Using People

Ryan's phony photo op

by muon

Back when Jon Fox was running for reelection as a GOP congressman, I participated in a charity walk in his district. He showed up, registered to walk, and donned one of the free T-shirts. As the local paper snapped photos, Fox started walking with us. A half-block later, he got into a car and sped away. The rest of us finished the walk and collected our pledges. Oh, Fox may have given a donation, I don't know. But he didn't do the 10K with the rest of us. For him, the event was no more than a photo op.

A few days ago, Paul Ryan and his campaign pushed past volunteers to get into a soup kitchen in Ohio. He wasn't there to help out. In fact, the kitchen was already done for the day, people fed, food put away, everything washed up. But Ryan was after a photo op (one has to wonder why, since his whole budget and philosophy is based on NOT giving handouts to the less fortunate). Still, Ryan donned an apron and washed perfectly clean pots while his campaign took photos. When the administrators of the kitchen heard of the incident, they were outraged. No one from the Romney/Ryan camp had asked permission to allow campaign photos to be taken there. So the news today isn't about what a great fella Ryan is for helping out at the soup kitchen, it's about the arrogance of his campaign in using decent people for his own gain.

Mitt Romney was asked recently to stop telling a story at his rallies about meeting a Navy SEAL who later died in Libya. The family didn't want their son's name politicized (the reason I'm not naming him in this article), especially since, apparently, the SEAL hadn't liked Romney after meeting him.

I'm not saying only Republicans do this sort of thing, though it seems more blatant on their part, at least where I live. I'm much more aware these days of all the personal stories in political ads--how congressman X single-handedly helped this person or that family. The thing is, I know a talent agent, so I've learned that many of the ads are scripted and actors are hired. Or if they're real people telling true stories, there's usually something more to it. While Obamacare was being fought over in Congress, an ad ran featuring a local doctor voicing her professional opposition. I looked her up. She was a real doctor. But she was also a tea party activist with an interest in running for office herself someday. She was using the issue to further her own political career.  I've googled other people who've appeared on ads (if their names are given) and I've found the same sort of cronyism. I'm not saying there are no ads featuring sincere people who have no alternative motives, but I'm now so cynical of all of the ads, it doesn't matter.

Anyway, I'm not interested in stories about how a politician has helped one person or family. I want to hear how the candidates intend to help everyone, every citizen in the country. Not just the rich ones or poor ones or white ones or minorities. Everyone. So, all you seeking office, quit with the phony photo ops and heart-rending stories that are likely more fiction than fact. Start talking issues.