESPECTING the 9-11 families.

Feeding people fear propaganda on a 100 foot screen and calling it a tribute is a sick joke. Showing 9-11 victims and using my own brother's blood to defend their political positions is disgusting. My 85 year old mother is traumatized by this and says , "not in my son's memory".

and " Shall we just forget 9/11 altogether? What do you propose?":
My family is still torn apart in so many ways I will not go into details but A name, don't worry to the families of 9-11 not a second goes by that we FORGET and we do not appreciate using our tragedy in this way EVER. 'I propose' that our personal family tragedy not be used for political purposes.

[Scott]

It's always in poor taste to use a tragedy like 9/11 to further your political career - be it Republican or Democrat.

Same with using your ex-POW status to imply that you're unimpeachable, and that your honesty can not be questioned.

[Richard]

Showing this as a "tribute" to 9/11 is like showing the Zapruder film as a tribute to JFK.

[Pissed off Hippy]

Um the video is very one sided, why can Jon McSame talk about United States of America's foreign policy that caused all the blow back that help radicalize the Muslim world?
Why not?

Oh that right we need a ENEMY to keep the war meat grinder turning.

This so plays on people fears and lack of any insight.

[Patriot]

Fear mongering has nothing to do with being conservative, liberal, democratic, or republican. This us versus them mentality is what is plunging this country deeper into it's paranoia and allowing those with money and power to gain a tighter hold on all the honest working Joes in this country.

Call out fear mongering when you see it, wether it be McCain, Hillary, or anyone else. Fear mongering is in fact the sole purpose behind terrorist acts. A terrorist knows they do not have the power to physically get what they want, however, through their terrorism they can insight fear, thereby weakening the enemy.

One simple question.. do you think that the average working american is better off than 8 years ago? Or has fear allowed an administration aimed at protecting the upper class and those in power to strangle this country? Do you think that more unemployed americans earning less money makes our country stronger? ( http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/business/economy/06econ.html?hp )

Don't allow emotions of fear and nationalism invoked by the terrorists and the people like this who feed off of those emotions to strip you of your freedom.

[fak3r]

...plus the reminders of 9/11 are just there for the same scare tactics that were so successful for Bush. Of course we shouldn't forget what happened, but show me a time when that memory isn't used to persuade, and is an actual tribute to those who died, don't show it just to get everyone pumping their fist and screaming, USA-USA! I can't wait to see how the 'Right' deals with the upcoming anniversary - this close to the election, I expect them to go way over the top.

Oh, and yeah, the whole he was a pow deal is played the same way. Do I, and should we all, have respect and admiration for what McCain had to go through? Or course, but should that make us view him as a better leader with no other character considerations? Of course not.

The fact that last night was all about belittling Obama for doing community work shows how scared the repubs are - can you see Obama belittling Palin in the same manner? Lastly, imagine if McCain won, and then died or had to step down for some reason - can you see Palin being president? Get back to on that.

[WrenisPinkle]

"I might also add that images/videos of 9/11 are NOT taboo to Americans, only to bleeding heart liberals.

True Patriots are reminded of the hate in this world when they see images/videos of 9/11.

Let's lock all those images/videos up in a vault, forget it ever happened, and stick our heads tightly back in the SAND."

How about we not show the videos/pictures of our fallen being brought home to be laid to rest? If we want to be reminded of the hate we also should be reminded of the cost.

[Jiff Woods]

Well, this is old news, its not like anyone hasnt already seen the footage. Good thing no one is taking this McBush idiot seriously anyways.

JIff
www.anonymize.kr.tc

[Robert]

More of the same from McCain. How stupid do you actually have to be to think this guy should be president? I mean, really, how stupid are these people?

[Viktor]

Mike Caprio,
this was well said.

[nale]

WrenisPinkle,
Learn to READ. Then learn to think instead of knee-jerk reacting.

The Globe did NOT say videos of 9/11 are taboo. It was not implied that we should lock up images/videos or forget it happened.

The simple point is no one should use these images/videos for political gain.
The taboo was "the airing of graphic images from the September 11 attacks in a PARTISAN context".
If you ignore the words 'in a partisan context' or you miss the whole point.

All types of Amercians died on 9/11. America was attacked not the Republican party. Everyone feels the pain and everyone remembers the hate of the terriots that attacked us. We should never and won't ever forget.

IMHO the biggest mistake in the Bush presidenty was not taking advanage of the unity of the country after 9/11 to strenghen that unity.

Instead he used the sense of untiy and to pursue a pre-planned war in Iraq which had nothing to do with 9/11. Deriving resources, time and focus from the just war in Afghanistan whose purpose was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to al-Qaeda, who had everything to do with 9/11.