Should Ex-Senator Tied to CIA “Accountability” Be Involved in This Kind of Propaganda?
In a post on the over-the-top propaganda released by a new 503c4 started by Saxby Chambliss, Evan Bayh, and Norm Coleman, Ryan Cooper makes the comparison with LBJ’s “Daisy” ad targeting Goldwater.
The American Security Initiative was founded by three ex-senators, Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), and Norm Coleman (R-Minn.). Their ad is reminiscent of Lyndon Johnson’s “Daisy” ad in 1964, which famously featured a nuclear holocaust. Except it’s the other way around: “Daisy” implied that Barry Goldwater’s snarling bellicosity would lead him to start a nuclear war, not the Soviets. A voiceover from Johnson made clear that, despite the evil nature of the Soviet regime, the USSR and America must find some way to co-exist. “These are the stakes: to make a world in which all of God’s children can live… We must either love each other, or we must die.”
Probably a bit unfair to Goldwater. But no more unfair than this new ad, which paints Iran as controlled by murderous suicide bombers intent on mass murder of civilians. The message is clear: Do as we say, or the terrorists will nuke American cities to dust. (Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?)
Even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn’t go so far as to say Iran will nuke America. Instead he argues that Iran is run by Nazi-esque madmen, and that a nuclear-armed Iran will “threaten the survival of my country and the future of my people,” as he said in his speech before Congress. Israel will be the first target, not the U.S.
Definitely read the whole post, because it’s appropriately snarky.
What I don’t think is appropriate, however, is that someone so fresh off serving in an “accountability” role at the CIA — overseeing the report that would rubber stamp CIA spying on its overseers — would be involved in such overheated propaganda.
Admittedly, Bayh’s conclusions do seem to arise from a similar instinct for disinformation. And his hackery on the Accountability Review Board is consistent with the hackery involved here.
Still, this (plus Saxby’s involvement) raised questions — for me at least — on whether some at the CIA had some interest in foiling the Iranian deal.
Has Evan Bayh become a cut-out for CIA propaganda directed at the American people?