Republicans Use Fake Troops for RNC Video

[ProSense]

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:

http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1843">Wave the Stars and Stripes

[billyoc]

1. I'd use fake troops if I were the RNC too, for fear of real troops turning their guns on me.

[hughee99]

2. They should have showed a real military funeral

So I could be outraged that they'd film a military funeral for political purposes instead of being outraged that they hired actors to stage one.

[zbdent]

3. wait ... who was it that was accusing someone of using "phony soldiers"?

I think the name was something like Gush Himfalls or something along those lines ...

[bushisanidiot]

4. Republicans = smoke and mirrors

they are such friggin' liars. everything they do is staged and pretended.. right down to any tear you might see shed tonight. it's all for show.. PERIOD!

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. copy cat!!!

'great minds and all that'

[bushisanidiot]

8. yeah well.. ;)

they've been using smoke and mirrors for years. i doubt we're the only one's who've noticed. ;)

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. Its all smoke and mirrors

Always have been but this is another story
that needs to be nominated.

[Perky]

7. I actually do not have a problem with this

To use actual funeral fottage.. would be in very poor taste and come across as using a family's personal heartbreak for political purposes. I am not saying I agree with the imagrery or message. Just saying it is more appropriate to use faux footage than the real thing.

[ProSense]

9. For the very reason Brandon Friedman cites, the Repubs

only use the troops as political props, they are despicable. What are they trying to convey with a staged funeral? Why go there if it's not genuine? They're simply sticking to the propaganda theme of Bush's eight years.