GOP aide apologizes for curse-laden 'joke' video response to attack ads on stimulus

[sabra]

Source: USA Today

Burning up the web today: A profanity-riddled "joke" video from the office of Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor, the no. 2 Republican in the House.

The video was a response to ads run by labor and its allies against Republicans opposed to President Obama's economic stimulus package.

"The GOP leadership didn’t make the vid, but it’s Cantor’s office’s (joke) response. It’s not immediately clear what the vid is, but it appears to be a 1970s AFSCME public service announcement with a newly added voice-over by a tough-talking, cursing goombah," Greg Sargent writes at The Plum Line.

Some groups and unions that financed the ads, including AFSCME, are demanding that Cantor apologize. This is from Brad Woodhouse, president of Americans United for Change:

"Eric Cantor’s response to one of the most serious crises facing America in our lifetimes is to spread this filth, denigrate government employees and treat the current economic crisis like a joke. This video has been floating around on YouTube for years – but Eric Cantor’s use of it in this context shows how completely and utterly out of touch he is with the current economic crisis and the lives of his constituents. Eric Cantor should be ashamed and he should apologize."

Read more: http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/?loc=interstitialskip

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Cantor's mommy needs to give him a time out and a grounding.

After all, she put the jerkoff in office.

[PA Democrat]

2. Eric Cantor is an elitist. What a tasteless put down of union workers.

Oh, and all that fowl language from a member of the party of "family values." I'm shocked I tell you, shocked.

[ogneopasno]

3. Actually, I find that joke ad hilarious.

Or, "Fucking hilarious," as the case may be.

ETA: I find the ad funny, but knowing where it comes from, that makes it rude.

[maddezmom]

4. wow, I just watched it

http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=02&year=2009&base_name=eric_cantor_loves_the_little_g


UPDATE: Well this gets interesting. Cantor's rep defended the video, saying it was a joke, but in the past Cantor hasn't found obscenity so amusing. Cantor voted for the Broadcast Deceny Enforcement Act, which allows fines of up to $500,000 on broadcasters for airing any “obscene, indecent, or profane” content. That's f--kin' hilarious.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Mocking hard working people probably comes easy to a professional asshole like Cantor.

http://fred2blue.files.wordpress.com.nyud.net:8090/2008/04/cantor.jpg http://2.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_ewUmEmxkvTY/RxIQ6-J2sOI/AAAAAAAACA4/7ozRXbDo-rU/s400/Roundup%2Bstage%2B10.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_L6pDyjqqsvY/Rxedtd9Z_uI/AAAAAAAAIVI/6p0jYQnYYi4/s400/young%2Bguns.jpg

[Robeysays]

9. :D check it

[Judi Lynn]

10. Whoa! Beautiful. It's a feast for the eyes. Sheer perfection. n/t

[gratuitous]

11. Mr. Cantor's hands look very soft

I'm guessing the number of hard day's work he's done in his lifetime can be counted on one of those soft-looking hands. Number 2 man in the House for the Republicans, right behind John Boehner. A pair to draw to.

[classysassy]

12. " Young Cons "

[seafan]

6. Eric Cantor's latest stupid act, while America burns..

This is the number 2 Republican in the House leadership, folks.




Huffington Post has this stellar bit of stupidity by GOP House Minority Whip Eric Cantor.



Profanity Alert:

As first reported by The Plum Line, Virginia Republican Eric Cantor is in hot water after responding to critics with a profane web video.

The union coalition AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees), along with Americans United for Change, started running ads targeting Cantor for encouraging Republican opposition to the economic recovery plan. The House whip reacted with an ad of his own, depicting AFSCME workers as curse-spewing bullies.

"On your way to work tomorrow, instead of sitting around with your finger up your ass, look around," the voiceover says. "There's a union out there called AFSCME and they're busting their balls doing a lot of shit work you take for granted. For example, we pick up your fucking garbage."

"We don't take shit from nobody," the voiceover finishes. "You got that, asshole? AFSCME -- the fucking union that works for you."

(Link to the offensive video from Cantor's office at HuffPo link above.}

AFSCME President Gerald McEntee isn't amused. "Eric Cantor may think the greatest economic crisis in seventy years is a joke, but we don't," he said in a statement. "He should talk to the people in Virginia who are losing their jobs, health care and homes."

Brad Woodhouse, President of Americans United for Change, responded more forcefully:

"Does Eric Cantor believe that peddling profanity-laced filth around the Internet is consistent with the values of the people of Virginia or the country? This is childish, inappropriate and disgusting behavior from someone who is supposed to be a leader in Congress and a role model to others. Eric Cantor's response to one of the most serious crises facing America in our lifetimes is to spread this filth, denigrate government employees and treat the current economic crisis like a joke. This video has been floating around on YouTube for years - but Eric Cantor's use of it in this context shows how completely and utterly out of touch he is with the current economic crisis and the lives of his constituents. Eric Cantor should be ashamed and he should apologize."

And AFL-CIO President John Sweeney added: "During these tough economic times the last thing hard working Americans need is to be ridiculed by a member of the Republican leadership. Rep. Cantor should apologize for insulting America's workers with this profane video."

In New Ads, Liberal Groups Target GOP Over Stimulus, February 11, 2009


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThMCMMfqlTQ
"NO IS NOT AN OPTION" Ad

The public relations battle around the stimulus package continues.

The labor-supported organization Americans United for Change and the AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) union this morning began running a national television advertisement attacking Republican leaders for their opposition to the stimulus bill.

.....

As The Hill reports, the groups are also launching radio ads "in 18 House districts, as well as three states represented by GOP senators who voted against the Senate version of the stimulus."

“Haven't you ever wished you had a second chance to do the right thing? Well this week, Congressman Dave Reichert has a second chance to get it right when it comes to our economic crisis,” says one version of the radio spot.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, who appears in the ad, is responding Americans United for Change through a spokesperson, Antonia Ferrier, who emailed Politico's Ben Smith to say the group "doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo from the President about changing the tone in Washington, insisting instead on making false accusations."

"I guess going after Republicans is how they are trying to steer attention away from pork-filled legislation that Democrats are unable to defend," added Ferrier.

Eric Cantor's office, meanwhile, has offered a profane video attacking AFSCME in response to the spot.

I'll let Politico's Glenn Thrush explain: "Eric Cantor's office is responding to the AFSCME/UAC ad blitz with a 1970's-vintage AFCSME public service announcement that's been redubbed with an Andrew Dice Clay-type voice over touting the union's accomplishments in "picking up your f------ garbage."

These Republicans know nothing but gutter politics.


While America burns.

[Politicalboi]

7. That was funny

"We make sure your kids don't drink no piss from no fucking water fountains" "We push little old lady's around in wheelchairs in Florida". I hope this comes back at Eric. Shame on him for the language. LOL!

[BlueIdaho]

8. How to win friends and influence people...

This should be a real help to republans as they try to convince hard working Americans that they've got their back.

Who's the elitist snobs now - Fratboy Cantor?