GOP Ad Paints Franken As Angry Maniac — Using Footage Of Him Talking About Paul Wellstone
The National Republican Senatorial Committee has just released a new Web ad featuring footage of Senator Al Franken that makes him look like an out-of-control, Red Bull-guzzling cross between Jim Carrey and the Hulk. The ad suggests that the Dem supermajority is about to go on an unstoppable rampage.
But there’s only one problem: The footage of Franken is actually of him delivering a tribute to the late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone. Not only that, but Republicans already took a hit during last year’s campaign for doing this same thing. Here’s the NRSC’s new ad:
As you can see, at the moment where Franken looks particularly unhinged, he seems to be mouthing the words, “You can take this guy.”
A Democrat who worked on Franken’s campaign last year confirms that this is footage of Franken on the stump, relating a story told to him by Wellstone’s son, David. As Franken relates the tale, David told him that his father would run along the sidelines during footraces yelling, “You can take this guy!” In case you need confirmation, here’s some strikingly similar footage of Franken telling the same story in another setting.
Last year, Republicans used footage of Franken telling this story in ads designed to paint him as angry and unstable, and were roundly criticized for it. Now the GOP is doing it again.
A spokesperson for the NRSC, Brian Walsh, didn’t dispute the footage’s origins. “It’s surprising that the Democrats would take offense at some inaudible b-roll of Al Franken leftover from last cycle,” Walsh emailed. “I’d argue we were more respectful than we could have been considering some of the other photos of Al Franken taken over the years that might have been used as b-roll instead. We’ll certainly consider substituting it for this one if they would prefer though.”
Franken will be sworn in on a Wellstone family Bible.
Update: The NRSC statement links to a notoriously debunked fake pic of Franken in diapers.
This blog’s homepage is here. RSS feed here. Twitter feed here. Email me here.
“We’ll certainly consider substituting it for this one if they would prefer though.”
Ok, so they will substitute the altered video, for an altered photo…They really make me sick.
I hope Franken keeps his head up and plays it cool..
A columnist (Peter Bronson) at the Cincinnati Enquirer is dodging and weaving after putting the Franken in a Diaper photo on his blog. Comments are running about 90% against the columnist, with the usual Repub. spouting talking points.
Changing Al Franken’s Diaper
Again these dudes are playing with the 1989 playbook. Its like they don’t realize people have google and youtube. How f*cking out of touch can they be to keep using footage of Franken paying homage to a man who is BELOVED in Minnesota?! The deserve everything that is coming for them in the mid terms, truly.
Yeah, a photoshopped pic of Franken’s head on David Vitter’s body…much better…
Morons…
I was all prepared to be outraged (the use of the Wellstone tribute footage during the campaign made me livid), but actually, this is hilarious. Essentially they are running an ad saying “help, we’re powerless now, SAAAAAVE us!” Complete with funereal music. It’s the end of the world as we know it! And I feel fine!
Actually, I kind of like the music in this video. Anyone have any idea who the composer is?
Did they fake this one too?
No one disputes that Franken is an unhinged lunatic.
Unsubstantiated, blanket statements such as yours, Jonny, indicate a lack of both credibility and intelligence.
I would assume that Franken was not acting at the Wellstone Memorial. Why would he object to being shown as he was seen and photographed? If a panel of political observers were to create a list of 2,000 people who are best qualified to be among the 100 Senators, I doubt Franken’s name would appear. He should be flattered to be chosen to represent the Democrats in government.
Wow powerful ad. Very beautiful music that underscores the serious “no debate” examples it displays and what is confronting Americans; their lives, their liberties, their freedoms and their financial future, now that the Democrats are fully in charge.
As far as Franken goes and the use of the supposed incorrect images of him…..that’s all bulls**t mumbo jumbo **** analysis…..typical of inside the beltway, narrow minded, psuedo-intellectual, partisan person.
The ad shows an elated Franken (for whatever f**king reason doesn’t matter), as to imply that he’s jubliant about winning his Senate race and being the 60th one at that. Does anyone doubt that isn’t so?
So, what’s your point? That the ad is wrong? Obviously, it’s not wrong.
Or are you deliberately trying to distract attention from the accuracy of what the ad says? If so, that would be dishonest.
Would it not?
Rassmussen’s Presidential Approval Index just plummeted to -5 today. Gallup has just come out with two separate polls showing America is lurching RIGHT, not LEFT. Voters approval of the first stimulus is in the 20’s and now the Dems are talking about a second one. The “Generic Preference for Congress” Poll now shows Republicans with a 3 point lead.
Do you guys even smell the smoke? Your house in on fire and you don’t even know it. The Obama Presidency is dead. The Dem Majority in Congress will soon be a thing of the past. Epic fail. Socialism has never worked and it never will.
Al Franken joining the Senate is the Dem’s WORST nightmare. Every single poll says the same thing, “Americans Prefer Divided Government”. For decades now the Dems have run on “vote for us, because we’re not them”. Well now the Dems ARE “them” and they have to take 100% ownership of everything that happens.
Careful what you wish for.
Devastating add……..
The mid-terms loom on the horizon of every recently elected democrat….and some (Dodd Murtha) who should have left already.
I echo the comment about the music. What is it from? Or is it an original composition for the ad?
that makes him look like an out-of-control, Red Bull-guzzling cross between Jim Carrey and the Hulk
Do these pants make me look fat? No it’s the fat that makes you look fat.
Just spent a few hours trying to track down the source of the music for the ad. A commenter on another blog thought it was from the sci-fi movie “The Fountain” but while it is similar, I listened to all 10 tracks available from the soundtrack, and I couldn’t find this particular section.