USA Today reports that Progress for America Voter Fund an independent, conservative advocacy group, has released a TV commercial it calls "Ashley's Story."
Progress for America will spend $14 million to run the ad nine states. The ad tells the story of 16-year-old Ashley Faulkner's encounter with President Bush:
The Script
Lynn Faulkner (Ashley's father): "My wife, Wendy, was murdered by terrorists on September 11th."
Narrator: "The Faulkners' daughter Ashley closed up emotionally. But when President George W. Bush came to Lebanon, Ohio, she went to see him as she had with her mother four years before."
Linda Prince (a friend of the Faulkners): "He walked toward me and I said 'Mr. President this young lady lost her mother in the World Trade Center.' "
Ashley Faulkner: "And he turned around and he came back and he said 'I know that's hard, are you all right?' "
Prince: "Our president took Ashley in his arms and just embraced her. And it was at that moment that we saw Ashley's eyes fill up with tears."
Ashley Faulkner: "He's the most powerful man in the world and all he wants to do is make sure I'm safe, that I'm OK."Lynn Faulkner: "What I saw was what I want to see in the heart and in the soul of the man who sits in the highest-elected office in our country."
Images and Sounds
The ad opens with Lynn Faulkner speaking to the camera. Soon after, a photograph of his wife appears on screen. A slow, mournful tune on a piano is heard. Then Ashley Faulkner is seen, lying in a hammock and reading a book, as the narrator speaks of her closing up "emotionally."
As the narrator says "But when President George W. Bush came to Lebanon, Ohio," the tone brightens. The piano playing quickens. Images go by faster. Bush is seen at a campaign rally. After family friend Prince and Ashley speak, a photograph of Bush hugging the girl is shown. The picture was taken by Lynn Faulkner.
For the last 15 seconds of the ad, the images are mostly of Bush. It ends with a portrait of Bush, in profile, his head bowed.
This is the most powerful ad I have seen all year. The first time I watched it My eyes filled with tears. You can watch the ad here.
HI, MY NAME IS TYLER DEBLASIS, AND I ACTUALLY KNOW ASHLEY. THIS MOMENT CHANGED HER LIFE. I MYSELF THINK THAT p. BUSH HAS SAVED THIS YOUNG GIRL. THIS IS NOT HER ONLY CONTACT WITH HER. SHE ALSO WENT TO THE ENOGERAL BALL. SHE HAS ALSO VISITED HIS OFFICE. THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE CHANGED ASHLEYS LIFE!
Posted by: tyler | Friday, September 30, 2005 at 09:15 AM
this was not a photo op, and i hate seeing people say that. i go to school with ashley, she's in my calculus class. she kind of shut down after 9-11, and this event changed her from a jaded young girl to at least being more open.
i am not a republican, and i don't like bush as a leader; but he hugged ashley because of a comment he happened to hear, and he cared. it was nothing as manipulative as so many seem to think.
Posted by: girl in ohio | Tuesday, November 23, 2004 at 05:02 PM
If you think this is a hoax, or is a photo op, etc, and can't stand the ad, I suggest checking out the hoax websites. This story is real, the picture was taken by her father, sent to family and friends, and they passed it on until it ended up in the news. Some just can't stand that others really do like President Bush, can they? Shelley and Jann should do some homework before deciding that this is 'whoring' a little girl. That homework would show both that this father, and his daughter very MUCH like Bush, and the results are obvious. It is the most memorable ad of either campaign, and it is a positive one at that.
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/05/06/loc%5Fmoment06.html
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/05/06/loc%5Fmoment06.html
Posted by: WICatholic | Sunday, October 31, 2004 at 12:03 AM
This is one of the best and truthful ads running. For those people who believe it is a "photo op" the President is taking advantage of - why don't you talk to the families who have lost loved ones in Iraq and whom President Bush has met with personally behind closed doors and find out how much geniune care and love he has for them and given to them - without the photo opportunity to show the world! Those families believe in Bush - talk to them! We have talked with them here in Ohio. President Bush understands the security issues of our country and opens his heart to every citizen here. HE WILL TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY! I feel sorry for anyone who honestly believes that Ashley was a "photo op." That is just very sad. But that's why this is America and some people just don't get it, never will and that's their right to never get it. Still sad though!
Posted by: Shelly - Ohio | Tuesday, October 26, 2004 at 08:08 PM
In referance the pro-Bush "Ashley" commercial:
All I have to say is "GACK!"
Could they have poured *anymore*
sugar on that piece of work??
I practically go into a diabetic coma every time I see it! The fact that ol dubbya took the time to "show care and concern" to Ashley (who, btw, MY heart goes out to, as to all who lost loved ones on 9/11...and to all those who have lost loved ones in the unnecessary Iraq war!!) on one of his political campaign rallies just shows you exactly how he would NEVER pass up a photo op...especially when it might make a few gullible voters go "awww....what a guy!" I'm not one of those gullibles...I see that whole ad for exactly what it is. Sensationalism. A blatant tug at the ol heartstrings.
Once again, I must interject:
GACK!! ANY POLITICIAN...or,for that matter any PERSON with any kind of compassion...
including (and probably more so) John Kerry...would take the time to express his concern and sympathy for Ashley if introduced to her as dubbya was that day. Did he find out ahead of time that she was there specifically to meet him? NO. Did he pick her out in the crowd to shake her hand? NO, she's not of voting age! Why would he bother with Her?? Did he actually walk past her at first, and even hesitate before going back to talk to her after being stopped by someone who brought Ashley to his attention? YES. It probably took a prompting by one of his campaign assistants that it *would be a good photo op* & good publicity for him if he did go back & give poor Ashley a hug. So the whole event was a positive for Ashley and her father. I'm glad. It is the president's responsiblity to express sympathy to families of American citizens who lose their lives in war or other disasters. So it took ol dubbya three years and some prompting to get that message to Ashley & her dad. Better late than never, I guess. I just find it hard to believe that anyone...except maybe Ashley & her family...would be too impressed by his little *display*. I myself, with this action, or many other of George W Bush's actions in the last four years, am NOT IMPRESSED!
Posted by: Jann - Ohio | Tuesday, October 26, 2004 at 01:18 PM
This ad is disgusting. I'm truly offended that Bush and the RNC have whored this little girl and her loss for the campaign. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Posted by: Dorothy | Monday, October 25, 2004 at 11:40 PM
Best ad of the campaign. The RNC needs the rights to this ad and has to go NATIONAL.
Posted by: Robert Ekeren | Saturday, October 23, 2004 at 10:47 AM
Hi my name is David Crespo im a student at Coral Gables Senior High in Miami. Florida. I was scanning through the internet and came across the picture of President Bush hugging Ashley and was taken back by that photo. With yiur permission i would like to write a short story about that in my schools news paper and have the pictute included i dont know if i would get in trouble if i didnt get permission please contact me as soon as possible either by email or by phone 783-457-4248
Posted by: David Crespo | Friday, October 22, 2004 at 11:30 PM