My friend Daphne Eviatar, who now works for Human Rights First, alerted me to this video put out by that organization to counter the web ad put out by Liz Cheney and Keep America Safe. Video below the fold.
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Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of Michigan Citizens for Science and co-founder of The Panda's Thumb. He has written for such publications as The Bard, Skeptic and Reports of the National Center for Science Education, spoken in front of many organizations and conferences, and appeared on nationally syndicated radio shows and on C-SPAN. Ed is also a Fellow with the Center for Independent Media and the host of Declaring Independence, a one hour weekly political talk show on WPRR in Grand Rapids, Michigan.(static)
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Human Rights First Counters Cheney Ad
Posted on: March 21, 2010 9:30 AM, by Ed Brayton
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Comments
Seriously, is there anything this woman stands for that's not pure evil?
Posted by: Louis B. | March 21, 2010 10:26 AM
When ever I hear someone saying, 'Waterboarding is not torture', specially by people who have no clue, I hope that someone would waterboard them on the spot.
I know it is mean and spiteful but if it is not torture then it should be okay for them to be waterboarded whenever, where ever.
Posted by: jagannath | March 21, 2010 11:17 AM
While I am in total agreement with the message of this video, I think it's poorly done. Lots of symbolism but no substance. I realize that a 300-page analysis presenting legal, ethical, and philosophical reasoning doesn't quite have the emotional oomph of a video, but this seems to me to be just as naked an appeal to emotion as the approach of the Cheneys.
Posted by: Erasmussimo | March 21, 2010 11:31 AM
I agree with Erasmussimo. The ad by itself doesn't do enough to expose, document and explain the evil that is Cheney. Just like Tina Fey with Palin, use Liz's own words to hang her. I hope this is the first of a series. There is so much more to say about the evil and so much to be proud of with the actions of the lawyers and others involved with defending the detainees and the constitution.
Posted by: MikeMa | March 21, 2010 11:41 AM
I think this ad helps the Cheney side. It makes a couple of flawed assumptions and its rebuttal is almost non-existent.
The flawed assumptions:
1) VP Cheney's actions harmed America's national security interests. I don't believe most Americans believe that including those who oppose VP Cheney's actions.
2) Most Americans are not at all well-informed on the experience of those who are water-boarded nor other torture methods. Therefore merely having Ms. Cheney note waterboarding is not torture buttresses the Cheney's argument they would do what was necessary to protect America from future promised attacks.
3) Merely noting that Ms. Cheney tied seven DOJ lawyers to 'al Qaeda' does not resonate. Even the delusional know what Ms. Cheney did was hyperbole; to take it literally as a retraction suggests there is no valid counter if that's all they have as a summary rebuttal besides criticizing the fear factor, which also didn't resonate since there was no set-up for it.
I would instead frame the Cheney position as a direct attack against the Constitution to such a degree Ms. Cheney's hyperbole about the 'al Qaeda 7' empirically redirects her attack to Supreme Court justices and their attendant ruling while the actual facts also reveal the Supremes and the DOJ's lawyers are following a legacy of principle consistent with the Constitution and principles that predates our country's founding and are a primary pillar of Western Civilization's notice of justice.
I will concede I think its tough to make a short ad about this subject unless its intended audience is well-informed on the subject matter. This ad will not change any minds siding with Ms. Cheney in spite of the fact I think there are arguments that would work for some of these people. I also think the argument is so weak if I were on the fence I would conclude the Cheney's have a superior argument especially given the sopohmoric production values, e.g., text running off the screen.
Posted by: Michael Heath | March 21, 2010 12:02 PM
So given that terrorism is the manipulation of policy and public opinion by fear, who are the real terrorists?
Posted by: BaldApe | March 21, 2010 12:14 PM
That Einstein was one smart feller...
Posted by: 386sx | March 21, 2010 1:17 PM
The ad assumes that the target audience knows far more about the subject than they really do. I very much doubt the average TV viewer could tell you what the debate is or which side was putting on this ad. This is not a complete message fail, but it is close.
Posted by: kehrsam | March 21, 2010 2:15 PM
"...but if it is not torture then it should be okay for them to be waterboarded whenever, where ever."
So you actually believe it's okay to do anything to anyone as long as it isn't torture? You're a nut.
Posted by: daniel rotter | March 21, 2010 2:57 PM
I agree that the ad need more facts and less of the appeal to fear (in this case, of the Cheneys). And definitely less Comic Sans.
Posted by: Prof. Bleen | March 21, 2010 9:02 PM
Ed,
There was this dennis mabrey (sp?) fellow harassing PZ a few months back. Canadian twit. Pointless. Sounds like the turds at 6 & 12 are from him.
Posted by: MikeMa | March 22, 2010 6:17 AM