This entry has gotten longer and longer the more I think about it…

This started when I read this story, mentioned on Change for America. As I started writing, I realized a) the depth of my outrage, b) the pervasiveness of the GOP strategy to run on the back of tragedy, and c) my personal connection to the Bush strategy and how much it angers me.

With that…

Last week, Vice-President Cheney invoked the name of Daniel Pearl in his outrageous and totally disingenuous attack on John Kerry’s use of the word "sensitive" in describing how he would deal with terrorism. It was an outrageous attack to begin with, as Cheney took Kerry’s words completely out of context, and it was even more ridiculous when folks quickly found a speech where Bush used the word sensitive in much the same context.

Well, today, Cheney’s words became even more horrible as Daniel Pearl’s family called on the Vice President to not use his name in political attacks:

 "The family of Daniel Pearl respectfully requests that his legacy remains non-partisan," The Wall Street Journal reporter’s relatives said in a statement responding to Cheney’s comments.

"We would like him to be remembered for what he was in his life, a passionate American and humanist who rose above political, religious and cultural divisions," the family said.

"We ask that Daniel’s tragedy and legacy be used to bring people of all parties together against the hatred that took his life and thousands of others."

While I doubt anyone even connected to Cheney feels any guilt about this, they should. How dare they use that tragedy for political gain. Let me say that again… but a bit differently:

How dare the GOP use tragedy for political gain!

Yes. I realize the foolishness of that statement. The GOP has done nothing but exploit 9/11 for political gain over and over again. The GOP conference’s placement in this fair city is exploiting tragedy for political gain. Bush / Cheney’s "Solemn Duty" ad (Viewable from their media page) is beyond outrageous.

For those who haven’t seen it — and in a bizarre moment, it just aired on ESPN as I was looking up the link — it is the ad where Bush says:

My most solemn duty is to lead our nation, to protect ourselves. I can’t imagine the great agony of a mom or a dad having to make the decision about which child to pick up first on September the 11th. We cannot hesitate, we cannot yield, we must do everything in our power to bring an enemy to justice before they hurt us again.

As someone who was in a school on 9/11… as someone who remembers parents coming in, covered in dust and debris, wanting only to come get their child, I am offended that they would do this. Anyone who was in New York City on that day will take away such a mix of emotions from that day — from the horror of the event, to the sadness of realizing lives lost, to the pride with which we all came together to – for some – the relief in finding friends and loved ones were safe to – for others – the grief at losing someone close. I will never forget the hours I spent at Beacon that day. I remember the fear in parents’ eyes. I remember when Alisa – who at that time I had just met – said, as we listened to the radio in class, that her brother worked at the World Trade Center. And I remember how she couldn’t get in touch with him. (He would be o.k.)

How dare he try to use the fear and anxiety and — in the end — relief those parents felt that day for his own reelection. How dare Cheney invoke the death of Daniel Pearl as he twists Kerry’s words in a political speech. How dare they — over and over again — exploit tragedy to further their own agenda without ever really talking about the issues on their merits.

These men have no shame. We, as Americans, should be ashamed that they are our leaders.