RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina legislator is apologizing after a campaign flier meant to tout his support for U.S. troops featured a photo of World War II re-enactors dressed as German soldiers.
The political consulting firm that produced the campaign piece for Democratic state Rep. Tim Spear said Wednesday it is solely responsible for the mistake.
The campaign planned to send the flier to about 10,000 homes in Spear’s coastal district. It said the legislator is “Covering Our Soldiers’ Backs.” But the photo showed the backs of four advancing re-enactors dressed in German army uniforms.
Account executive Mike Brown at Washington, D.C.-based MSHC Partners said the firm’s art department thought the photo captured Spear’s message, but no one noticed it showed the wrong kind of troops.
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Comments (124)
Stewie
Oct. 27, 2010 at 9:29pmFreudian Slip. He doth protest too much.
He must have gotten the photo from Teddy Kennedy’s estate. Obviously some of Dick Durbin’s US/Nazi soldiers rushing to occupy Abu Ghraib before reopening it under new management.
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ensemble
Oct. 27, 2010 at 9:23pmYeah, it may be an honest mistake. Yet, where is the passion for accuracy and truth anymore? People just puke up any emotionally driven sound bite or image and then clock out. What is shameful is the lack of research or honesty or truth. The attention span of people in the modern world is astoundingly short, but at the same time..someone has the JOB of putting this crap together and they don’t show any professionalism or pride in their work. They just go for what will gin up emotion and the quick fix to, what they consider, the bobbleheaded doltish masses. It is an insult to voters.
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gimmetheskinny
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:57pmsounds like a crack research team from here. I know I could look at this picture and know what I was looking at but my wife would not. I’d say if your not sure, double check.
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Endstatism
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:53pmCompounding the error is the fact that the camo pattern was originally worn by the Waffen SS starting in 1944
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Endstatism
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:48pmMaybe the Democrats are trying to tell us something with this flyer.
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OBAMAWORSHIOER
Oct. 27, 2010 at 11:02pmYou got it. We are so sure that we’ve won that we placed this symbolism there KNOWING that most of you dummies are too dense to see the message. BUT it does send a message to our supporters that we’re close to the time.
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BoilitDown
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:31pmIt speaks of the half assed, half baked efforts in the left’s endeavours in leadership.
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jagr1850
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:21pmwhy can’t someone who thinks they are brilliant enough to be a senator or congressman get stuff 100 percent right ….and not blame others when stuff is done wrong. the morons don’t know the difference between the us troops and the enemy…wtf…
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coryf076
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:12pmWatch out for Omabaworshioer and Publiuspencilman….it’s the same person spreading that disease called liberalism
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untameable-kate
Oct. 28, 2010 at 12:07amI think we have all been vaccinated for that nasty bug, no lib cooties here.
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Just Dave
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:03pmThat was no mistake.
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OBAMAWORSHIOER
Oct. 27, 2010 at 11:03pmDave, wow someone smart here. Yes it’s a symbolic message.
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Sledgehammer
Oct. 27, 2010 at 7:47pmAnd this guy is a member of the national socalist party? Dems? Right now it’s kind of hard to tell the diff.!
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Spoooooooky Dude Tony
Oct. 27, 2010 at 7:43pmI can understand the mistake. They look like American Soldiers to me too. Not to be offensive
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Ozzie
Oct. 27, 2010 at 7:54pmDude, the helmet is a dead giveaway that these are German soldiers, and the uniform is SS. You should really read up on history, it’s a lot of fun, and you’ll be surprised how many cool things there are to learn.
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Puppy
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:03pmIt appears to me that neither you or the representative are even vaguely familiar with the uniform of our armed forces. That, in itself, is scary. Just shows me how little support this man has for our troops.
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HillBillySam1
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:29pmYeah the helmets are confusing but the jeager snitzel is a dead give-away….
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meisterschaft
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:39pmTo the two of you that thought the “helmets” are a “dead giveaway” I think you need to take a look at the American Soldiers helmet, it looks remarkably like the German soldiers (because U.S. copied it) since it was such a fantastic design.
Since I know history, I knew instantly that this was WWII era, but to people that don’t care about history or military I can see how they can make that ignorant mistake.
Someone needs to send these idiots to Harvard for a History Lesson! HAHA
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untameable-kate
Oct. 27, 2010 at 11:49pmIt’s OK TONY I got smacked pretty hard up above for not knowing. It was WWII after all, not Afghanistan.
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HillBillySam1
Oct. 27, 2010 at 11:52pm@MEISTERSCHAFT
The “jeager snitzel” reference was the only thing that remotely sounded German to me. Maybe I should have said “strudel”?? Personally, I love jeager snitzel with red taters and green beans. Good eatin’. Do they serve that in Harvard’s cafeteria?? I bet OBAMAWORSHIOER would know……
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meisterschaft
Oct. 28, 2010 at 9:11pm@HillBillySam1
Yea…jeager snitzel pretty is AWESOME!
They might serve that at Harvard…..then again I will NEVER go there and find out!
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clhathaway
Oct. 27, 2010 at 7:28pmBut according to Dick Durbin our soldiers are Nazis anyway. So what’s the big deal. Honest mistake. Move on. Nothing to see here.
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THE FIXER
Oct. 27, 2010 at 7:25pmThe word “nazi” is actually a shortening of the full name of the organization. The full name is “Nationalistiche Socialistiche Arbeiters Partei”. Translation… National Socialist Workers Party. When one hears the whole name at once, it makes current events even more disturbing.
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AlaskaRick
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:06pmThanks, I didn’t know that, public educated, sorry! Seriously that is interesting.
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meisterschaft
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:34pmActually:
Its Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, I know I am splitting hairs here but given the Horrors that came with it I think we should get it correct.
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mutt
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:53pmFrom a “mistake” comes the truth, today’s socialist, progressive Democrats have more in common with Nazi’s than our own soldiers. Why do 70% of our soldiers support the GOP and the Dems are working so hard to hijack their right to vote? Compared to Stalin, Obama’s ego and quest for total domination know no second place. The White House Press Secretary does a great impersonation of Goebbels. 2010=1939
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OBAMAWORSHIOER
Oct. 27, 2010 at 7:20pmMUTT. so what!!! the very best of the military is tied up in overseas, neverending wars. Iran will soon be attacked and maybe Pakistan. These effective heros will be tied up by our people so they can’t return in time to stop our invsions from across your southern border. And you dummies haven’t organized yourselves even though there are 80 million gunoweners. There will be organized resistence when we invade you.
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mutt
Oct. 28, 2010 at 6:03am@Obamaworshioer – Be afraid when us legal gun owners do wake up. We do understand and revere the Constitution, and will defend it with our lives.. Remember the Giant that awoke after Pearl? The wounds of 9-11 will take generations to heal. Obammy keeps ripping off the scab. Remember the false words of hope and change espoused by the Incompetatant One, the new post racial America? The Tea Party is just the first wave of the awakened and fed up. Be afraid.you intellectually challenged socialist bottom feeder. Market pressures will force your media (propaganda) to start reporting the truth. The new red dawn is coming on Tuesday, be very afraid cause it’s only the first wave.
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Biggbore
Oct. 28, 2010 at 11:24amHey, MUTT let them come to Texas, We need cut bait for fishing !! Please send OBW first !!
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Hugh_Akston
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:43pmThis is almost as funny as the Florida Gators putting a crocodile on the cover of their football program a few years ago. You simply can’t make this kind of stupidity up!
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MIlitary Nurse
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:43pmIrony!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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BuckwheatA2
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:38pmGlad to see someone is supporting Ohio candidate Rich Lott!
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trolltrainer
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:35pmROFL, too funny though! Too bad they apparently caught it in time…
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OBAMAWORSHIOER
Oct. 27, 2010 at 7:21pmTrainer, not in time. The symbolic message has been sent out to our people to be on alert. You dummies will see it as mistake and miss the symbolism..
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heavyduty
Oct. 28, 2010 at 8:18amOBAMAWORSHIOER: Do you get all your comments from Bill Maher? Sure sounds like the same stupid stuff he says. Gee dud, come up with your own material. I am sure that Bill works hard to think of this stuff.
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HillBillySam1
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:35pmMaybe it was the Republican candidate who likes those WWII re-enactments. Hee hee. Only in politics. Can’t you hear Tim Spears campaign manager screaming “We are supposed to be Socialists! Not National Socialists!!”.
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gimmetheskinny
Oct. 27, 2010 at 9:02pmI’m laughing, good one.
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Legal Immigrant
Oct. 28, 2010 at 2:58pmNational Socialists, Communists, Maoists, Liberal Party of Canada, New Democratic Party, Progressive Conservatives, RINO’s…
Socialism is the common denominator to the above. All are failures.
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Venom
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:35pmWow, thats all i can say is wow
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OBAMAWORSHIOER
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:33pmWow, they followed their orders. No mistake. We KNOW we are in control. “Subtle” message that our dedicated soldiers like those of nazi Germany are about to spring from the southern borders. I’m NOT sure that was smart to be that “subtle” but I wasn’t in on the decision. It will be interesting to see the reactions. Anothwer trial balloon.
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scuba13
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:43pmJust admit it obamaworshioer , you were in charge and you sent in the wrong picture. How do you expect us to learn anything at camp with instructors like you .
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trolltrainer
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:43pmOne of these days we need to have a long talk. I am seriously interested in what motivates you. Do you really have nothing better to do with your time? I mean, I can see it if you wanted to seriously discuss these issues, even from a liberal perspective. But I do not believe you are a liberal, or maybe not even a Democrat. I wonder if you are old enough to vote? If you are then you should really be ashamed of yourself because to troll in such a silly, juvenile, foolish manner only shows probable mental problems. It is not funny, you are not making any point, and while a few posters here do feed you I really fail to see ow you are getting any satisfaction from this. You are simply stupid, I doubt you are getiing a rise out of anyone. I am just curious, what motivates you?
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OBAMAWORSHIOER
Oct. 27, 2010 at 7:01pmTrainer, Big bucks motivate me. Also, where I will be when qwe implement our Fascist Dictatorship on you. I will NOT likely be a trainer at the reeducation camps. But thanks for asking?
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HillBillySam1
Oct. 27, 2010 at 7:08pmObamaworshioer will be in charge of the showers at the re-education camp…..for all of us “un-washed masses”….bring your own soap.
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OBAMAWORSHIOER
Oct. 27, 2010 at 7:22pmHillbilly, no I already know I will not be assigned but your idea about showers is a good one. Maybe we’ll uae the same deadly gas as the Germans did. Did work very well.
untameable-kate
Oct. 27, 2010 at 7:54pmNow you go too far Obullwasher, does baby need his bottle?
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OBAMAWORSHIOER
Oct. 27, 2010 at 11:00pmKate, you see my honesty as being in need of a baby bottle? Great job you’re doing with misdirecting these dummies.
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BlueknightUSA
Oct. 28, 2010 at 3:12amOW…the only trial balloon around you is the one you’re sucking all the helium from…now go back to the basement.
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vennoye
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:33pmNobody but a Democrat and a Liberal Advertising Firm would not know the difference…….and these people accuse conservatives of being STUPID????????
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Frazzled
Oct. 29, 2010 at 1:10amso sad, yet so true
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Midwest Belle
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:32pmMistake? Like the dems care what they use to make their point. Shame on you dems!
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MAULEMALL
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:30pmSee ,,, the whole world knows that the nazies were social democrats…
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LadyIzShy
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:29pmmistake happen.. that it happened to a progressive will not make the news except here..
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FreedomOfSpeech
Oct. 27, 2010 at 6:49pmI’m not surprised. Obama does Nazi-like stuff all the time, like burning books.
Obama is now burning books like the Nazis did.
untameable-kate
Oct. 27, 2010 at 7:08pmUnless the art department knows alot about history then they probably had no idea they were German war reenacters I wouldn’t have known.
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Major Infidel
Oct. 27, 2010 at 7:31pmCurious as to why Dr. Strangelove came to mind while reading the article.
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America_First
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:05pmuntameable-kate…you are a brainless idiot…
Independent Tess
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:22pmWell, that’s embarrassing!
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untameable-kate
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:28pmAmerica first that was nice, I’m not a history buff but not sure why you would attack like that, I’m not your enemy.
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uncleherbert
Oct. 27, 2010 at 8:51pmwe know about the drive by MSM, thank God we have some one who will report all things relevent, the blaze is a God sent.
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independentvoteril
Oct. 27, 2010 at 10:17pmuntameable-kate.. don’t feel bad I READ a lot of history however, they are NOT picture books I wouldn’t have know either.. I can plea I am a girl ( I am) and I don’t really care for war movies so I wouldn’t know the difference from a movie either.. I could tell you what the women at home were wearing and doing during that time though..LOL..
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LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA
Oct. 27, 2010 at 10:18pmWhat the hell America_First?! If you don’t have anything to say about the story don’t waste the space with mindless, nonsensical, insults! FOOL! About the story, I wouldn’t know either. I would definately CHECK MY FACTS before putting together the ad (as it would be what I’m getting paid for). I just kinda feel bad for the guy, (even though he’s a dem : ) I’m fair-minded. Mountains/mole hills -eh-
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addie
Oct. 27, 2010 at 11:11pmKate and IndependentVoter – I too am a girl and don’t watch army movies but I can tell the soldiers in the picture are not a US military uniform, not even from WWI or WWII! Doesn’t take a history buff to see that! I may not be able to tell which country they are from but I know it’s NOT the US!
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untameable-kate
Oct. 27, 2010 at 11:41pmAddie, I have not seen every uniform ever worn by our military so I honestly didn’t know. Getting back to the story though, maybe it was an innocent mistake and I can give the art department the benefit of the doubt. The guy that ordered the fliers was a democrat and the dems are rarely portrayed as Nazis that is usually reserved for republicans.
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Post-Progressive American
Oct. 28, 2010 at 4:29amMaybe it made it through becuase no one knows history anymore…
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tower7femacamp
Oct. 28, 2010 at 8:17amwe do use the same helmets…..
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biggreenboo
Oct. 28, 2010 at 10:59amUntameable-kate… Not sure why these people are trollin you… must be bored. Anyway… the whole thing is kind of funny.
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ANTIPATHIZER308WIN
Oct. 28, 2010 at 11:23amMine Kaumpf (My dream): Conservative persons of true character retake the House, Senate and Presidency. Gutten tag all und God bless!
stephenm37
Oct. 28, 2010 at 12:23pmUntameable-Kate, Your ignorance knows no bounds. The Nazi’s were the NATIONAL SOCIALISTS Party, thus it is the DEMOCRATS, not the Republicans who are fascist NAZIS.
Stay around and be educated.
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GeneralGeorgeHThomas
Oct. 28, 2010 at 4:16pmRE-ENACTORS! Says who??? I’ll look at the whole picture and make up my own mind thank you very much!!!!!!!!
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umrebels1991
Oct. 28, 2010 at 4:53pm@Tower7FemaCamp
In WW2 we did not use the same helmets. We use SIMILAR looking helmets now to what they had then. Our helmets from WW2 looked nothing like the ones in the picture there, neither did our camo, and neither did the rifle that one of the men is carrying.
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umrebels1991
Oct. 28, 2010 at 4:54pm@ANTIPATHIZER308WIN
Not a bid deal, but Mein Kampf does not mean “My Dream” it means “My Struggle.”
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Sconser
Oct. 28, 2010 at 10:56pmI agree with LADYIZSHY, mistakes do happen. However, it is unfortunate that a paid firm is not familiar enough with research to ensure accuracy or the political candidate’s staff cannot recognize a uniform style that does not match past or present U.S attire.
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