Press Release
DEMPSEY "BONDS OF TRUST" STANDARD VIOLATED BY HIGHLY PARTISAN OBAMA CAMPAIGN AD USING BIN LADEN RAID TO ATTACK POLITICAL OPPONENT
Campaign Still Promotes "One Chance" Ad Featuring Military, Sit Room Footage For Political Attack
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Remarks by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, that the use of the military for partisan politics "eroded that bond of trust we have with the American people" underscored the shame of the Obama campaign's "One Chance" ad, which featured military footage and photographs from the White House Situation Room to support a highly partisan message that criticized the president's political opponent. The Obama campaign continues to promote the ad on its YouTube channel.
"The Obama campaign continues to promote a highly partisan attack ad that used military footage and photographs from the White House Situation Room to support sharp criticism of the president's political opponent," said Scott Taylor, president of OPSEC. "The use of those in uniform and the work they do for partisan political purposes is not only unhelpful, as General Dempsey said, but is dishonorable and the campaign should immediately remove the ad for good."
Responding to other comments from Dempsey about OPSEC, Taylor said "We respect the Chairman's views but as we are no longer on active duty we also appreciate our right to speak freely on issues we feel passionate about, including protecting those still in uniform from intelligence leaks and being used for partisan political purposes. Our nation has a very long history of former military figures continuing to serve the country through political activism, including 115 members of the current Congress and countless others."
"Speaking openly about protecting those in uniform is far more helpful than speaking about classified intelligence or Special Operations missions, tactics and capabilities, which bipartisan leaders have said has reached alarming levels under this administration," concluded Taylor. "We will continue to make our voices in heard in defense of those who are not allowed to speak out for themselves."
OPSEC last week announced the release of "Dishonorable Disclosures," a documentary short film that views the impact of the increasing number of leaks on Intelligence and Special Operations missions, tradecraft, tactics and capabilities from the perspective of those who have relied on these tools to carryout similar missions and protect themselves and those they served alongside. The film will be shown at events in key states across the country over the next several months, including Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Colorado, North Carolina and Nevada. More information about OPSEC and news about the release of "Dishonorable Disclosures" can be found at www.OpSecTeam.org.
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| August 22, 2012 | Contact: Chad Kolton 202-789-4365 |
Campaign Still Promotes "One Chance" Ad Featuring Military, Sit Room Footage For Political Attack
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Remarks by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, that the use of the military for partisan politics "eroded that bond of trust we have with the American people" underscored the shame of the Obama campaign's "One Chance" ad, which featured military footage and photographs from the White House Situation Room to support a highly partisan message that criticized the president's political opponent. The Obama campaign continues to promote the ad on its YouTube channel.
"The Obama campaign continues to promote a highly partisan attack ad that used military footage and photographs from the White House Situation Room to support sharp criticism of the president's political opponent," said Scott Taylor, president of OPSEC. "The use of those in uniform and the work they do for partisan political purposes is not only unhelpful, as General Dempsey said, but is dishonorable and the campaign should immediately remove the ad for good."
Responding to other comments from Dempsey about OPSEC, Taylor said "We respect the Chairman's views but as we are no longer on active duty we also appreciate our right to speak freely on issues we feel passionate about, including protecting those still in uniform from intelligence leaks and being used for partisan political purposes. Our nation has a very long history of former military figures continuing to serve the country through political activism, including 115 members of the current Congress and countless others."
"Speaking openly about protecting those in uniform is far more helpful than speaking about classified intelligence or Special Operations missions, tactics and capabilities, which bipartisan leaders have said has reached alarming levels under this administration," concluded Taylor. "We will continue to make our voices in heard in defense of those who are not allowed to speak out for themselves."
OPSEC last week announced the release of "Dishonorable Disclosures," a documentary short film that views the impact of the increasing number of leaks on Intelligence and Special Operations missions, tradecraft, tactics and capabilities from the perspective of those who have relied on these tools to carryout similar missions and protect themselves and those they served alongside. The film will be shown at events in key states across the country over the next several months, including Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Colorado, North Carolina and Nevada. More information about OPSEC and news about the release of "Dishonorable Disclosures" can be found at www.OpSecTeam.org.