Author Topic: RNC and fake soldiers  (Read 1985 times)

Offline Mojava

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RNC and fake soldiers
« on: September 05, 2008, 03:29:42 PM »
  Guess patriotism sometimes needs a little sugar coating.

Quote
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.

On Tuesday night, 15-year-old Victoria Blackstone, a sophomore at the St. Agnes School in St. Paul, led the crowd at the Xcel Energy Center in the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience heard her 434-word essay, “Pledging myself to the Flag of the United States of America,” an essay she’d entered in the “Wave the Stars & Stripes” essay contest and won. The RNC turned that essay into a three and a half minute video, a visually stirring montage rolling over Victoria’s words about sharing the Pledge with Americans who have stood at important moments in history.

There’s the Continental Congress…A real WWII vet…Photos of workers at Ground Zero. A close-up of a folded flag presented to a grieving widow at a military funeral… profiles of soldiers swelling with pride in slo-motion.

But 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, Ill. 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.

A veteran’s advocate said that with soldiers still deployed and in harm’s way, there is an obligation not to sugar coat reality.

“What it does reveal is a serious lack of understanding and a lack of personal connection to the military,” said Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Rieckhoff, who is at the convention with a contingent of veterans added that a video tribute to Medal of Honor winner Michael Monsoor, a Navy Seal killed in Iraq, shown on Tuesday night, used combat video that appeared to him and several other veterans of the Iraq war to have been staged.

After a Web search of videos played at the Democratic National Convention last week, CBS News found no obvious use of stock footage.

The RNC did not respond to CBS News’ request for a comment.

Offline Buzzard7

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2008, 03:38:39 PM »
Maybe they couldn't find any footage that suited the program from real sources. Maybe they didn't want to use footage shot by some of the un-biased news corps. Maybe the DNC is trying to pick apart the RNC because they know they are about to get hammered in an election?

Offline sluggish

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2008, 03:39:42 PM »
Yes, and if they had used real soldiers and real funerals you'd be screaming about the outrage in exploiting those who serve our country and those who have paid the ultimate price. You're making yourself look silly.  Next.

Offline Holden McGroin

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2008, 03:41:23 PM »
Quote
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.

Had they used actual footage of a real funeral there would be those who criticized them for politicizing a solemn event.

Just can't win with professional critics

>>Sluggish beat me to it...
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Offline WWhiskey

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2008, 03:42:15 PM »
as a memder of the old guard,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, nevermind you wouldn't understand
Flying since tour 71.

Offline bongaroo

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2008, 03:48:18 PM »
Had they used actual footage of a real funeral there would be those who criticized them for politicizing a solemn event.

Just can't win with professional critics

>>Sluggish beat me to it...

So by using footage of a fake funeral they aren't trying to politicize a solemn event?
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Offline Holden McGroin

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #6 on: September 05, 2008, 03:50:00 PM »
So by using footage of a fake funeral they aren't trying to politicize a solemn event?

Fake funerals are rarely solemn.

They are usually fake.
Holden McGroin LLC makes every effort to provide accurate and complete information. Since humor, irony, and keen insight may be foreign to some readers, no warranty, expressed or implied is offered. Re-writing this disclaimer cost me big bucks at the lawyer’s office!

Offline AKIron

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #7 on: September 05, 2008, 03:51:56 PM »
Have no doubt, there are real soldiers and real soldier's funerals. As has already been said, you would have been screeching even more shrilly had they used actual events.
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Offline bongaroo

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #8 on: September 05, 2008, 03:53:00 PM »
I guess I didn't word that right.

Whether the funeral is staged or not, is it not politicizing a solemn event?
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Offline john9001

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #9 on: September 05, 2008, 03:55:30 PM »
CBS news.....mmmkay

Offline Bronk

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #10 on: September 05, 2008, 03:57:08 PM »
So by using footage of a fake funeral they aren't trying to politicize a solemn event?
How about fake footage of melting glaciers? Guess that means global warming is fake right. :aok
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Offline Xargos

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #11 on: September 05, 2008, 03:58:23 PM »
CBS news.....mmmkay

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Offline WWhiskey

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #12 on: September 05, 2008, 03:59:54 PM »
How about fake footage of melting glaciers? Guess that means global warming is fake right. :aok
well if a glaicer melts and no  one see's it
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Offline CAP1

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #13 on: September 05, 2008, 04:03:03 PM »
un-biased news corps.


 :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl

tooooooooo  funny
 :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl
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Offline Yeager

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Re: RNC and fake soldiers
« Reply #14 on: September 05, 2008, 06:06:19 PM »
Yes, and if they had used real soldiers and real funerals you'd be screaming about the outrage in exploiting those who serve our country and those who have paid the ultimate price. You're making yourself look silly.  Next.

Way to Pin the Tail on the Donkey Sluggish  :D
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