Picture of Bush running out on his countrymen big seller among right wing dupes..or is that "dopes".
Bush's Sept. 11 Photo a Winner for Republicans
Mon Jun 3, 5:53 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans said on Monday they had raised at least $1.4 million -- nearly 10 times what they had expected -- from sales of a photograph of President Bush (news - web sites) taken on Sept. 11, thanks partly to a storm of Democratic criticism.
The photograph of Bush on Air Force One talking to Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) by telephone in the aftermath of the hijack attacks was part of a three-photo package offered for a minimum contribution of $150 by the Republican House and Senate campaign committees.
The fund-raising effort drew heated criticism from Democrats, who charged Republicans were using a national tragedy for political gain.
A Republican official said sales of the photograph, envisioned as "a little throw-in" that might raise $150,000 as part of an upcoming $20 million congressional campaign fundraising dinner, took off within days of the controversy and raised at least $1.4 million.
The official said the response was helped by the controversy and the enthusiastic endorsement of conservative radio personalities such as Rush Limbaugh, who urged listeners to buy the photo set.
"When Rush Limbaugh and conservative talk radio mentioned it, that's when it started picking up," the official said.
The Sept. 11 photo was taken by a White House photographer and bought from a photo vendor.
Democrats refused to back off their criticisms, saying the increased sales only compounded the Republicans' mistake.
"The fact they are making more money off the pictures makes it more shameful they are using it to exploit a national tragedy," said Maria Cardona, spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee (news - web sites). |
