It’s not enough that the Republican Governors Association (RGA) has MISCONSTRUED one of our stories about disaster relief in an effort to make Gov. John Bel Edwards look as ineffective as possible.
The RGA ran similar misleading ads in the recent Mississippi gubernatorial election campaign.
And they always seem to pop up at the very end of a campaign, too late for the other side to respond.
And to be sure, both sides are generally equally guilty of such tactics.
Now, an 11th hour TV ad features a grizzled old guy wearing a Vietnam Veteran’s cap ranting about how Edwards has disgraced West Point and the military in general and veterans in particular.
There are several not-so-subtle problems with the ad, however, telltale signs that might cause one to question the ad’s validity:
- First of all, the “Vietnam vet” talking into the camera is just a little too slick in reciting his lines.
- It’s almost as if his lines were rehearsed. He skillfully places just the right emphasis on just the right catch-phrases.
- He comes off not as a genuine veteran, but more like an…actor—certainly not some typical Vietnam veteran one might encounter out for a morning stroll.
- You notice he never gives his name. It would be helpful to know who this “veteran” is.
- And that Vietnam Veteran cap? It looks just a little too crisp, too clean, too, well…new.
In the white-hot world of Louisiana political campaigns, there is usually no level to which a candidate is not willing to stoop.
In some quarters, that might be considered STOLEN VALOR.
Of course, the RGA could dispel that suspicion by simply identifying the speaker in the ad.
Louisiana Voice 
I just saw ad, and asked myself how much he was being paid.
Good article. Definitely considered stolen valor by most of the guys responding on my tweet https://twitter.com/robmaness/status/1194631158983610368?s=21
Sent from my iPhone
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I thought he was Rispone long lost second cousin. Same grating voice.
This is nothing “new” to any campaign. Republicans are well known for using”stock” actors/actresses in their campaign ads. It’s just the way they play. But, smart, normal people see right through their acts. It’s all fictional. And it’s a sad commentary on their part. This man/actor is probably in other ads in other state elections.
repubs use stock actors/actresses in their outrageous prevarication ads, then scream about libtards using Soros-funded “crisis actors” in actual news stories about such things as the Sandy Hook school shooting and other massacres around the country.
Interesting that many of the opponents of the Affordable Care Act who showed up at town hall meetings all over the country to scream about not wanting the gubmint in their healthcare bizness were the same people in almost every city. Ain’t that something….projection, much…
I thought he was Rispone second cousin, twice removed. He has that same grating voice. They are wasting so much money on me….I just do not pay any attention to any of these ads. I prefer to do my own varied research on their past actions.
I thought he was Rispone’s second cousin twice removed. Same grating voice.
Mr Tom,
If he a fake, the people who made the decision to use him in that campaign commercial should be FIRED! I hope you are right because if you where saying that about me and I have proof I’m a Vet, you would have a very serious problem.
Read the last paragraph of the story: “Of course, the RGA could dispel that suspicion by simply identifying the speaker in the ad.”
Do you want them to include his DD-214 too? I’m sure you have seen the other campaign commercials in the past that had Veterans posing with their VSO caps or Veteran hats, I didn’t see any info on them.
Geez, Mikey, am I going to have to read the entire piece to you? Go back and re-read the entire post (move your lips if you have to). Pay attention to the fourth paragraph: “And to be sure, both sides are generally equally guilty of such tactics.”
Anything else?
You should do your research before you open your mouth, then we wouldn’t have this problem.
Take care,
Mikey
You mean like reading before critiquing? Yeah, I agree.
What? Repugnantcans guilty of “Fake News?” I’m crushed I tell you. Crushed!
After the revival of David Duke ads run by our classy Governor, I would not advise democrats to throw bricks in their glass house. The fact is, Governor Edwards is afraid he is losing to a political novice and pulling out all stops like “He will take your Homestead Exemption” or “He will be another Jindal”etc. As an attorney, Edwards knows that is not possible (La Constitution)to eliminate Exemption.
Both sides are playing to their base’ fears, plain and simple. And if one is dumb enough to believe their candidate is above that, I would like to sell the Eiffel Tower to them for scrap metal.I am waiting for Rispone to say that John Bel is bringing back Edwards” (EWE of course) !!
No argument there, Zoe. It’s been an unusually dirty campaign by both sides from day one—even by Louisiana standards.
Actor, or not, I find the hate in that commercial repulsive and VERY Trumpian.
Hey, EVERYBODY, go vote today. Our future depends on it. Our state has finally achieved a good measure of stability and it is not time to change our captain. Never forget: The greatest power in government is that of appropriation and that power rests with the legislature, not the governor. He is a convenient scapegoat for why our state ranks so low in so many things. How is it possible to make a rational argument that the way to fix it is to cut taxes and spending? Answer: It isn’t. It’s just more garbage like that dished out daily by Republicans and their leader.
VOTE EDWARDS and let’s continue to move forward, even if it has to be at a snail’s pace. We can’t rush backwards.
Congratulations to the 774,469 who got out and voted for John Bel Edwards. It is time for the other 734,128 to accept the results and work to actually make Louisiana better. Our state and, even worse, our country is deeply divided – more than ever in my long life.