Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Does the press give the Dems a pass when it comes to bad behavior? Whether you believe they do or not, the Bush campaign is trying to focus a bit of attention on the Kerry/Edwards fundraiser full of foul-mouthed comedians and musicians that Senator Kerry was attending, rather than say, a national security briefing...but maybe that's unfair. The $7.5 million they raised was important, too.
Anyway, the Bush campaign has come out today with the following open letter:
Campaign Manager
John Kerry for President
P.O. Box 34640
Washington, DC 20043
Dear Ms. Cahill:
On Thursday your campaign hosted a fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall at which Sen. Kerry said, "Every performer tonight in their own way either verbally through their music through their lyrics have conveyed to you the heart and soul of our country."
I called on your campaign to release the performance that Sen. Kerry said represented the "heart and soul" of America so that all Americans could see for themselves what John Kerry thinks represents the "heart and soul" of our country.
Do most Americans in their hearts, think that calling the President a "thug" and a "killer" represents the "heart and soul" of our nation? We don't think so, but we think voters should decide for themselves by watching the celebrities John Kerry said captured the "heart and soul" of America.
Your Senior Advisor Tad Devine said that you believed that releasing musical performances "might violate copyrights and licensing agreements for the entertainers who performed and allow the Bush campaign to use the tape in commercials against Kerry and Edwards"
I have been assured that "fair use" rules of copyright would allow you to release the tapes of these musical performances to the news media under 2 U.S.C. 107. To allay the other concern you relayed to the news media, Bush-Cheney '04 pledges to refrain from using audio, video or transcripts of the event for any television, cable, satellite or radio advertising. We look forward to seeing this spirited display.
Sincerely,
Ken Mehlman
Campaign Manager
