Streisand blasts Republicans for TV ad fear tactics

Barbra Streisand has taken time out of her sold-out North American tour to urge fans to swarm voting venues next month and let the country's Republicans know their time in office is numbered.

The singer/actress has posted a blog on her official website urging voters not to be worried by a new TV campaign which suggests terrorist Osama Bin Laden will increase attacks on America if President George W Bush's party is voted out of office.

The fervent Democrat claims the new ad, which features eight-year-old news footage of a threatening Bin Laden, is determined "to provoke fear and panic in American voters".

She writes: "The new ad essentially repeats the Republican strategy before the 2004 presidential election: Vote Democrat and your family will die!

"The ad features Osama Bin Laden and quotes his threats against America from February 1998… This tactic of playing the fear card is all too familiar.

"During the 2004 election, every time (Bush opponent) John Kerry's poll numbers elevated, the government announced a new heightened terror alert and people were once again forced to face the orange colour code.

"We cannot let it work, we cannot fall for it again… They will manipulate the truth and repress the facts in order to be successful… They will do anything to stay in power.

"Don't let the Republicans fear mongering and distortion work this time. Vote on 7 November 2006."