Republican congressional candidate Bob Turner’s first television ad — which shows images of the World Trade Center buildings on fire during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks — is drawing criticism.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a Democrat, was in midtown to speak at an international conference on fire fighter safety.
When asked about the ad, Quinn told the Observer nobody should use images like that for politics.
“Look, I don’t think elected officials or people who are running for office should use the tragedy of 9/11 for political gain.” Quinn said.
“I don’t care what your party is, I don’t care what your point is,” she said. “That was a horrible, tragic day, 3,000 people lost their lives; as we discussed here, people are still dying. Let’s have some things in our lives be sacred.”
Turner’s ad — released late last week, showed images of the World Trade Center after it was struck by two commercial airliners on September 11. Then, the ad shifts focus to plans for a “mosque” to be built near Ground Zero, and notes the plans have the support of President Obama and the Democratic candidate in New York’s Ninth Congressional District, David Weprin.
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Turner is a fucking moron. This is his first ad? Aside from the noxious racism and despicable Islamophobia, does he seriously think this is a voting issue for anyone? He’s going to get creamed, embarrassing himself, Ed Knoch, and anyone else who considers this a competitive race. Anyone who sides against the mosque (or who wants to “compromise” by moving it) has failed one of the simplest moral tests the past year has to offer. And the mosque is a done deal, there is no local or Federal authority that can block it. Suck it, haters.