Girl in Red Phone advertisement supports OBAMA

[powergirl]

Local girl makes unexpected appearance in Hillary ad

12:34 PM PST on Saturday, March 8, 2008

By ELISA HAHN / KING 5 News




BONNEY LAKE, Wash. – The political ad that sparked nationwide controversy turns out to have a surprising local connection.

One of the actors in the Hillary Clinton ad was shocked to see herself, especially because she's a fierce supporter of Barack Obama.

The so-called "red-phone ad" was played all over the country and helped turn the tide for Hillary Clinton leading up to her big win in Ohio. The commercial suggested Barack Obama was too inexperienced to handle a national crisis.

But the young girl starring in the ad will actually be voting age next month and says she's no fan of Hillary Clinton.

Late Thursday night, the Knowles family of Bonney Lake, Wash., watched the Jon Stewart Show and saw the ad for the first time.

"I looked and saw a girl that looked like my sister and we rewound it and sure enough it was my sister," said Brady Knowles.

The first girl in the ad is young Casey Knowles. It's stock footage from eight years ago when she worked as a TV extra - footage owned now by Getty Images and used by the Clinton campaign.

But they couldn't have picked a more unwilling star.

"It's really sort of ironic that my image would be used to advocate for Hillary when I myself do not," said Casey.

She may only be 17, but Casey has some very strong political opinions. She turns 18 - legal voting age - in April, in plenty of time before the general election.

"It's perfect timing because I have a candidate that I really identify with," she said.

"I've been campaigning for Barack Obama for a few months now," she said. "I was actually a precinct captain at the caucuses a few months ago. I attended his rally a few months ago and I'm a very, very avid supporter."

The Knowles family admit they have no control over how the footage is used. And while they see the humor of it all, they are mildly annoyed.

"I think it would be really wonderful if me and Barack Obama could get together and make a nice counter ad," she laughed.

On Saturday, the Obama campaign released this statement: "The Obama campaign appreciates her support and all of her efforts on behalf of our campaign for change."

Despite all of this, Casey Knowles admits if Clinton wins the party's nomination, she will vote for her.

http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_030708WAB_hillary_ad_KC.328ab14f.html

[Catherine Vincent]

1. I think she should hold a press conference and alert the world about it.

:eyes:

[Olney Blue]

2. This could be really fun to play with as a counter-ad for the Obama

campaign.


Show file footage of young girl sleeping.

Show grown-up young woman, now for Obama, saying:


??????

[powergirl]

3. "Will someone pick up that *%$# phone!

She could wake up, now years older, a la Rip Van Winkle, and look at some disaster b/c Clinton didn't answer the phone. I"m sure that someone has a better idea than that but it could be a good response ad.

[Kokonoe]

4. Thank You for posting

B-)

[Cha]

5. This is instant

Karma! Good for Obama and hilary's reaping what she sows.

Just let her say in the Obama ad that she's the little girl in the "red phone" ad and she's all grown up now and is working to get Obama elected 'cause she thinks he will have no problem answering that Red Phone.

Fookin' hilaryland.

[RamboLiberal]

6. Yep - Obama needs to cut a commercial featuring her! n/t

[Cha]

8. This is a gift and Obama's

campaign could use one right about now with all of hilary's hysterical "celebrating"..confetti, champagne, and those aren't the only corks popping.

[ellisonz]

7. I'd like to see the counter ad ran in PA.