But the issue has taken on greater importance this year, especially for vulnerable Republicans, as reproductive rights have become a hot-button issue.
The New York Times drew attention to the case of childless Republican Derrick Anderson, a candidate for US Congress from Virginia who used images of a friend’s family in his election advertising.
Anderson, a former military man and green beret, stars in the video with the woman and her three daughters, smiling and sitting at the table. However, it turned out that this was not his family, but the wife and children of his old friend. Anderson himself has no children and recently announced his engagement. His campaign website states that he lives only with his dog.
According to the NYT, the video has not yet been used in official advertising, but can be found on the candidate’s YouTube channel and on a website associated with the Republican National Committee.
Anderson’s spokesman rejected the criticism, saying the media “intentionally misled voters.” He said Anderson is “happily engaged and proud of his family.” He added that the video shows the politician with “people and their children supporting him,” and noted that many other candidates also use similar images.
Meanwhile, California Democrat Ted Lieu accused Anderson of trying to mislead voters, and on social media the Republican was called “the man who rented out his family.”
Previously, Cursor reported that there was embarrassment at the UN when the Haitian leader drank water.
