National Republican Trust Political Action Group
Encyclopedia
The National Republican Trust Political Action Group is a third organization that supports Republican
candidates for United States
federal government positions through advertising. It operates independently from the Republican Party, though its name implies otherwise, and is connected to the website NewsMax.
's plan on illegal immigration
would help terrorists carry out attacks. In the ad, the group asserted that Obama's plan would give driver's licenses to "any illegal who wants one." The ad then shows a United States driver's licence with a picture of Mohamed Atta
, the organizer of the 9/11 attacks, on it. In addition, the group claimed that Obama would give the illegal immigrants health care and social security benefits, which would cause citizens to pay higher taxes. The ad was first run in Ohio, and was then run in an additional four swing state
s.
In 2010 the group made headlines again for producing a controversial ad entitled "Kill Ground Zero Mosque" aimed at stopping mosque
s being built near the Ground Zero
site, calling them a monstrosity and implying that building them would provoke more terrorist attacks. NBC
and CBS
both refused to air the ad.
In November 2010, five Fox affiliates and one ABC affiliate owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group
-- all in swing states vital to the 2010 elections
-- broadcasted an infomercial
critical of President Obama, Breaking Point: 25 Minutes that will Change America, which was sponsored by the National Republican Trust. The infomercial painted Obama as an extremist, in which, during the 2008 presidential campaign, claimed he received some campaign money from the Hamas
terrorist group, and claimed to have said in a speech, "You want freedom? You’re gonna have to kill some crackers! You gonna have to kill some of those babies." The special also discusses Obama advisers Van Jones
and John Holdren
, as well as Obama staff Anita Dunn, Kevin Jennings
, Carol Browner, and Cass Sunstein
-- all in an unflattering light; in once case, the special claimed that Holdren said that trees should be permitted to sue humans in court.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidates for United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
federal government positions through advertising. It operates independently from the Republican Party, though its name implies otherwise, and is connected to the website NewsMax.
Controversy
The group sparked controversy during the 2008 United States Presidential election when they alleged that candidate Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's plan on illegal immigration
Illegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
would help terrorists carry out attacks. In the ad, the group asserted that Obama's plan would give driver's licenses to "any illegal who wants one." The ad then shows a United States driver's licence with a picture of Mohamed Atta
Mohamed Atta
Mohamed Mohamed el-Amir Awad el-Sayed Atta was one of the masterminds and the ringleader of the September 11 attacks who served as the hijacker-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, crashing the plane into the North Tower of the World Trade Center as part of the coordinated attacks.Born in 1968...
, the organizer of the 9/11 attacks, on it. In addition, the group claimed that Obama would give the illegal immigrants health care and social security benefits, which would cause citizens to pay higher taxes. The ad was first run in Ohio, and was then run in an additional four swing state
Swing state
In United States presidential politics, a swing state is a state in which no single candidate or party has overwhelming support in securing that state's electoral college votes...
s.
In 2010 the group made headlines again for producing a controversial ad entitled "Kill Ground Zero Mosque" aimed at stopping mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s being built near the Ground Zero
Ground zero
The term ground zero describes the point on the Earth's surface closest to a detonation...
site, calling them a monstrosity and implying that building them would provoke more terrorist attacks. NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
both refused to air the ad.
In November 2010, five Fox affiliates and one ABC affiliate owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group
Sinclair Broadcast Group
The Sinclair Broadcast Group is an American telecommunications company that operates the largest number of local television stations in the United States. Headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland, it owns a total of 57 stations across the country in 35 primarily small and medium markets, many of...
-- all in swing states vital to the 2010 elections
United States elections, 2010
The 2010 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. During this midterm election year, all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 37 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate were contested in this election along with 38 state and territorial...
-- broadcasted an infomercial
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
critical of President Obama, Breaking Point: 25 Minutes that will Change America, which was sponsored by the National Republican Trust. The infomercial painted Obama as an extremist, in which, during the 2008 presidential campaign, claimed he received some campaign money from the Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
terrorist group, and claimed to have said in a speech, "You want freedom? You’re gonna have to kill some crackers! You gonna have to kill some of those babies." The special also discusses Obama advisers Van Jones
Van Jones
Anthony Kapel "Van" Jones is an American environmental advocate, civil rights activist, and attorney. Jones is a co-founder of three non-profit organizations. In 1996, he founded the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, a California non-governmental organization working for alternatives to violence...
and John Holdren
John Holdren
John Paul Holdren is advisor to President Barack Obama for Science and Technology, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Co-Chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology...
, as well as Obama staff Anita Dunn, Kevin Jennings
Kevin Jennings
Kevin Brett Jennings is an American educator, author, and administrator. He was the Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools at the U.S. Department of Education from 2009-11...
, Carol Browner, and Cass Sunstein
Cass Sunstein
Cass R. Sunstein is an American legal scholar, particularly in the fields of constitutional law, administrative law, environmental law, and law and behavioral economics, who currently is the Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Obama administration...
-- all in an unflattering light; in once case, the special claimed that Holdren said that trees should be permitted to sue humans in court.