March 31, 2004

A voter survey tied to a Republican effort to raise money for House candidates mislabels Thailand and the Philippines as countries that "harbor and aid terrorists," say officials from both governments.

A question on the National Republican Congressional Committee's "Ask America 2004 Nationwide Policy Survey" asks: "Should America broaden the war on terrorism into other countries that harbor and aid terrorists such as Thailand, Syria, Somalia, the Philippines, etc.?"

Accompanying the NRCC survey, which also poses questions about health care, the economy and other issues, was a four-page letter signed by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., that seeks money to help "keep the Republican Party in control of the U.S. House."

... The question was one of three on the subject of "the war on terrorism." It asks respondents to check "Yes", "No" or "No opinion."

... [NRCC spokesman Carl] Forti said the survey, in its third year, was mailed out over the last three months and has been a successful fund-raising tool. It asks for a donation of up to $500 to "help pay for this historic project and help protect and strengthen the Republican majority of the U.S. House of Representatives."

... Officials from [the Philippines and Thailand] say the question came as a surprise since the Bush administration has praised their countries for their roles in the anti-terror war.

... Neither the Philippines nor Thailand is on the State Department's list of terror-sponsoring nations, and both have faced problems with Muslim extremist groups.

In fact, a 2002 State Department report lauded both countries for working closely with other nations in the global war on terror and for strengthening counterterrorist measures.

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