Americans For Prosperity is in full damage control mode after it initially photoshopped a picture of President Obama and Colorado Senator Mark Udall at a Aurora hospital and used it in an attack ad against Udall. Following a firestorm of protest, AFP was forced to recut the ad and apologize.
AFP rolled out the ad earlier today in a press conference on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol as part of its effort to blast Udall for his support of Obamacare. It included a picture of a dejected Obama and Udall in front of the words, “Mark Udall voted for Obamacare.” The problem? That picture was taken when Obama visited University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora a few days after the July 2012 shooting at the Century 16.? The original picture showed Obama speaking in the hospital lobby with Udall and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, but AFP edited those parts out.
Once the content of that ad came out, the condemnation came hard and fast. The loudest statement came from the relatives of four of the victims, who rushed out with a burning statement calling it “beyond unconscionable” that AFP would use Obama and Udall’s expressions for political gain and demanded that the ad be pulled.
Earlier this afternoon, AFP gave in. Its Colorado chapter tweeted to Denver Post political reporter Chuck Plunkett:
@chuckplunkett AFP regrets erroneously using the image: it’s been removed from ad; we apologize to Aurora families. #copolitics #coleg
? AFPColorado (@AFPColorado) April 23, 2014
One has to wonder about the prevailing mentality at AFP if anyone there could have even thought this was a good idea.
Edited/Published by: SB
Darrell Lucus is a radical-lefty Jesus-lover with several passions–the Lord, the Tar Heels, the Phillies and fighting for lasting change. Follow him on Twitter @DarrellLucus.
