When this AFSCME/Americans United advertisement attacked House Republican Whip Eric Cantor and other Republican leaders for "playing politics" with the economy and "Just Saying No" to an economic recovery plan, the press secretary for the only Jewish Republican member of the House, Brad Dayspring, decided he’d attack the messenger instead of the message. So when asked for a response by Politico, he sent this profanity-laced parody of an AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) public service announcement, apparently an actual AFSCME PSA from the 1970s dubbed with a Sopranos-esque voiceover (WARNING: THE VIDEO IS PROFANITY-FILLED), adding. "You could post this as my response."
A few hours later, Dayspring apologized, saying the video was "a joke that was in no way an official response from Congressman Cantor, but instead an inappropriate email." He also apologized "to AFSCME for my inappropriate email containing an old video."
The Richmond Times-Dispatch says Dayspring will be punished:
Dayspring joined Cantor’s leadership office last month. Cantor will discipline the press secretary personally for the mistake, said Rob Collins, Cantor’s deputy chief of staff.
The labor groups were quick to accept the apology. [AFSCME President Gerald] McEntee said Dayspring likely was embarrassed by the event.
The flap shows the type of attention Cantor now receives as he has risen in the ranks of the House GOP. "He’s part of the Republican leadership," McEntee said. "He coined the phrase, ‘Just say no to the stimulus.’ That’s absurd. Everybody knows we need a stimulus."
By the way, Dayspring shouldn’t get credit for creating the video — just for making good use of Google. The clip was posted on Youtube in 2007.
