The advertisements appear to be an effort by the U.S. government to dampen chaos surrounding the film and undo some of the damage to America’s image in the Muslim world. Violence linked to the movie has left at least 30 people in seven countries dead, including the American ambassador to Libya. Two people have died in protests in Pakistan.
[SNIP]
The television ads in Pakistan feature clips of President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during press appearances in Washington in which they condemned the video. Their words were subtitled in Urdu.
“We absolutely reject its content and message,” said Clinton in the advertisement.
A caption on the ad reads: “Paid Content.”
The advertisements end with the seal of the American Embassy in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital. It was not known how many channels were airing the ads or whether they were being run in other Muslim countries or just Pakistan.
An embassy spokeswoman declined comment.
In an email later Thursday, the embassy sent out a link to video of ordinary Americans condemning the anti-Islam film, which appeared on YouTube.
From the U.S. Embassy of Islamabad's front page:
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Statement by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Washington, D.C. September 13, 2012: I want to take a moment to address the video circulating on the internet that has led to protests in a number of countries around the world. It should be clear to all people around the world that the United States government had nothing to do with this video, and we absolutely reject its message and its contents. America’s commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. We are the home to people of all religions – including millions of Muslims – and we have the greatest respect for people of faith. To us, to me, this video is disgusting and reprehensible. It appears to have a deeply cynical purpose – to denigrate a great religion and to provoke rage and even violence.
[Update] $700,000 of American's tax dollars are being spent on the anti- free speech ads mentioned above. (Source- ABC News)
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the ad was produced by the embassy, which spent $70,000 to air the 30-second spot on seven Pakistani television stations. Pakistan is the only country where the ads are running. The embassy wanted to run the ads because it determined that the messages of Obama and Clinton were not reaching enough of the Pakistani public through regular news reporting, Nuland said.[End Update]
Anyone else really sick and tired of the Obama administration's pathetic weakness where they would rather attack free speech than to protect our Embassies and American lives or to honor his oath to protect and defend our constitution?
The oath to be taken by the president on first entering office is specified in Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Pull our people out Barack, close our embassies and refuse to give one more penny in aid to any of them, and for God's sake, quick freaking apologizing and condemning our constitutional right of free speech.
Grow a pair or borrow Michelle's, but man up.
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