One spittin’ mad grandmother

“We Are Ohio” releases a second ad featuring Cincinnati great-grandmother, but this time addressing “Building a Better Ohio” campaign’s dishonest use of her in an ad that made it appear she supported Issue 2.  Yeah, that worked out well:

But Building a Better Ohio went for what was essentially an "inside joke" — a "Take that!" aimed at their rivals at We Are Ohio.

Even worse, when Quinn objected, Building a Better Ohio didn’t do the right thing by apologizing and pulling the ad.

[Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer editorial]

Regardless of which side of Issue 2 one supports, the use of her own image and words to create a blatant misrepresentation of Marlene Quinn’s position should be seen as reprehensible. She voiced her opinion in support of a cause she believes in. That should be respected, as it would be if someone supporting Building a Better Ohio wants to speak their own mind in favor of Issue 2 in that group’s campaign spots.

That free exchange of ideas is the backbone of our political system. Let’s hope that tactics such as this taking political advertising to a new low don’t break that back before voters head to the polls on Election Day.

[Gannett editorial]

Meanwhile, Americans for Prosperity, a Koch Brothers-funded conservative group, has set up a handy-dandy web form for people to defend the non-existent “constitutional” right of Better Ohio to run their “Grannygate” ad.

DO NOT USE THIS WEBFORM.  I’m not kidding.  One of these days, someone is going to criminally prosecute political opponents for using their computer networks for reasons beyond their authorize use.  Instead, call or e-mail your station and thank them if they pulled the ad before BetterOhio did.  It’s far more effective, and they’ll know it’s come from an actual viewer in their broadcast area, instead of a webform generated to all TV stations likely sent by a person who doesn’t even live  in the area.

In other Grannygate news, the Ohio House Democratic caucus e-mailed this “parody ad”  to their supporters to give John Kasich a taste of his own medicine:

The e-mail then asked for a campaign donation… to We Are Ohio!

I think the pro-Issue 2 campaign just proved there is such a thing as bad publicity.