W.H. slams AFP's Aurora image ad

“Disappointing” and “shameful” — that’s how a White House spokesman on Thursday characterized an Americans for Prosperity ad that featured an image from President Barack Obama’s visit to the victims of the Aurora, Colo., movie theater shooting.

For all the private grumbling among White House staffers about conservative tactics, they rarely go public with their complaints.


But the AFP ad was enough to change that calculation. The ad, which attacked Democrat Mark Udall’s support for Obamacare, used a photo of a downcast Obama next to the Colorado senator during a press appearance at a hospital after the July 2012 shooting — but it cut out the hospital background.

“Even in the rough-and-tumble of modern political campaigns, it is disappointing to see someone attempt to mislead voters for political gain by using an image of the president — any president — comforting Americans in the aftermath of a tragedy,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. “It’s our hope that this shameful episode has not added to the pain of the families who lost loved ones in the shooting in Aurora.”

AFP has called the use of the photo “an unfortunate oversight,” and its Colorado chapter added, “we sincerely apologize to Aurora families.” An updated version without the photo will continue to run with a $280,000 buy during the next three weeks.

This article tagged under: White House

Aurora