The nitwits in charge of messaging for Building A Better Ohio (the GOP-backed proponents of State Issue 2 – which would limit collective-bargaining rights for Ohio public employees) have a lot of ‘splaining to do.
It seems they lifted video footage of Marlene Quinn, who relayed a story of her great-grandaughter’s rescue by firefighters, from an anti-Issue 2 ad, then edited it and broadcasted it with a pro-Issue 2 slant. You can view both ads in a side-by-side video below.
Quinn has responded with a full-throated repudiation of Building A Better Ohio and has made clear her remarks were made in support of the collective-bargaining rights of firefighters and other public employees. She has also demanded that Building A Better Ohio pull their ad, which she calls misleading.
In response, at least 30 TV stations around Ohio have pulled the ad, but so far Building A Better Ohio refuses, insisting they did nothing wrong, and insisting that they have every legal right to use the Marlene Quinn footage.
That seems dubious to me, from a legal perspective…but even if they’re right, so what? Do these people not realize they’re in a perception war? Do they not realize that the First Commandment of P.R. damage-control is: admit your mistakes, and move swiftly to correct them?
I guess not. So now, thanks to Building A Better Ohio, the conversation switches from one about budgets and public policy (yawn), to one about the arrogant bullies who twisted the words of a sweet senior citizen. Nice work, noobs!
