Republicans Use Fake Troops for RNC Video

by: Brandon Friedman

Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 16:00:39 PM EDT


For its "Pledge of Allegiance video" on Tuesday night, the Republican National Convention used stock footage of a staged military funeral, along with actors dressed as soldiers and sailors.  CBS has the story:

It was a video that was supposed to elicit soaring patriotism and real emotions about the Pledge of Allegiance. But to do that, it used fake soldiers and a staged military funeral instead of the real thing.

CBS News found that the footage of the 'funeral' and soldiers is what is called 'stock' footage. The soldiers were actors and the funeral scene was from a one-day film shoot, produced in June. No real soldiers were used during production.

The footage, sold by stock-film house Getty Images was produced by a commercial filmmaker in Chicago. Both Getty and the production company, Mr. Big Films, confirmed that the footage was shot on spec and sold to the Republican National Committee.

One of the actors, Perry Denton of Chicago, IL also confirmed that he was hired on a day-rate as an actor for the shoot and told CBS News he was surprised to learn the footage was shown at the convention.

The issue here isn't that the RNC used actors in what might have been a haste.  Rather, the underlying problem is that Bush and McCain supporters don't like to deal with the messy reality of warfare that genuine troops bring to the table.  That is, they feel compelled to stage a funeral with actors.  Because to show a real military funeral--with the heaving chests of a broken family clutching a flag-draped coffin containing the pieces of their dead soldier--might just make the funny hat-clad, stupid button-wearing audience blanch.  And that doesn't make for good TV.  Plus, people just wouldn't go for it.  So they use sanitized actors.  

But this is an insult to the military.  The use of actors shows an unwillingness to face up to what they've done--to the military and to the nation.  And it shows that the only way to keep up support for the war is to hide its reality from the American people.  

If I said that something like this surprised me, though, I'd be lying.  But then, this is also why troops overseas are donating to Obama at a six to one rate over McCain.  They're tired of being treated like this.

Here's the video:  

Brandon Friedman :: Republicans Use Fake Troops for RNC Video
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Republicans Use Fake Troops for RNC Video | 7 comments
Alaskan Guard (4.00 / 2)
Alaska National Guard faces personnel crisis

The Alaska National Guard, which Republicans are pointing to as an important national-security credential for vice presidential choice Sarah Palin, has personnel shortages that make its aviation units the most poorly staffed in the nation.


'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson
Diary material (0.00 / 0)
Do a diary on this as soon as you can it is good material.

I am working on a diary about Alaska Army National Guard ghost soldiers but I have to get some material that is in the public domain, the material I have now seen is not public.

Yes, the Alaska Army National Guard has a ghost problem like many other states had that was never quite cleaned up.

It would be so much fun to feed material to reporters just about the National Guard. She does not have a clue as to what its about and how it works.

Hey for kicks, someone should ask her when her son finishes his MSO.

[ Parent ]
Can't (0.00 / 0)
just yet, to damn busy trying to keep up with all the stuff coming in, one thing about the Palin pick for McCain, she's got a seemingly non-ending Trail of Back History and people are getting Really Well versed on Alaska and it's seemingly corrupt politics!

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson
[ Parent ]
I'd much rather have it this way (4.00 / 1)
than end up with some combat camera/defenselink photo be misappropriated by either party and have that warrior's face be "volunteered" to endorse some political message.

I've absolutely had enough of the pols trying to associate themselves with our sacrifice and trying to convince Americans that their love of country or quality of service is equal with ours by standing in front of us, showing our pictures, or cashing in on our actions by false praising us constantly.

In the end, maybe the same effect is achieved in voters minds with stock footage anyway, but in principle, I prefer actors selling, not vets being sold.

You've got the right point (0.00 / 0)
But they were doing just as you say, CBS broke it, they didn't come forward with the info, CBS found the footage in their archive and knew what it was!

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson
[ Parent ]
Combatting cameras (0.00 / 0)
Again, isn't this a violation of DoD directives? Or did they sneak it by by hiring actors. Shameful. My parents had a friend in Hawaii who served in Gulf one who ran a combat cam unit-I wonder what she'd say.

Lt. Col Blanpied if anyone knows where she is gve me a holler!

Hey Friedman..... (0.00 / 0)
The soldiers were actors and the funeral scene was from a one-day film shoot, produced in June. No real soldiers were used during production.

McCain and Palin have been unfairly excoriated here for having their A.D. soldier sons with them recently.  Strange that during the Dem convention, you saw very few (none?) active grunts or vets near the families...  But that didn't bother you, did it?  

So ..... when non-active duty people are used to "promote" a political event/candidate, which in this case WOULD have been a violation for A.D. personnel, that burns your ass too!

Funny! --- and don't bother explaining.  The rationale would be too incredible!  

Republicans Use Fake Troops for RNC Video | 7 comments
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