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Group Drops $15M on Pro-Surge Campaign

TV, Internet, radio ads backed by GOP heavies

By Heather McPherson,  Newser User

Posted Aug 22, 2007 5:55 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Launched today by ex-White House PR man Ari Fleischer and a laundry list of pro-Bush bigwigs, a new group called Freedom's Watch has spent $15 million on ads to support the president's troop surge in Iraq, Politico reports. The group aims to fill a conservative "vacuum" ahead of September's report on the surge, doing for the GOP what MoveOn has done for the Dems.

"For those who believe in peace through strength, the cavalry is coming," Fleisher said as the five-week blitz began. Anti-war groups say many ads will air in the home states of Republicans who have backed off supporting Washington on the war, a charge denounced as "propaganda" by a member of Freedom's Watch. He called the group “a never-ending campaign... that won’t rise and fall with election cycles.”

President Bush waves as a Marine honor guard salutes, Tuesday, July 24, 2007, as Bush returned to the White House in Washington, after a visit to Charleston Air Force Base, Charleston, S.C. to view loading of cargo planes for Iraq. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
President Bush waves as a Marine honor guard salutes, Tuesday, July 24, 2007, as Bush returned to the White House in Washington, after a visit to Charleston Air Force Base, Charleston, S.C. to view loading...   (Associated Press)
A U.S. military helicopter blasts dust as it lands near the site of a suicide truck bombing in the village of Qahtaniya, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007. More than 400 people died and 400 were wounded last week In a string of...
A U.S. military helicopter blasts dust as it lands near the site of a suicide truck bombing in the village of Qahtaniya, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007. More than...   (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, DC - White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer speaks during daily White House briefing, Wednesday, July 3, 2002.
WASHINGTON, DC - White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer speaks during daily White House briefing, Wednesday, July 3, 2002.   (KRT Photos)
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Bush defends troop surge to vets
New York Times

Iraq report will aid troop surge plan
NPR

Washington Post's election blog
Washington Post

Freedom's Watch official site
Freedoms Watch

 
Bush administration • propaganda • advertising • troop surge • online advertising • Iraq pullout • Ari Fleischer • Freedom's Watch • MoveOn

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