MoveOn to President Bush: Your Failed Iraq Policy Betrays Our Troops; U.S. Occupation Fuels Insurgency, Threatens National Security; $500,000 TV & Print Ad Campaign Launched

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- MoveOn PAC unveiled two ads today saying: It’s time to come home. We got into Iraq the wrong way...Let’s get out the right way.

MoveOn PAC Executive Director Eli Pariser and Campaign Director Tom Matzzie announced a national campaign including grassroots organizing, with television advertisements in congressional districts across the country plus a full-page ad in today’s New York Times.

They were joined by former Congressman and National Director of Win Without War Tom Andrews, and former CIA analyst Ray McGovern.

The initial ad buys begin today shortly before the President delivers a prime time television address in an attempt to resuscitate sinking public support for his Iraq policy.

“This is MoveOn’s biggest Iraq campaign since the war started,” said Mattzie. “We’re going to make sure elected leaders come up with a real exit plan or feel some heat and pay a price for the Iraq failures.”

“The U.S. occupation is fueling an ever-stronger insurgency. We need a real plan with a real timetable for exit so there’s real accountability for our leaders,” said Eli Pariser, MoveOn PAC executive director.

“Let’s face it, with the steady decline of support at home and the steady escalation of the insurgency in Iraq, the president’s disastrous Iraq policy is in its last throes,” said Andrews.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield attacked MoveOn on Meet the Press Sunday. Last week, Bush senior advisor Karl Rove and White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett attacked the 3.3 million member grassroots organization in an attempt to divert attention from escalating American casualties in Iraq, mounting domestic opposition to the war, and the President’s declining approval ratings.

The television ad highlights comments by Republican Senator Chuck Hagel sharply critical of the Bush Administration’s handling of the Iraq war: “The White House is completely disconnected from reality...its like they’re just making it up as they go along.”

MoveOn PAC

TV :30

“Hagel”

MOP-05-601

VIDEO

dissolve across a series of images of war in Iraq.

AUDIO

ANNOUNCER (VO): The war in Iraq. Day 825. 1,725 Americans dead. It’s a quagmire.

VIDEO

Slow dissolve from war images to a photo of President Bush. The text of Bush’s quote begins to appear as the Bush photo comes into full view: “I believe we’re making really good progress in Iraq” -- George Bush, April 28, 2005. The image is now rose- tinted as we start to move in tight on Bush’s thumb.

AUDIO

ANNOUNCER (VO): But George Bush says he’s pleased with the progress.

VIDEO

We are now on a close-up of Bush’s thumb.

AUDIO

ANNOUNCER (VO): Pleased? Now even a REPUBLICAN Senator, Chuck Hagel, is saying:

VIDEO

Split screen with rose-tinted photo of white house on left and images of war in Iraq on right. The text of Hagel’s quote is supered across both images: “The white house is completely disconnected from reality” -- Republican Sen. chuck hagel.

AUDIO

ANNOUNCER (VO): The White House is completely disconnected from reality.

VIDEO

Split screen imagery remains as the text of Hagel’s quote continues: “It’s like they’re just making it up as they go along.”

AUDIO

ANNOUNCER (VO): It’s like they’re just making it up as they go along.

VIDEO

Cut to image of a soldier’s helmet filled with unopened letters from back home in the USA. Super text: It’s time to come home.

AUDIO

ANNOUNCER (VO): Iraq. We got in the wrong way. Let’s get out the right way.

VIDEO

At screen bottom, super “Paid for by MoveOn PAC, www.moveonpac.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. MoveOn PAC is responsible for the content of this advertisement”.

AUDIO

ANNOUNCER (VO): MoveOn PAC is responsible for the content of this advertisement.

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