While Donald Trump is struggling to raise money to run ads against Hillary Clinton, the NRA is stepping into the void, with a $2 million buy to place an ad featuring Benghazi survivor Mark "Oz" Geist.
The retired Marine participated in the writing of the Benghazi book "13 Hours" which was later turned into a movie. Later he endorsed Donald Trump.
"A lot of people say they’re not going to vote this November because their candidate didn’t win," says a gravel-voiced Geist to the camera. He walks past the graves of veterans, and looks down solemnly. Then standing in front of thousands of tombstones he says, "Well, I know some people who won’t be voting this year either."
“Hillary as President? No thanks." he says calmly, as the screen cuts to a still of an angry Clinton testifying to Congress.
Maintaining his matter-of-fact manner and efficiency of language, he explains, "I served in Benghazi. My friends didn’t make it." Scenes of the attack are interspersed. He concludes, "They did their part. Do yours.”
The Benghazi criticism has yet to derail Clinton's candidacy with swing voters, but that does not appear to be the audience here. The NRA is trying to boost Trump's standing with the conservative base by making the race a referendum on Clinton. And nothing animates the conservative base more than Benghazi.
The retired Marine participated in the writing of the Benghazi book "13 Hours" which was later turned into a movie. Later he endorsed Donald Trump.
NRA Ad Features Benghazi Survivor Mark "Oz" Geist
The NRA ad "Stop Clinton, Vote Trump" is aimed squarely at Republicans resisting Trump, hoping to keep them in the fold by raising one of their top criticisms of Clinton."A lot of people say they’re not going to vote this November because their candidate didn’t win," says a gravel-voiced Geist to the camera. He walks past the graves of veterans, and looks down solemnly. Then standing in front of thousands of tombstones he says, "Well, I know some people who won’t be voting this year either."
“Hillary as President? No thanks." he says calmly, as the screen cuts to a still of an angry Clinton testifying to Congress.
Maintaining his matter-of-fact manner and efficiency of language, he explains, "I served in Benghazi. My friends didn’t make it." Scenes of the attack are interspersed. He concludes, "They did their part. Do yours.”
Did The NRA Film a Political Ad at a National Cemetery?
The NRA has taken some criticism because the federal government does not allow "partisan activities" at national cemeteries. While the NRA said it did not film at a national cemetery, it hasn't disclosed where it filmed.The Benghazi criticism has yet to derail Clinton's candidacy with swing voters, but that does not appear to be the audience here. The NRA is trying to boost Trump's standing with the conservative base by making the race a referendum on Clinton. And nothing animates the conservative base more than Benghazi.