Critics Invoke Jesus in Anti-Stimulus Ad

Conservative group launches $1M ad to slam government spending

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 20, 2009 3:58 AM CST

(Newser) – A conservative group has brought Jesus into the fray over the stimulus package, Politico reports. An anti-stimulus ad from the American Issues Project set to start airing today flashes a picture of the three wise men on the screen and asks viewers to imagine spending "$1 million every single day starting from the day Jesus was born" to illustrate the size of spending in the package.

The ad is the first from conservatives in response to a wave of pro-stimulus ads from liberal groups. The AIP—which will be stimulating the cable advertising industry to the tune of $1 million with the ad—was largely silent during the election campaign, but now plans to revive its website and take more aggressive stance against President Obama.

[Images (2)]

[Videos (1)]

Members of the Nebraskans Advisory Group express their opposition to the economic stimulus package in Omaha this week. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

An anti-stimulus ad from a conservative third-party group uses an image of the three wise men and mentions Jesus. (Shutter Stock)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The American Issues Project's anti-stimulus ad. (realclearpolitics)

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Most Productive Congress Since 1960s Adjourns

111th passed vast legislation in 'dysfunctional' environment

(NEWSER) - The 111th Congress adjourned last night, after passing more key legislation that affected more Americans than any since Lyndon Johnson’s 1960s “Great Society,” Bloomberg reports. That included $1.67 trillion spent to save the economy, health insurance for 32 million people, and new regulations on Wall Street; in the lame-duck session alone, there was the tax cut deal, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal, START treaty ratification, and 9/11 health bill. More»

What the Right (and Left) Get Wrong in the Obesity War

Choice is great—but we're making the wrong ones, writes Cathy Young

(NEWSER) - As Michelle Obama and Congress champion efforts to fight childhood obesity, the right, led by Sarah Palin and Fox News, is angrily firing back. While some of their concerns are fair—that healthy-eating messaging can escalate into “propaganda,” for example—others suggest “a reality check is in order,” writes Cathy Young at RealClearPolitics . "For the right, 'my body, my choice' means not only that the government shouldn't be able to ban your favorite junk food or ship you off to a fat-farm gulag, but that you should be able to gorge yourself into obesity without having to endure societal disapproval or lectures from do-gooders." But the anti-obesity campaign is about “persuasion,” not “coercion.” More»

Stimulus Gave $140M to Faith-Based Groups

It's one of the quieter aspects of the federal package

(NEWSER) - Conservatives slammed it as “anti-religious”—but in fact, some $140 million from President Obama’s stimulus package has gone to faith-based organizations. The money “kind of fell from the sky, and it was unbelievable,” says the head of a church-backed nonprofit. But the matter has gone under the radar, “perhaps because it cuts so sharply across the moment's intensely partisan narrative,” write Ben Smith and Byron Tau at Politico . More»

Dems Keep Distance From Own Party in Ads

Vulnerable incumbents shy away from party line

(NEWSER) - President Obama and Nancy Pelosi are showing up in lots of political ads these days—and they're almost always Republican ads, notes the New York Times . In general, vulnerable Democratic incumbents are distancing themselves from their party and legislative victories like health care—and instead portraying themselves as anti-government outsiders in tune with voter anger. The change comes as the GOP outspent Democrats $20 million to $13 million on TV ads in the last 6 weeks. More»

House Approves $26B in Jobs Aid

Republicans criticize it as another bailout

(NEWSER) - The House today approved $26 billion in emergency funding intended to protect the jobs of teachers and other government employees across the country, the Washington Post reports. Nancy Pelosi called the House back from August recess for a 1-day session to approve the bill, which she thinks will save 300,000 jobs. The House approved the measure by a vote of 247 to 161, mostly along party lines. It now goes to the White House for President Obama's signature. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Critics Invoke Jesus in Anti-Stimulus Ad