Why Does Mastriano Keep Using Russian Propaganda Footage in His Campaign Ads?
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The stock footage was previously used in a Russian ad that encouraged people to move to Russia because of plentiful "vodka" and the lack of "cancel culture." by David Gilbert October 20, 2022, 2:40pm
Doug Mastriano, the pro-Trump MAGA candidate for Pennsylvania governor, has a campaign ad out now that uses stock footage previously used for Kremlin propaganda.
Mastriano's ad, which is currently the header image on his campaign's Facebook page, features an image of two young girls running through a field with the words: "For their future there is hope" superimposed on top.
"On day one, no more boys in the girls' bathrooms or locker rooms, no more pronoun games in the classroom, no more gender transitioning of minors without parental consent, and no more pornography in public school libraries," Mastriano wrote in a post accompanying the ad earlier this week. "Your vote on 11/8 is a vote for the future of our kids."
But the two children in the ads are not Pennslyvanian kids. They are not even American kids. The image comes from stock footage hosted by Pexel, a German company that offers free stock imagery, Business Insider reported. The videographer who posted the footage lists his location as Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
And this is not the first time the footage has appeared in a political ad.
At the end of July, footage of the two girls running through the field was used as part of a propaganda ad posted by the Russian embassy in Spain to its Twitter account. The ad was designed as an attempt to convince people to move to Russia. Among the benefits of moving to Russia listed in the video are "no cancel culture," "an economy that can withstand thousands of sanctions," and "vodka."
The same footage Doug Mastriano used in his campaign ad of the two girls running through the field was used as part of a propaganda ad posted by the Russian embassy in Spain to its Twitter account in July.
The two girls running through the field were used to illustrate another apparent benefit of living in Russia: "Beautiful women."
This is not the first time that Mastriano's campaign, which is in disarray despite support from former President Donald Trump, has used footage linked to Russia for its ads.
Earlier this month the American Bridge PAC revealed that Mastriano used stock footage from Russia, Belarus, and Poland in a four-minute campaign ad that describes his "vision" for Pennsylvania rather than using video actually shot in the Commonwealth.
Among the clips used in the video is one of a couple playing with a toddler while Mastriano talks about parents making a better country for their kids. The clip in question originated in Russia.
Mastriano has made his name as one of the loudest boosters of conspiracies about the 2020 election being stolen. He is also a member of a national QAnon-linked coalition of MAGA candidates trying to take control of elections within their states.
If Mastriano does win, he has indicated that he may appoint a QAnon-touting election denier as his secretary of state.
It can’t be that hard to source imagery that doesn’t originate from dictatorships.
Did the dictatorship make the footage; or did it come from an artist that resides within the country?
all the nazi stuff he wanted was in black and white...
Might help to understand what stock footage is.
They are not American kids and the footage was previously used in Russian propaganda. More than enough reason to ridicule Mastriano , as if any more reasons were needed.
For a politician to have zero concern over the origins of the stock footage they choose is quite telling of what kind of leader they would be. Either that or they do it on purpose to generate controversy. Such is the “leadership” of today’s Republican Party.
Maybe they do it on purpose to send out a hint that they are open for business.
Russia spends a lot of money on western politicians.
Yes indeed, all on republicans and alleged conservatives
And you're wrong again, must be a day that ends in 'Y'.
I'm confident you won't bother to read any of this but just once I would like you to actually put up some proof for the bullshit you continue to sling.
But I don't think they take an approach as simple as merely supporting the right in our politics.
I think they have learned to undermine the political center.
It's beneficial to them to undermine our democracy. It weakens our system of government and makes us vulnerable
Yes, very true. And what a lot of people tend to ignore is that most countries interfere in other countries elections to the extent they can. If a country is not trying to interfere, it only means that they don't have the means. As been said before, countries have interests, not friends.
Leftist need to learn what words mean.
In other words anyone can use the footage. It is a cost cutting measure. Something leftists wouldn't know anything about, saving money.
Of all the BS the left can bitch about; they chose where stock footage comes from.
Maybe if the left concentrated more on worrying about rampant inflation, high gas prices, and crime rates the Democrats wouldn't be in the position they are in coming up to midterms.
It doesnt cost much at all to film kids running in a field and if that expense would bankrupt his campaign he needs to find another hobby besides running for the Senate.
It costs a lot of money to run a campaign and despite your desires it makes sense to watch the costs for everything. Stock footage can be used free or cheaply. The cost to shoot footage to make said commercial will run several thousand dollars. Not sure why you bitch about a cost-savings measure being used except for the partisan bitching it allows you to use. All politicians have used stock photo's and clips for many years in order to save money.
All the bullshit justifications for this obvious Reich wing garbage is, well, bullshit
Yeah...but....all those beautiful Pennsylvanian fields are going to waste! They want to be on camera!
Careful, you're gonna make the fields in New York feel jealous.
They should be jealous
That would mean that they would have to take responsibility for all of it. Not to mention it would require work. You know that can't happen.
No surprise at all to see the “own the libs” crowd come to the defense of a complete dirtbag like Mastriano.
They cant help it. It is almost zombie like the way they react to the daily news now.