What Happened to Bush's “Winning the War on Terror” Tour?

Today, The Tour Was Renamed “Yes, America Can.” President Bush mysteriously changed the name of this week’s campaign tour from the “Winning the War on Terror” tour to “Yes, America Can.” Unfortunately for President Bush, media outlets reported the original name of his tour numerous times in the past week.

This development raises several questions about the Bush-Cheney campaign:

Did President Bush have second thoughts about shamelessly exploiting the War on Terror for political gain?

Has President Bush backtracked yet again?

Did President Bush realize that his failure to address key homeland security measures continues to leave America vulnerable?

Last Week, the Bush-Cheney Campaign Proudly Promoted Its “Winning the War on Terror” Bus Tour.

Bush-Cheney Campaign Press Release, 4/30. “Today, U.S. Representative Jim Kolbe continued the Winning the War on Terror Tour at a press conference in Tucson…Today's Tucson event is one of eight events in the Winning the War on Terror Tour this week. The first was in Evendale, Ohio on Monday. Michigan, New Hampshire and Maine have also hosted Winning the War on Terror press conferences this week…Earlier today, Missouri played host to a Winning the War on Terror press conference in St. Louis that focused on the importance of the F/A-18 fighter jet. The Winning the War on Terror Tour will continue over the course of several weeks” [PR Newswire, April 30, 2004]

Bush-Cheney Campaign E-Mail, 4/27. “From a Bush-Cheney campaign e-mail: "You are invited to an online chat with" ex-NYPD commish/ex-Iraq Interim Interior Minister Bernard Kerik on 4/29. "Kerik is hosting this chat as part of the Bush-Cheney '04 Winning the War on Terror Tour…" (Hotline sources, 4/27).” [The Hotline, April 28, 2004]

“Bush-Cheney '04 Launches Winning the War on Terror Tour.” In another April release, the campaign said, “Bush-Cheney '04 today launched the Winning the War on Terror Tour…Today's kick-off events in Michigan, New Hampshire and Ohio will coincide with the release of a new ad, "Weapons," that will air in various markets and on national cable stations. Additionally, a state specific "Weapons" ad will air in 9 states. The Winning the War on Terror Tour will continue throughout the next two weeks.” [4/26/04]

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Media Outlets Report on Bush Plans to Exploit War on Terror for Political Gain. Associated Press, Washington Post, Hotline, CNN, AFP, Portland Press Herald, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Akron Beacon Journal, Chicago Tribune and the Baltimore Sun are just some of the press that reported that Bush planned embark on a “Winning the War on Terror” bus tour this week.

Associated Press, 4/23. “Bush plans stops in Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio the week of May 3, according to a campaign source. During his "Winning the War on Terror" tour, the president will focus on his efforts to help America fight and win the war on terror and improve the economy.” [AP, April 23, 2004]

Washington Post, 4/26. “The campaign is also staging a two-week "Winning the War on Terror Tour....” [The Washington Post, April 26, 2004]

The Hotline, 4/26. “The ad joins the "Troops-Fog" ad already running and coincides with the "Winning the War on Terror Tour" which begins with "kick-off events" in MI, NH, OH and a speech by VP Cheney on 4/26.” [The Hotline, April 26, 2004]

Associated Press, 4/26. “Bradley's remarks - along with speeches by Cheney in Missouri, Rep. Candice Miller in Michigan and Rep. Rob Portman in Ohio - launched the Bush-Cheney campaign's "Winning the War on Terror Tour."” [AP, April 26, 2004]

CNN, 4/26. “The campaign also kicks off its "Winning the War on Terror" tour...” [CNN.com, April 26, 2004]

AFP, 4/26. “Bush's Republicans unveiled a new television ad and launched a "Winning the War on Terror Tour...” [Agence France Presse, April 26, 2004]

Portland Press Herald, 4/27. “[The ad] is part of the Bush campaign's two-week "Winning the War on Terror Tour...” [Portland Press Herald (Maine), April 27, 2004]

LA Times, 4/27. “Cheney's address Monday kicked off what the Bush campaign was calling its "Winning the War on Terror Tour."” [Los Angeles Times, April 27, 2004]

The Guardian, 4/27. “Dick Cheney, the vice-president, launched the "winning the war on terror tour...” [The Guardian (London), April 27, 2004]

Associated Press, 4/27. “His latest trip to Michigan comes just days before President Bush stops Monday in Kalamazoo and possibly Niles on his "Winning the War on Terror" tour.” [AP, April 27, 2004]

Washington Post, 4/28. “Bush-Cheney campaign chairman Marc Racicot was in Bath, Maine, as part of a “Winning the War on Terror Tour”...” [The Washington Post, April 28, 2004]

The Hotline, 4/28. “Elkhart Truth's Wendzonka reports … It's not clear yet whether Bush will have a rally in South Bend." The visit is part of Bush's "two-week blitz" touted as the "Winning the War on Terror Tour" (4/28).” [The Hotline, April 28, 2004]

Akron Beacon Journal, 4/29. “The campaign effort, which is being labeled the ''Winning the War on Terror Tour,'' is to make stops in 17 states over the next two weeks. In Akron on Wednesday, it drew only five people, and three of those were campaign workers.” [Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio), April 29, 2004]

Chicago Tribune, 4/30. “Republicans launched the "winning the war on terror" bus tour this week...” [Chicago Tribune, April 30, 2004]

Baltimore Sun, 5/3. “Bush campaign officials have launched a "Winning the War on Terror" bus tour through the Midwest...” [The Baltimore Sun, May 3, 2004]

Posted in Election 2004 | Entry link
By Peter Daou on May 3, 2004 at 03:14 PM