GOP Smears Al Franken - with Doctored Photo, Fabricated Quote

[donsu]

Ohio GOP Smears Al Franken In Press Release With Doctored Photo, Fabricated Quote

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/10/26/franken-ohio-photo/


Yesterday, the Ohio Republican Party sent out a news release (full text here) attacking Rep. Sherrod Brown (D) for enlisting the support of comedian Al Franken:

It is not surprising that Sherrod Brown is enlisting the help of a Hollywood liberal, who like him, is so far out of the mainstream of Ohio values. What is troubling is that Brown would solicit support from someone who compared conservatives to Nazis “who should drink poison and die.”

The quote used in the news release is taken from Bernard Goldberg book, 110 People Who Are Screwing Up America, in an alleged interview between Goldberg and Franken. But in his book, Goldberg makes it clear that the exchange is completely fictional. The Ohio Republican Party represented it as fact.

The news release was accompanied by this photograph, showing Franken dressed up like a baby bunny, wearing adult diapers and clutching a fluffy white teddy bear.

Andy Barr, director of Franken’s Midwest Values PAC, confirmed, “The picture is a fake.” The Ohio Republican Party used a 2004 AP photo of Franken for the doctored image:
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are there any republicans in Ohio that aren't underhanded and corrupt?

[Kierkegaard]

1. 'are there any republicans in Ohio that aren't underhanded and corrupt?'

Short answer? Nope.

Not many smart ones either...

[Caution]

10. I'd drop "Ohio" from that statement too.

[Kierkegaard]

13. Good point.

There are a pile of dispicable and stupid Republophiles out there, nationwide.

[whistle]

2. Another KKKarl Rove dirty trick, what a juvenile style joke

[SouthernBelle82]

3. Oh good grief

These guys are desperate. I hope Franken takes legal action.

[demwing]

7. A doctored photo and a false quote?

Oh yeah, someone's going to pay.

[Ron Green]

4. Are there any republicans ANYWHERE that aren't underhanded

and corrupt? Anyone who still clings to that party after the events of the past decade is a criminal, a fool or a billionaire. (Or some combination of those.)

[YOY]

8. Yes but the Ohio brand has a distinct smell of Manure and

Bible beating (in a state where Bible beating should not be a factor) that make them unique.

[Mr_Spock]

5. Franken discussed this yesterday on his show - said they wouldn't sue if...

the Republicans would apologize to him and give money to the charity of his choice.

It sounded like they assumed that the Republicans would quickly apologize for this smear against him.

If they don't, Franken may well sue them for slander.

[lyonn]

6. OOOh, I love it when Repubs talk dirty....

Shows they feel they are on the ropes. If you can't win with common sense and facts you turn to trash talk.

[Jim__]

9. Have the American people had enough of this shit to finally vote

these idiots out?

I certainly hope so.

[stanwyck]

11. Reminds me of one of Coultergeist's little tricks

(and she has many deceptive tricks). She says "The New York Times printed"...and then she has some outrageous statement.
True. The New York Times DID print what she said...as a letter to the editor. Not NYT editorial policy or opinion. But...a LTTE.
She just happens to leave out the part of the statement being from a reader. Not an editorial writer.
Big difference.
These are not moral people.
They're crabs. They walk sideways. And like George Costanza, they don't consider it a lie, if they believe it's true.

[Initech]

12. Just like everything the GOP has done to date: doctored, fabricated and manufactured

[Parche]

14. you can call him Al

'I can’t believe they put Al Franken’s head on Rick Santorum’s body. That’s just sick and disgusting. '

TOO FUNNY

I just blew Heineken thru my nose laughing so hard!!!!!!

[Fierce]

15. How would a family-values-party candidate know where to find a photo like that?

nt