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FOLLOW-UP ON CONGRESSMAN KLINE’S PRESS RELEASE “BLASTING” MADIA FOR USING UNIFORMED MARINES IN CAMPAIGN AD
By Michael B. Brodkorb | October 14, 2008
Congressman John Kline issued a tough press released this afternoon blasting Ashwin Madia for using “uniformed Marines to advance his political ambitions.” I respect and appreciate the military service of both Kline and Madia, but I believe Kline is raising a very fair point.
Specifically, Kline is upset that Madia used “footage of the elite U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team in his campaign ads.” Click here to watch Madia’s questionable ad.
The ad gives the impression that the drill team is performing for Madia. In reality, it appears that Team Madia “used” footage floating around on the Internet of the drill team and then arranged for Madia to appear in the same location were the drill team performed or a similar background.
Below is the video of the uniformed Marines that Team Madia “used” in their campaign ad.
Did the uniformed Marines in Madia’s campaign ad give their permission for their images to be “used” for Madia’s political purposes? I don’t know, but it’s very unlikely.
Both Kline and Madia have appropriately used pictures of themselves in uniform in campaign advertisements for biographical purposes. But Kline raises a very good point about the appropriateness of Madia’s TV ad. The impression from Madia’s ad is that the Marines are endorsing and performing for Madia.
In a previous dust-up over a similar issue, a media officer for the U.S. Marines commented on the appropriateness of uniformed Marines appearing in “a political setting”:
“’Marines can participate in the democratic process a number of different ways, but wearing the uniform in a political setting is not proper,’ said Capt. Carl Redding, a Marine Corps media officer.” Source: Palm Beach Post, September 24, 2008
Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more information on this developing story.
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This is a reminder that I am a part-time research consultant to Erik Paulsen for Congress. Minnesota Democrats Exposed is my personal blog and it is not created, endorsed, sponsored, or authorized by any political party, candidate, or candidate’s committee.
Topics: Uncategorized | 45 Comments »
45 Responses to “FOLLOW-UP ON CONGRESSMAN KLINE’S PRESS RELEASE “BLASTING” MADIA FOR USING UNIFORMED MARINES IN CAMPAIGN AD”
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October 14th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Everyone knows that the Marines do not endorse candidates. This ad did not confuse anyone.
Go to http://www.paulsenforcongress.com. Wait for the main picture at the top to scroll through the slideshow. What appears?
A picture of Erik Paulsen standing with a uniformed U.S. Army soldier by the door of a Humvee.
Horrors! Is Erik Paulsen trying to fool voters into thinking that the U.S. Army is endorsing him? No. Of course not.
Michael and Rep. Paulsen: your hypocrisy is absolutely astounding.
Michael: Please explain how a picture of Paulsen posing with a solider on his CAMPAIGN WEBSITE is any different than Madia’s ad.
(Hint: it’s not. In both, the candidates are showing their support for the troops. The difference being, of course, that Madia actually served while Paulsen was shutting down the government in St. Paul.)
October 14th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Did Mccain seek the permission of all of the service members in the stock footage in his bio piece? Unlikely.
Only a moron would consider that ad as a military endorsement. But then again, look who is making the allegation.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Wow…Team Madia is out in force tonight. Here’s Congressman Kline’s statement again:
“As a retired member of the United States Marine Corps, I am outraged that Ashwin Madia would exploit uniformed Marines to advance his political ambitions. By displaying footage of the elite U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team in his campaign ads, Madia implies an endorsement of his candidacy that is inaccurate and inappropriate. He should immediately pull down the ad and issue an apology to the drill team and the brave men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps.â€
October 14th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
FOLLOW-UP ON CONGRESSMAN KLINE’S PRESS RELEASE “BLASTING†MADIA FOR USING UNIFORMED MARINES IN CAMPAIGN AD
October 14th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Michael: Apparently you didn’t see the question the first time:
Please explain how a picture of Paulsen posing with a solider on his CAMPAIGN WEBSITE is any different than Madia’s ad.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
haha… Michael, no response to the Paulsen image?
October 14th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Also, thanks for posting that video that “exemplifies the strict discipline that identifies all Marines.”
October 14th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
…As Team Paulsen goes back to the drawing board trying to come up with a new distraction so they can avoid the issues.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Let’s remember folks that Team Madia sent out a press release because of a spelling error in a Paulsen campaign ad.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Ashwin Madia: Smug, stupid prick.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Let’s remember folks that Team Brodkorb has posted about this TWICE IN A ROW because he’s trying to distract from the issues that matter to Minnesotans in CD3. Now he’s trying to distract from his original distraction to distract about the “Rebublican” flap.
We’re in a distraction tailspin here.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Aaron: You’re a liar.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Did Ronald Reagan endorse John Kline’s run for office? I seem to recall a campaign ad that had Kline “Carrying the football” for Reagan.
I assume his family was consulted, and permission was granted?
October 14th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I have been following the race in the 3rd CD in Minnesota, because I used to live there. I am very fond of Minnesota and the western suburbs. However, I have never been very fond of campaign season, and in an attempt to acquire some information about the race, I stumbled upon this website. This is just horrible. Maybe the contributor(s) to this site can’t see it because they are too close to the campaign, but this site is puerile propaganda. It sounds like it is written by an obsessive 3rd grader who keeps trying to snitch on Ashwin Madia (for suspiciously personal reasons), but he can’t get the teacher’s attention. Because the teacher is concerned with more important things. (In case you haven’t figured out the metaphor, the teacher = voters and more important things = actual issues.)
I have a very hard time believing that this website and the opinions expressed herein are a bellwether of the political climate in the 3rd CD.
Because this is a sad, trifling website.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
How the hell does the typo attack have anything to do with you once again being proven a hypocrit? At least Team Madia didn’t have a typo on the front page of their website when they sent their release like Paulsen had a picture of himself with a guy In uniform when MnGOP sent theirs.
Yet another attack backfire for team Paulsen.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Aaron said:
“Let’s remember folks that Team Brodkorb has posted about this TWICE IN A ROW because he’s trying to distract from the issues that matter to Minnesotans in CD3.”
Yeah. Like SpellingGate. Pretty weighty stuff, Aaron. *snicker*
October 15th, 2008 at 4:11 am
Well now let’s see how OUTRAGED folks get when the political parties use the Boy Scouts of America and or the Girl Scouts of America for political functions that sometimes are not in accordance with either the scouts OWN policies and regulations and/or the political group’s OWN policies and regulations.
And while I’m at it what about the ACTORS that were in uniform for the film footage that was shown at the National GOP Convention in St. Paul, MN? Was Kline also OUTRAGED about that, or was KLINE FOOLED by the ACTORS AND THE STOCK FOOTAGE?
Perhaps Kline was having INRAGE during those days, and no GOP’er could detect the OUTRAGE that he felt.
Spelling errors! C’mon MBB, it sounds like a pretext to an Emily Post-type column!
October 15th, 2008 at 4:27 am
If Mn Publius and MN Dem’s Exp. can have a mutual Love-In at a bar why can’t a couple of part time workers such as GOP MBB and a a DEM counter part host ANOTHER Love-IN at at bar in the 3rd CD?
Now that the glow of your being a celeb in the New York Times has worn a bit thin, and you’re into the trenchy warfare that you’ve help bring upon yourself, I don’t think that there is the honest-to-goodness thrill.
Wallow in it Michael.
Karl Rove gave a radio interview months ago talking about how ANGRY a certain person was.
You have another 30 to 40 years of this to look forward to.
October 15th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Thanks for airing the ad Michael! You call attention to a very powerful message!
October 15th, 2008 at 7:39 am
berenike:
Just want you to know that not everyone that is running in this district or thier supporters are this way. The Democ(rats) and Republi(cons) have been fighting for years like this. It is time to put a stop to it. Do you really think that this will stop if they get elected? No, they will trash each other and cry about losing to one or the other. The IP is the only party that is sticking to the issues. We are not out setting traps for signs. We are not sending out bloggers to meetings to harrass the candidates. We don’t believe in that. We believe in getting to the meat of issues but we can’t because these to have to throw junk at each other.
We need to get to the issues. I am tired of all of this trash talking and want to hear about the issues and how they should be solved. I know we can’t agree on it all of the time but we are a very good country and have over come problems much greater than this and have done well.
Vote Independence Party for people that if they don’t have an answer they will get you one and get back to you. They will not just make something up to satisfy you for the moment. Why? Because an honest answer will get you honest results.
Independence Party all the way and in the 3rd CD? David Dillon.
October 15th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Its official, the Paulson Camp has givin’ up. WOW, never thought the would roll over and play dead, at least not for another week or so.
Mike, thanks for giving Madia Free air time for all to see the powerful message he has.
BTW, Why is Aaron a Liar? Based on your own definition, wouldn’t that make you a Liar, too. Just asking?
Flash
October 15th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Come on people, there is a big difference between using a picture of a soldier (or a president) who voluntarily posed with a candidate and using stock footage of soldiers and then pretending that you’re in the same place as them.
Kline is a career Marine (not a 2 year Marine lawyer like Madia) and I completely buy into the sincerity of his outrage over this issue. Marines don’t like when people like Madia put in a couple of patsy non-combat years and then wrap themselves in the Corps flag like some kind of hero just to advance political ambition.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:28 am
“Come on people, there is a big difference between using a picture of a soldier (or a president) who voluntarily posed with a candidate and using stock footage of soldiers and then pretending that you’re in the same place as them.”
I love how the GOP outrage seems to change with every poster. First it’s that the implies endorsement of the military because it uses someone in uniform, then when it’s undisputable that Paulsen used a guy in a uniform in front of military equipment in a political context the outrage is that it is using military images without those servicemember’s permission. WHen it was clear that the head of your party, McCain, used all kinds of military stock images and video the outrage is that Madia is pretending to be in the same location as the military stock photographs …. oh, and he’s not a REAL Marine.
You people are shameless.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:33 am
marc–I don’t think even Kline would describe Madia as being “patsy”. Marines don’t parse service. Kline served admirably, and so did Madia. The first person to support that assertion would be Kline.
You can have disagreements on policy or political positions, but don’t start denigrating service, especially service in a war zone.
Anybody who would post like that has obviously never served a day.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:42 am
spider – I wasn’t denigrating his service, I was denigrating the fact that Madia is using his fellow servicemen to advance his political ambitions.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Why is Ashtray so afraid of being interviewed on the Bob Davis show on KSTP radio? Erik Paulsen just got done but Madia’s running scared and refuses to go on. Talk about a chicken s*it.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:53 am
“I wasn’t denigrating his service, I was denigrating the fact that Madia is using his fellow servicemen to advance his political ambitions.”
Really…?!?!
“Marines don’t like when people like Madia put in a couple of patsy non-combat years and then wrap themselves in the Corps flag like some kind of hero”
October 15th, 2008 at 9:54 am
“Why is Ashtray so afraid of being interviewed on the Bob Davis show on KSTP radio? Erik Paulsen just got done but Madia’s running scared and refuses to go on. Talk about a chicken s*it.”
Isn’t the real news here that Paulsen is actually out campaigning? Doing interviews? Talking to the press?
Granted, it’s KSTP.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:57 am
I’m with Mouth on that last comment. Marc, you should be ashamed.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:19 am
MDE you get paid for stuff like this?
Madia was a Marine and has the right to highlight his service to our country just like any candidate does.
No reasonable person would imply that the Marines or the military are endorsing a candidate. That is insane!
This post makes you look foolish and petty and makes me wonder how anyone can take you seriously.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Michael is clearly running from this story with his tail between his legs otherwise we would have had about 3 more posts about it today already, including video of the weak KSTP story run last night based on the press release.
Notably, MinnPost just blasted Paulsen and his tax claims today as well (both his own proposals and his weak claims against Madia):
http://www.minnpost.com/ericblack/2008/10/15/3888/erik_paulsen_on_tax_cuts_inflammatory_and_misleading
These are dark days for Team Paulsen — and I’m not even talking about the darkness around Michael when he hides in the bushes at night trying to ambush Madia supporters.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Hey – if there’s anyone that shouldn’t be commenting on this, it’s John Kline.
Seems John Kline was admonished by the Paralyzed Veterans of America, two years ago.
Today, John Kline’s calling for an apology. Did Kline apologize to the Paralyzed Veterans of America, 2 years ago?
Of course not.
John Kline is a hypocrite of the lowest order.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Just goes to prove that Kline is a partisan first. If he truly honored service to country, he’d have stayed out of this slime fest by Paulsen and his paid minions.
I note that only GOP owned KSTP covered the press release. KARE and WCCO both ran very fair coverage of the race. Doesn’t surprise me. Must really gall you, Michael, that WCCO ended their report with a comment that this seat could change from red to blue. All of Stanley Hubbard’s money isn’t going to stop that. Last time I checked, the voters still got to decide and Madia is actually running on the issues. Paulsen is running away from them.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Kline apparently has spare time on his hands, since he doesn’t have any real competition for his seat.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:44 am
And ya know what, Chestnut? Kline fills that spare time by bein’ a hypocrite, and proving – once again – that GOP now stands for GreedOverPrinciples.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
MinnPost?
Say it ain’t so.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
“No reasonable person would imply that the Marines or the military are endorsing a candidate. That is insane!” This is all that needs to be said. Anything beyond it is partisan spin.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Thanks for the bubbling boilerplate bullshit Tommy.
You’re doing a fine job illustrating why the DFL is both morally and intellectually bankrupt.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Which is the NON-COMBAT “patsy”?
~John Kerry
~George W. Bush
Whose PIT BULLS might wear LIPSTICK?
~Michael Vick
~Sarah Palin
Which one (1) was born in Hawaii? Which two (2) were born in the Panama Canal Zone?
~Barack Obama
~Rod Carew
~John McCain
October 15th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Isn’t the real news here that Paulsen is actually out campaigning? Doing interviews? Talking to the press?
Granted, it’s KSTP.
So – no defense.
And Bob Davis is as fair as they come when interviewing politicians, don’t give me this “it’s KSTP” crap.
Ashtray’s chicken to talk to anyone who isn’t going to toss softballs, that’s why there’s no defense. He knows he can’t take honest, fair questions. He knows that as a 30-year old punk carpetbagger who’s only ties to the district are “I went to Osseo High School mean absolutely nothing when it comes to what experience a person really has.
Chicken.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Average Joe:
While you were busy posting on partisan blogs, Madia was serving in the Marines. And he’s the chicken?
While you were posting on partisan blogs, Madia was agreeing to debates which PAULSEN bailed on. And Madia’s the chicken?
Get a clue. Madia has been the most accessible candidate that anyone in the 3rd has ever seen. Why do you think there’s so much excitement around his candidacy? Why do you think he was able to knock-off the party-anointed Bonoff? And now poll ahead of Paulsen?
October 15th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
All the vets I’ve talked to about the ad have loved it, and that goes for Republicans as well as Democrats. Madia actually does a great job highlighting two assets all Marines have: discipline and teamwork, the same attributes that he’ll bring to Washington. Lucky for all you Paulsenite’s that hate anyone that’s a Dem, he’ll even represent you…unlike Erik Paulsen, who won’t even talk to people in his own SD.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Chestnut is just mad that Madia is winning.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I seems that Erik’s master plan is to represent only those constituents who are “one of us”.
Voters will nip that in the bud on November 4.
Madia: Fighting for ALL OF US (even Chestnut)
October 15th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Madia: Too stupid to tie his shoes.