Mike Braun’s New Campaign Ad is a Dishonest Distraction
Mike Braun’s latest campaign commercial raised legal concerns, including a potential violation of a new Indiana law prohibiting the use of altered images in political advertisements, so he’s been forced to change it. The ad features a heavily manipulated photo that puts fake signs in voters’ hands, falsely claiming Jennifer McCormick wants to ban gas stoves.
“Braun’s team is so desperate to distract voters that they’ve stooped to using heavily doctored images. Disclaimer or not, it’s just dishonest,” said McCormick campaign manager Kelly Wittman. “Indiana has a law in place for a reason–Hoosiers deserve the truth, not deep fakes and dishonesty.”
The photo’s alteration violates the principles of transparency and integrity voters deserve in campaign advertising by changing the text on the signs in voters’ hands. This year, the Indiana General Assembly passed a law banning altered images in campaign materials without a disclaimer to protect voters from misleading information. Mike Braun and his campaign blatantly ignored this law before adding the disclaimer without correcting the blatantly altered image.
“Mike Braun has repeatedly shown he’s willing to game the system, and now he may have again broken election laws. Hoosiers deserve better than a governor who plays fast and loose with the law,” continued Wittman. “Voters deserve leaders who stand for honesty and accountability–traits Braun lacks.”
This incident is the latest example of Braun’s extreme, win-at-all-costs mentality. Earlier this year, the FEC fined him $159,000 for violating campaign finance laws in his last bid for office. The fine was one of the largest ever handed down by the FEC.
The Braun campaign should immediately pull the ad in question, clarify a commitment to following the spirit and letter of Indiana’s campaign laws, and refuse to use altered images in the future.
“Mike Braun has already lied to win an election,” Wittman said. “Hoosiers won’t let it distract them from the truth about Mike Braun, who supports Indiana’s extreme abortion ban.”
The original image and Braun’s doctored version are below.
