Side By Side Screenshots of NRSC ad, and Chion Wolf photo
by John Dankosky – I hadn’t seen this new online ad attacking Richard Blumenthal for his Vietnam comments until it was sent to me by Susan Lund, producer for NPR’s Talk of the Nation. She was getting me ready for my conversation about the Blumenthal/McMahon Race with Neal Conan and Ken Rudin, the “Political Junkie” on today’s program. They were planning to play some of the ad on the program – to show how the race is “heating up.”
But when I watched it, what I saw about halfway through made my jaw drop…then I picked up the phone to Washington.
The NRSC had stolen a photo by WNPR’s Chion Wolf, taken of Blumenthal in our studios after an appearance on Where We Live in early 2008.
I recognized it right away, because it’s rare to catch a politician – like Blumenthal, who is normally so guarded – in a moment of open-mouthed laughter (I’m not sure what was so funny).
If you’re interested in seeing the video – look soon, because I’ve requested that it be taken down immediately, pending an edit. WNPR doesn’t let political organizations use our images (or words, or sounds) without permission – and we certainly don’t want our images used in a partisan attack ad.
It’s made me think about the power of images and words and how they can be manipulated – and also about intent. I don’t think the NRSC knowingly used a copyrighted image to attack a rival politician. But sometimes, people do things they didn’t really mean to – and I’ve always felt it’s best to take them at their word and accept their apology for their mistake, their misstep or their misstatement.
Hmmm….
UPDATE: The NRSC was good enough to take down the ad from their website, and the accompanying YouTube Link. They were prompt and courteous in granting WNPR’s request.
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I don’t know what’s funnier – Blumenthal lying about serving in Vietnam, or NPR claiming they are not political.
Yes, it was certainly a sleazy move by the makers of the political ad to ‘misappropriate’ a copy from, or ‘infringe’ on the copyrights of, WNPR’s Chion Wolf. Take them to task for it, by all means. However, I bristle at the continued malapropism by big media (including NPR) where they refer to copyright infringement as ‘stealing.’ Theft and stealing are a legally different concept, where the owner is actually deprived of the thing stolen. A digital copy is just a copy, and Chion Wolf’s memory card still has the original. “He who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.” –Jefferson [ http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/a1_8_8s12.html ]
oh okay how many democratic ads have you had pulled for using copyrighted images? or do you just willingly provide them.
Good question. It’s never come up before now. But, as a rule, we don’t allow our materials to be used for any political ads.
>>”..The NRSC had stolen a photo…..”
Gasp!
>>”…because I’ve requested that it be taken down immediately, pending an edit.”
Yes of course….how predictably and utterly pious the left can get at the drop of hat.
Yawn.
The beautious Chion Wolf deserves monetary compensation for use of her material.
It is not appropriate to use someone’s photos without permission, regardless of how it is going to be used.
Chion Wolf should be compensated for use of her material.
I firmly believe that Mr. Blumenthal crossed a serious ethical and veracity line in lying about his service in VietNam. Nonetheless, the unapproved use of WNPR’s image without permission is a serious breach of protocol and is an act that the Republican Senatorial Committee should both apologize publicly for, and they should provide compensation to Ms. Wolf. They accuse Mr. Blumenthal of lying (of which I agree) – but they themselves are also are lying by not properly obtaining and crediting the photo.
Blumenthal did’t mispoke , He LIED!!!!!!