Yes, I know, it's a huge shock and completely new news that John Kline is a huge hypocrite. Some things never change.
The Odious One is slamming Democratic candidate Ashwin Madia (who, it's worth noting, is NOT running against Kline) for using stock video imagery of Marines in drill formation. That's right, it's stock imagery that's available for anyone to use in political advertising.
And for that, Kline is making it sound like Madia's inferring an endorsement from the Marines. Check out the idiocy of the Congressman's statement:
As a retired member of the United States Marine Corps, I am outraged that Ashwin Madia would exploit uniformed Marines to advance his political ambitions. By displaying footage of the elite U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team in his campaign ads, Madia implies an endorsement of his candidacy that is inaccurate and inappropriate. He should immediately pull down the ad and issue an apology to the drill team and the brave men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Actually, I've seen the ad once or twice, and there's absolutely no such implication. Worse, Kline's making it sound like he's the only retired Marine in the discussion, conveniently leaving out the fact that Ashwin Madia served his country honorably as a Marine, including a six-month stint in Iraq.
I won't make any kind of prognostication on John Kline's honor -- I'll leave that to veterans like Madia and Kline's opponent, Steve Sarvi. But I can say that this is a pretty revolting political attack from John Kline, and completely without merit.
Here's Madia's statement on the matter:
"I am proud to have served in the Marines and in Iraq. Once a Marine, always a Marine, and I am proud, and will always be proud, to stand by my fellow Marines. Through my service in the Marines, I learned team work and discipline. We need more of that in Congress. I am talking about those needs in my new ad and on the campaign trail. In these challenging times, Minnesotans are looking for leadership and vision from the people they send to Washington - the leadership and vision necessary to get our country back on track. I will continue to communicate my positive message of change to the people of the Third District."
In case you hadn't seen the ad in question, here it is. Again.
Oh, and in case you missed this, here's a campaign video of Kline. In uniform. On duty.
