We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
A US SENATE candidate has come under fire for using an image of James Foley’s masked killer in an online campaign ad attacking his rival.
Allen Weh, a New Mexico Republican running against incumbent Senator Tom Udall, released the controversial ad yesterday.
In it, he attacks President Barack Obama’s work ethic and handling of foreign policy crises – including the rise of Islamic State in the Middle East.
Udall, a Democrat, is targeted by extension in the ad, for his support of Obama.
His campaign manager, Daniel Sena, has lashed out at Weh’s use of the image of the Islamic State militant holding a knife, which can be seen for a few frames at the 31-second mark.
James Foley’s death is a tragedy, and to use his killer’s horrific image for personal gain in a campaign ad is reprehensible and appalling.
If Allen Weh wants to talk about the issues with New Mexico voters, he should find a way to do it that is respectful and substantive.
Using James Foley’s horrific and tragic death for shock value is offensive to Mr. Foley’s family, New Mexico voters and the rest of our country.
Under the video on his website, Weh claims: “The lack of strong decisive leadership in Washington clearly threatens our national security.”
According to CNN, Udall holds a comfortable lead over Weh, and is likely to win easy re-election to the US Senate in November.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Republicans being crazy. Who would have thought of it?
Like something from “The Campaign”.
Why is this news here ?
Click bait = news.
Why would it not be news here?
Does it have to be about Ireland to be news here??
Let him at it, the tea party cancer in destroying the GOP and that’s a good thing
With rhetoric like that, Boganity, you aren’t much better.
Boganity that’s a clueless comment. The GOP is tipped by most to crush the Democrat in the midterms.
Daryl – That sounds awfully like an informative comment, no place for it here.
So you’re saying that the tea party haven’t infiltrated the GOP.
Daryl the GOP where tipped by the same “most” to crush Obama in 2012…how did that work out for them ?
Who tipped them to “crush” Obama in 2012? All the polls showed he was favourite and the results obviously backed up the polling.
Most experts and polling data currently have the GOP tipped to make gains in November. It’s not a partisan comment it’s a factual observation.
Every single mainstream media outlet and pollster in the USA right up to Election Day… bar one, Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight. He was the only pollster in the entire USA who called the other polls wrong and got it right. Karl Rove’s and Fox News’ meltdown on election night when they struggled to come to terms with the fact that all the polls had been wrong and Obama had won was one of the most delightful moments in politics I have ever witnessed.
I wonder how long after the election it took the pollsters to realise why they got it so wrong, that it was because they used the same method they used for the last 70 years, polling of landline owners.
They failed to recognise what the Democrats, and most progressive political parties around the world, already knew, landlines are no longer reliable for polling because their demographic is now elderly.
This is a local paper for local people.
An Opportunist of the worst kind.
The GOP is letting itself be taken over by the crazy wing and making itself un-electable.
With the exception of that ghastly insert, it’s actually a very effective ad!
Once upon a time there was a commie under the bed Chuck Norris& Rambo got rid of those………..
I know this won’t be popular but it’s a very good ad in my opinion. Using the image of the killer makes a very serious point when juxtaposed against the democrat candidate re-iterating that the diplomatic road they are on is the right one. And showing Obama playing golf, fist-bumping, etc while polls show he isn’t handling diplomacy well is another point well made.
To me it’s a professionally made, hard-hitting advert in the heat of an American election. I get people might not like the politics involved or one of the images used however.
Political Attack Adverts are risky… they only work if the message is subtle and aimed at a prejudice of the target audience, (this messaging strategy is known as dog whistling). If they miss the mark or are too crude, as this one is, they’re counter productive.
The GOP are on a race to the bottom. It won’t be long until they are completely obsolete and removed from history. With them waging war on women, non-whites, non-Christians, and gays there will be no one else out there to support them in elections.
have your say