FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Despite insisting we shouldn't quote "spike the football" when it comes to the killing of Osama bin Laden, President Obama has apparently decided to include the death of the terrorist leader in the narrative for his reelection campaign. Last night at a fundraising event in Austin, Texas, President Obama talked about his usual campaign topics - the economy, health care, new energy sources - but spent some of his speech talking about killing Osama bin Laden in Pakistan 10 days ago.
This was the president's first political speech since bin Laden's death... An audience member at one point shouted out, "Thank you for getting bin Laden."
Political analysts believe bin Laden's death will give the president a fundraising boost. Just as his approval ratings have gotten a nice bounce. But will the magic wear off? And is campaigning about it the right thing to do?
The Obama reelection campaign could point to the bin Laden raid over and over again to promote the president's foreign policy and national security credentials, the very ones that many people had questioned less than two weeks ago. But the president has got to tread lightly here.
In yesterday's speech, he carefully credited the troops and intelligence officers for catching bin Laden. Still, critics of the president say he's taken too much credit for the killing.
Here’s our question: Should President Obama use the death of Osama bin Laden as part of his reelection campaign message?
Here’s my question to you: Should President Obama use the death of Osama bin Laden as part of his reelection campaign message?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Susan in Idaho:
No, this was not a political action. This was an end to a project started by the Bush administration. What happens to the economy, jobs and our way of life should be the catalysts for re-election.
Paulette in Dallas, Pennsylvania:
Why not? He did get the job done within two years of being elected and without any loss of American life.
Bobby in Jackson, Mississippi:
It's national security and foreign policy all rolled up in one. Nothing can be off the table in 2012, but I don't think they should overplay it.
Robby:
No, but he will and some media liberals are already proclaiming his God stature. This will be used to deflect from his inability to constrain spending, create jobs or rein in Government or Wall Street corruption.
Randy:
No. He should get a jumpsuit and a mission accomplished sign.
Gregory in Dallas, Texas:
The president can't run on his campaign promises or his record. Portraying him as a Texas cowboy gunslinger is rather absurd. However, 51% of the population will believe anything seen on television as long as you repeat it 24/7. Yippee!
Pete in Milton, Florida:
Gee, should George W. Bush have strolled across an aircraft carrier flight deck, decked out in a flight suit like he'd just flown a mission against Saddam and proclaiming himself and Republicans as the only folks that could "keep America safe", while conveniently forgetting that 9/11 happened on his watch and he'd given up on catching bin Laden? Obama has earned his "tough against terrorists" spurs, and has every right to speak of his success and leadership during the campaign.
Larry in Springfield, Ohio:
Jack, he better. After all, it is only one of the three things he as gotten right since he was elected, along with killing the pirates and picking the right first dog (he needed help from Ted Kennedy to get that one right). So, yes, when a resume is this thin, he better use everything he can!