Republican Derrick Anderson who is running in a close race for Virginia’s seventh congressional district was seen with his family in a photoshoot. It was weird because the woman he was seen with was not his wife and the children were not his — everything was borrowed from his longtime friend. Anderson is engaged but not yet marries and childless and lives with his dog.
New York Times reached out to Anderson for his fake photoshoot and a spokesperson criticized the focus of the footage and said that every other candidate in America are seen in similar photos. The spokesperson said nowhere it was claimed that they were Anderson’s wife or children. Anderson was with his “female supporters and children”.
“The footage has not yet been used in any ad. It can be found on Mr. Anderson’s official YouTube page and is also posted on a website paid for by the National Republican Campaign Committee, where the organization provides resources for independent outside groups that are not allowed to communicate directly with campaigns but can use the information posted there to guide their paid media strategy,” NYT reported.
The report said that Republican candidates are looking to gain support among the women amid the abortion row and many Republican leaders’ general stance on women. GOP’s vice presidential candidate JD Vance drew flak for his past “childless cat ladies” comment which seemingly antagonized many women.
Social media users trolled Anderson for borrowing a family. “You have a beautiful family. Where did you rent them?” one asked. “Dude, this deception just tanked your campaign. Be honest, That’s all the people want,” another offered a piece of advice.
“Childless Dog Man had to borrow a friend’s family for his advertising to fit into JD Vance’s narrative…” one wrote.
“Run on your values not the GOPs lies. If you’re a moral candidate you will be supported. Don’t fall into Vance’s childless cat lady claims. Sad very sad and shame on you,” another wrote.
“Dear @JDVance: You said that people without children “don’t really have a direct stake” in our country. Do you think that applies to GOP candidate Derrick Anderson, who doesn’t have children but is trying to mislead voters by renting a family in his pictures? Asking for a friend,” one user charged JD Vance to answer.