Derrick Anderson starred in the video along with his friend’s wife and children. A Republican spokesman said it was a standard photo of the candidate with supporters of different ages and genders.
In the United States, advertisements featuring candidates’ families have long been a staple of election campaigns. But in a year when reproductive rights have become a hot-button issue, it has taken on a new urgency, especially for vulnerable Republicans. The New York Times wrote about childless Republican Derrick Anderson, who was running for U.S. Congress from Virginia and used a friend’s family in his election ads.
Anderson, a former military Green Beret, starred in the video alongside a woman and her three daughters. In the video, scenes of the two smiling and chatting at the dinner table are seen.
However, it turned out that this was not his own family, but his old friend’s wife and children. Anderson has no children of her own and recently announced her engagement. His campaign website states that he lives with a dog.
As NYT states, this video has not yet been used for advertising purposes. It could be seen on the candidate’s official YouTube channel and on a website affiliated with the Republican National Committee.
Anderson’s spokesman rejected the media’s criticism and said the story “intentionally misled voters.” According to him, the politician is “happily engaged and proud of his family.” He added that the video showed the candidate with his “supporters and children” and that there were similar images of other candidates.
Meanwhile, California Democrat Ted Lieu accused Anderson of trying to deceive voters, and on social networks the Republican began to be called “the man who rented out his family.”
Let us recall that on October 1, US President Joe Biden was angry that candidate Donald Trump was trying to take political advantage of the consequences of Hurricane Helen, which devastated many American states.
On September 25, Joe Biden said he would have defeated Donald Trump in the US presidential election had he not withdrawn from the race.
Source: Focus
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