Yesterday, Mother Jones reported that participants in Ken Cuccinelli’s latest attack ad were misled and tricked into participating. In response to the Cuccinelli ad, Democratic National Committee Communications Director Mo Elleithee released the following statement:
“The reports about Ken Cuccinelli misleading New York workers in an effort to mislead Virginia voters are disappointing. People expect a lot from their leaders, but nothing is more important than trust. Unfortunately, this is just the latest in a string of incidents that are giving people reason to call his trustworthiness into question.
“For months, Virginians have been subjected to a growing number of stories about Ken Cuccinelli’s state office helping campaign donors, improperly accepting gifts from individuals now involved in a federal investigation, and conflicts of interest that have cost Virginians tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees.
“But to trick people from another state into participating in an effort to mislead Virginia voters is sad. It’s part of a pattern that is frankly beneath the dignity of the office to which he aspires. Virginians deserve better. Ken Cuccinelli should do the right thing and pull this ad down, apologize to the New Yorkers he tricked and to Virginians for his blatant attempt to mislead. And as a sitting public servant, he should put his political ambitions on hold and find a way to repair the trust he has broken with the people he serves.”
Democratic Party spokesman-types aren’t the only ones raising issue with the ad. Following Thursday’s reports that two individuals featured in Ken Cuccinelli’s latest attack ad were tricked into participating in it, the longest-serving former Republican Delegate Vincent Callahan called on Ken Cuccinelli to remove the ad from all stations it is airing on and apologize to the employees featured in the ad.
“Two individuals – neither of whom live in Virginia nor have any political stake in this gubernatorial election – told their heartfelt stories of job loss to an interviewer. Both citizens were deceived into appearing in a television ad by sponsored by Ken Cuccinelli,” said Callahan. “While campaigns have every right to highlight differences with their opponents, it is unethical and unacceptable to do so in this manner. Mr. Cuccinelli should immediately remove the ad from all stations it is airing on and issue an apology to those individuals for his campaign’s mistreatment of them.”
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