Vitter And Angle Use Same Race-Baiting Photo Of ‘Illegal Aliens’ Who Aren’t Illegal Aliens

by Sandi Behrns

On Wednesday, Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sharron Angle rolled out a new campaign ad called “Thanks, Pal.” It received a lot of media attention: first, for its blatant race-baiting, and secondly for its blatant misrepresentation of facts (aka “lies”). Turns out, David Vitter has been using the same image on his race-baiting ads against Democratic Rep. Charlie Melancon.

Only the photographer says the men were not illegal and had not immigrated to the United States at the time the photograph was taken.

In 2006, journalist Sanjiv Bhattacharya and British photographer Chris Floyd traveled to Altar, Mexico, for a story for GQ magazine on the Minutemen.

…

Floyd tried to take some portraits, but few people were willing to comply. One group of three men finally agreed, but they did not give their names.

They were farmers who had traveled from the far south of Mexico after their entire crop had failed and they were left with nothing to sell. They hoped to cross the border, but Floyd said he never knew if they did.

At that point, “It was a picture of Mexicans in Mexico.” (emphasis added)

Floyd said as well as using his photograph out of context, he was uncertain how the photograph had been obtained and questioned the legality of the image’s use in an advertisement.

So there you have it. GOP candidate Sharron Angle and Senator David Vitter: out-sourcing jobs to Mexico! I jest, of course. The larger point, though, is that these candidates cannot be bothered to observe copyright, let alone represent the truth, in their rush to smear their opponents.

By: Sandi Behrns

Sandi Behrns is a noted policy nerd, new media & web developer, and consultant to progressive organizations and campaigns. She is a senior contributor to Liberaland, and the Executive Editor of Progressive Congress News.