CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The family of the late Robert C. Byrd lashed out Sunday after the GOP nominee for his U.S. Senate seat used an image from Byrd’s memorial service in a TV ad attacking the Democratic nominee.
The ad by Republican John Raese’s campaign seeks to link President Barack Obama to Gov. Joe Manchin by displaying an image of the two Democrats at the state Capitol ceremony marking Byrd’s June 28 death.
Raese and Manchin are running in a special election for what remains of Byrd’s term. Byrd was history’s longest-serving member of Congress when he died at 92.
The Republican’s campaign manager, Jim Dornan, defended the use of the image.
“That’s a stock photo. We had no idea it was from the memorial service,” he said.
But Byrd’s family called for the campaign to withdraw the ad.
“This is a tasteless and insensitive act by Mr. Raese,” said a statement by the family of Byrd, who was also a Democrat. “His act is insulting to the memory of Robert Byrd and should have no place in a West Virginia political campaign.”
One of Byrd’s two daughters, Marjorie Byrd Moore of Virginia, e-mailed the statement to The Associated Press. She didn’t immediately respond to requests for further comment.
Manchin contacted Moore after getting calls about the ad, Manchin campaign spokeswoman Sara Payne Scarbro said Sunday. Scarbro said the memorial was meant as a bipartisan, nonpolitical tribute.
“To use that photo just truly shows the character of Mr. Raese,” Scarbro said. “It shows what we can expect from Mr. Raese, and that is negative ads and negative campaigning.”
But Dornan dismissed the flap as an attempt to distract from the ad’s overall message: that Manchin would support Obama administration policies if elected, while Raese would not.
Obama lost West Virginia in 2008 and is not considered popular there.
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Comments (140)
KYinAZ
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 9:46pmByrd crossed the Rubicon as a KKK member. He nor any member of his family for many generations can slough off that shame. They have no voice of credibility. They should remained forever silent.
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KYinAZ
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 9:41pmTell Byrd’s bigoted family to shut the hell up.
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Randjet
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 3:28pmLIKE IT !
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Barleed
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 9:11pmAmen MissMarie
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Seymour
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 9:02pmUmmm, did I miss something here?
No more Bambi, Bambi, Pooky, Pooky with the left. They have now lost not only a majority of that initial 68% support but our collective respect. They have lost a majority of Independents like myself where any demands from them whatsoever going forward will be met with the same courtesies they extended to the voters on their input concerning the stimulus, HR3950 and the blatant unlawful ownership control over public companies wiping out all secured bondholders by our boy POTUS who deferred 200 years of bankruptcy law as just too inconvenient. These are just a few issues so throw a dart.
Nope, after November when a large number of Republicans are dispatched as well, there will be no more demands that we will heed from the left and beginning November 2012 the left will have to come to the painful grips of Obama policies being rescinded under the glorious light of an enthusiastic, productive, happy, conservative and wholesome moon once again.
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Huckabee Gingrich 12
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:54pmIMHO, Raese should run an ad showing Byrd’s coffin being lowered into the ground while Mardi-Gras jazz plays in the background, and a banner reading “I thought he’d never leave!” over Joe Manchin’s head.
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LifeProject2012
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 9:12pmNow that’s COLD!
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Republic
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:52pmWe all know who and what Senator Byrd was. The real question is, “what were his constituents thinking when they kept re-electing him?
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spiritflow
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 11:11pmThe same as those who keep reelecting Barny Franks uninformed voters. I am a West Virginian I have since 1976 voted against Byrd but to no avail perhaps if we can get rid of ear-marks we can get rid of good old boy voting and pork barrel spending. We can only dream.
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EZBurns
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:23pmHow many times were we treated to the sight of a nearly vegetative Byrd being wheeled in (through the snow at one point) to vote. THAT I found tasteless. That his family allowed him to be used like that while his body was barely functioning yet his mind was gone and he was barely conscious.
Sorry, but I find it extremely amusing that they claim anything grain of sand for moral ground after that. After watching the ad, even moreso….they’re 100% Liberal Cause Only and humans be damned.
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AmericanMutt
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 2:45pmExcellent point, Ezburns. The image of Byrd barely able to speak, racked with tremors, disturbed me terribly. Yet, no one complained about how he was , literally, “rooled out” just so the dems could add another “yea” to the rollcall…
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KEA
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:21pmI agree the Dems have created Chaos but so have a fair number of Republicans. Not near as bad but there is a lot of Fixing to do!
One only look at who has been in control of EVERY major city for the last 40 years and realize, ALL the DEMS are clueless as to what it takes to run things.
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usualsuspect
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 5:01amThe only thing I find the republicans guilty of is trying to appease liberals and yes we will hold them accountable
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DWTony
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:12pmThere is no way of knowing that the photo was taken at a funeral, let alone Byrd’s. It was a “stock” photo shopped by the photographer. This family is doing exactly what Weldon’s family did, turn a memoral into a political event to attack Republicans. Partisan politics trumps anything, even the memory of beloved family members.
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Midwest Belle
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:02pmAfter having watched the video, NO ONE could know that picture was taken from Byrd’s funeral.
I think the family are being a tad to sensitive. I don’t see how it hurts Byrd’s “honor” (as if he had any)
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Tom Smallridge
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 2:54pmIt wasn’t from Byrd’s funeral. It was from a memorial service at the state capital and Byrd’s corpse was not even in the area.
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dwh320
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:51pmI can see how the family might feel about such a solemn occasion. One where Obama and his good buddy Joe are looking all tore up over the loss of of their dear friend…. OOPS Guess they grieve in a JOYFUL way from the looks of the picture. Both laughing and having a darn good time. At lest they did not get a picture of the two of them dancing on Birds grave.
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Bigdave
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:50pmBill clinton telling outrageous lies at byrd’s funeral bothers nobody, but a photograph from it is wrong. Clinton said byrd flrted with the kkk in his youth, and only to get elected… But byrd filibustered civil rights more than twenty years after he joined the kkk… TWENTY YEARS!! Byrd was a bad man, never humbled himself.. Switched from vile racist to leftist, both views have arrogance as foundational principle… Democrats started kkk, they still own it..
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stelci
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 8:42amThank you bigdave. Why are we compelled to show respect for dispicable people? Just because they held an office we are supposed to show respect. I have no respect for Byrd, he was a racist, Kennedy was a philandering murderer, Clinton is a lying skirt chaser, Obama is a Chicago politician. These are corrupt people who manage to scam the majority.
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GeneralC_USA
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 2:40pmWe should show respect for the position. The man or woman holding the position may not deserve our respect, but the position they hold demands our respect and thus the person holding the office for the sake of the office. Respect for people who have passed is traditional. The funeral deserves respect as does the office held by the deceased. That does not mean the deceased deserves our respect, but any funeral and any elected office deserves our respect. Obama the person does not deserve my, or any thinking person’s respect in any way. However, the President of the United States deserves and has all my respect. He is MY President, and my President deserves and gets my respect.
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Neal
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:47pmThe KKK’ers can go to hell!
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alkmetro
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:42pmKind of just…”whatever”….seems to me just another ploy on the left as well by trying to make this look bad…kind of a non-story
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alienguns
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:37pmhow would the ordinary citizen watching that ad know the picture was at a funeral?? anything to complain about I guess. give me a break you whining wimpy lefties
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Deutscher
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:09pmYeah. Way to go with the name-calling big man. If the Ds and Rs were reversed how would you characterize the “righties?”
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Rickfromillinois
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:30pmHow in the world you would you even know where the picture came from unless the family went to the press about it? Good grief, it’s not as though he had a picture of Byrd in his KKK clown suite.
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BeeBee
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:27pmI don’t see anything wrong with it. Obama and Manchin were smiling and yucking it up in the photo. It’s not like there’s a coffin or anything indicating the setting was a memorial service.
Why do I get the suspicion if the shoe was on the other foot, Progressives would say, “Me thinks thou dost protest too much”?
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chattycathy
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:50pmI agree. I had absolutely no idea that the photo was taken at a funeral. This is a non-story and is in no way disgracing the memory of Robert Byrd.
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Randjet
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:11pmDid you watch the video? Give me a break. Shame on them for even making it an issue.
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truebearing
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:04pmThe democrats turned the Wellstone funeral into a cross between a circus and a college kegger, so spare me the self righteous “respect funerals” crap. The left doesn’t respect anything but political power.
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123halle
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:12pmso true
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BeeBee
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:29pmAmen to that. I couldn’t have said it better. Thanks
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missmarie
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:43pmI agree, the left doesn’t have any respect or integrity. I guess that’s what makes me different from them. Thankfully and happily so.
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123halle
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:01pmThe dems use dirty tatics all the time and cry foul when it is done on them
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walkwithme1966
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:41pmThat is no reason to do it back – we need to start working on winning in an honorable way – with the truth also.
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missmarie
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:40pmLike mom always said – two wrongs, don’t make it right. We must be the generation that restores honor.
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Large Eagle
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 6:58pmTotally agree Dannidee
Vetting Republican’s is next on the agenda. If we have to use them make sure they can be held accountable. Make them sign an agreement with their constituents on a local level. With language that will allow us (class action) to call for their resignation in a court of law if they do not execute their contract.
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Huckabee Gingrich 12
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:55pmNo offense Eagle, but, like, what planet are you living on?
You’re not gonna get “them” to sign squat.
But if you think you are, you’d better get busy,
‘cuz you’ve got about a thousand candidates to get signed up in less than two months.
Let’s get realistic. The system will never be perfect.
Pick a side and defend your goal.
If you don’t like the candidates, you should run.
This is another area where I part ways w/Beck:
I’d never vote for any Democrat, even if they claimed to represent all of my values.
The way I see it, if they really did represent all of my values, they would abandon
the Democrat party, which has essentially been hijacked by communists.
Some people I know who are Democrats are actually secretly conservative in general, but vote Democrat because in the University town where I live, it’s fashionable and cool to be liberal. They want to be cool. They want to be publicly viewed as compassionate and tolerant (and who wouldn’t?), but privately, they’re as tired as you and me of hearing about climate change or whatever is the “progressive” cause du jour.
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Comrade Louder
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 10:54pmWhile the theory behind this point is good, there are some problems:
1) A court should not have the power to force a politician to resign. It is an overstepping of separation of powers. Now if there is a crime committed, then the courts should try a defendant and determine a punishment. The constitution is pretty clear with where the power of impeachment resides.
2) Specifically how do you determine a breach of contract? In some cases it would appear a cut and dry yes or no, but many other cases may not be so clear. What one person considers a breach may be very different to another person’s opinion. Also if the point here is that we want strong conservatives in office, if you could yank someone out of office on a whim, how do you know the appointed replacement will be a better (or even equivalent) alternative? The appointee would also have no need to enter a contract with you anyway since he/she never was elected.
There are tools at our disposal already to handle politicians who promise one thing and then doing something different. If the offense to the people is egregious enough, most states can have recall elections. If the offense doesn’t quite warrant a recall election, then vote them out next reelection time.
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rocktruth
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 6:57pmAnything to distract and avoid truth.
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Tom Smallridge
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 2:57pmThe truth is that the photo was shot at a memorial service at the state capital and Byrd’s corpse was no place even close.
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missmarie
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 6:54pmThe family is right. It is inappropriate. I’m a firm believer that funerals and memorial services are off limits – even the pics. Perhaps now that Mr. Dornan is aware of the circumstances behind the photo they can find another one to use.
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semperfi3846
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 9:57pmThe Democrats have no separation from respect for the dead and getting out the vote after the political convention displayed at the Senator Paul Wellstone funeral service in 2002. Look it up! Any Democrat that was anybody was howling and chanting just before the election at his service. Nothing sacred is off limits to Democrats.
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missmarie
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 10:37pmSemperfi, you are absolutely correct in your statement: “Nothing sacred is off limits to Democrats.” I, however, am not a democrat. I have my standards.
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spiritflow
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 11:01pmWould have you known it was a funeral if you were not told so… I doubt it, As always a smoke screen to cover the real story I notice the Democrats didn’t deny the content.
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oldsalty1
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 11:19pmWhy? Is the family embarrassed by his KKK activities? Or is it a case of they dont want to be associated with BO?
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missmarie
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 11:22pmNo, I wouldn’t have known, but now that I do……well, I think the campaign should do the right thing.
As far as the message: remove the tool the opponent is using block the message and maybe more of their constituents will see the truth. Additionally, a well worded message about not knowing where the picture originated, stating it is being removed out of respect for the family, and an apology for anyone it may have offended, would go a long way with voters who are longing for an honest representative that can show integrity and humility when presented with a challenge.
Regardless of what a putz the guy was in life – and I thought he was really evil – he’s in Gods hands now and I’m pretty sure he had a lot of explaining to do. It is important that our generation ensures that the truth about his life is factually represented in the history books.
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miopinion
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 12:53pmMissmarie, I agree funerals and memorials are off limits; however, the picture being complained about is not a funeral picture. It may have been taken at a funeral, but that cannot be detected in the photo.
The picture is of two men that look like they are sharing a joke. I share your sensitivity, but this is a non-issue.
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kmichaels
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 6:03pmI find it offensive for anyone, including our own team to think this is remotely out of order. Had it not been for Byrd family making their funeral a political issue by bringing this up nobody would have known. It is a smart photo. MissMarie needs to chill out. We have real issues to worry about and this is not one of them. And my how naive to think Dems will run out of things to complain about if this harmless photo were removed. An issue of honor? Don’t make me laugh. It is a cheap shot coming from a cheap Dem family.
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miopinion
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 6:53pmBy looking at the video one would not know the men were at a funeral, much less that of Senator Byrd’s. It is like the family was waiting for an opportunity to complain. I’m not so sure they found it here.
Besides how in the world could the ad do more harm to Mr. Byrd than he did to himself all those years recruiting for the KKK. This would work for them if we all had short memories.
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Veritas
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 9:30pmThere is nothing more I could add to what you said, miopinion!
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Michael_912
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 2:52amI’m going to guess that the family knew nothing about it until the Dems brought it to their attention while trying to stir up a mess. I watched the entire video and finished asking “where is the funeral?”. You would have to take that apart frame by frame and scrutinize everything in every frame to find that out, which I believe is what the dirt bags raising this stink did.
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usualsuspect
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 4:53amI would think the Family would be more concerned that their loved one was A Ranking KKK member
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Kathy H
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 10:50amI agree, looking at the photo that was used looked like they were having a good ole time with the smiles on there faces and wouldn’t consider it a funeral picture.. The should be up set if they showed a clip of white hoods but this picture.. Sorry they are barking up the wrong tree… Hope this guy gets elected to Byrds spot… and I”ll even send a donation to him…
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DanniDee
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 6:47pmWhatever it takes, we must NEVER again elect a Dem – be it for the White House, the Senate or Congress. Dems have created a chaos in our lives equal only to such chaos by the devil itself!
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missmarie
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 6:56pmSorry, but I do not approve of “the ends justify the means”, regardless of the party using the tactic.
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walkwithme1966
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:38pmSorry but this was a little tasteless. To win with honor should be the way to go. There are too many people out there who are tired of the politics of “anything goes” just to win.
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SunnyJ
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 9:38pmThe Dems used Edward Kennedy’s funeral to demand Obamacare…one of the young grandchildren also mentioned it in his child’s remarks at the funeral service. This reminds me of the NAACP demanding apologies and being outraged over someone else’s racism…never their own. OK, the family is outraged…so what? This is exactly how the Alinsky tactics were used to get us in this mess in the first place. They count on us feeling guilty when they tell us to, our job is only to say, “How guilty?” and give them what they want. Wrong. Tell the family you are sorry if they choose to be offended and have hurt feelings, you did not know (as they have already done), and let it go. America, stop groveling!
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Comrade Louder
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 10:25pmWhile I appreciate the enthusiasm, it is more of a “we gotta elect an honorable citizen over the typical douchebag politician” thing than it is R’s over D’s thing.
on a side note, does anyone find it funny how Robert Byrd could be a Kleagle in the KKK because he had to do what it takes to get elected and that was cool with Democrats, but an opponent can’t use videos or pictures of a Democrat in a non-descript setting because doing so is simply just over the line?
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fedup
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 12:23amI disagree there is no mention that this came from a funeral. Looking at the picture there is no way you could tell where it was taken look at them yukin it up it could have been anywhere. The add is just about how manchin supports obama that is all it is not about the picture.
That being said can’t this guy get some better commercials I mean the end is really bad, struting across the street like some teenager from the eighties(at least that is what it reminds me of) saying he is all about me, for some reason I don’t find him very convincing.
just my thoughts.
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ChrisInAR
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 12:32am“Whatever it takes”????
Are you kidding? That sounds like something Saul Alinsky would say.
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OHTAY
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 1:54amSo what if a funeral picture was used. Look at the people in it, they were very cheerful at Byrd’s funeral, which seems more damaging. then again Byrd was a KKK member which would explain the cheerful look on Obama’s face. *****Administrators can you post the newest comments first to give the rest of us a chance to be read by others************ It will also increase the comments in here and give others a chance to be read and commented on too. *******
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BeckPalin2012
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 3:40amThis is insane. We as Christians/Conservatives/Republicans had better learn to man up and stop being so hypersensitive every time the left screams foul. Whether they be right or wrong.
Are we really concerned with a campaign ad containing a picture supposedly from Byrd’s funeral ….Really?….MissMarie – Honor requires Courage. By way of your posts, you come across just as weak as those who are crying about all of this in the first place. Please get behind the Christian/Conservative/Republican movement wholeheartedly and stop posing.
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thunder4570
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 7:44amif it is a standard press photo and had no info on where it was taken, then it is up for grabs. the photo does not have a casket or anything else that show that it was a memorial or funeral service, I think it is not as bad as some ads that claim rep. are against clean air or are trying to starve children like i have seen in the past
Hanna
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 8:44amThey sure don’t look like they are at a funeral. Looks more like they are at a sports event.
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kralspaces
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 8:47amWould never have known where the picture was taken from the video. Someone had to have imformed the family to get the statement. At least the picture was not editted.
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ClearHead
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 10:03amLooking at the Ad one would never know it was from Sen. Byrd’s funeral service. As one commenter said, they both look very animated and happy. I think this is another one of the adversaries way of demonizing everything their competition does. I can’t believe the super sensitivity of the Left. They need to be a little less thin skinned since they hurl so many daggers at the Right.
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missmarie
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 10:42amBECKPALIN2012 – Honor does require courage. I think it would be the honorable and courageous thing to do to admit the campaign didn’t know where the picture was taken, indicate they in no way meant to disrespect the family, and apologize to anyone who was offended. In my opinion, the candidate would garner a lot of respect for doing the right thing, it would shut down the argument about the picture and allow them to get the real message out there, and it is a refreshingly unexpected approach to politics. Doing the right thing doesn’t make one weak, on the contrary, it showcases the integrity of an individual willing to rise above, even if it is a detriment to their own cause.
Surely, this campaign and other Christian/Conservative/Republican candidates across the country can get their message out to what is now a very hungry citizenship and break free of the same tire old argument – well, they did it first, na, na, na, na, na – I wouldn’t let kids in a sandbox get away with that and it certainly doesn’t fly with me in our elected officials.
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LadyIzShy
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 11:54amits NOT just the dems its PROGRESSIVES they are in the GOP as well.. we need to go back to the constitution NOT move further away from it
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butler180
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 12:06pmThere is no way the viewer of this Ad would have known the photo w/Pres.Obama was from the funeral of Sen. Byrd. This is concocted ‘outrage. The family should have been and should be more upset with his (Byrd) grand poop-pa membership in the KKK
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GeneralC_USA
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 2:48pmDannide, I agree with your sentiment. But the Republican Party can become just as corrupt as the Democratic Party is now. One of the comments said we need to vote for people of character and I agree. But Obama is a character, you must agree. No one I know would want to go through the media “anal exam” someone running for office would have to go through. Therefore the best WON’T run. Less than the best MUST have limits on what power they have. Term limits, say two terms like the Presidential limit, is the only way to make sure the officeholder will represent the electorate and not special interests.
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