The family of the late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) denounced the National Republican Congressional Committee’s use of footage of McCain in negative campaign advertisements, calling the ads “unfortunate” and lacking “respect.”
“The McCain family believes it’s unfortunate that the senator’s image is being weaponized this election season,” a family spokesperson told NBC News in a statement. “They hope that there would be more respect, especially so soon after his passing.”
Both ads feature past footage of McCain criticizing Democrats running for the House. In one, McCain is seen criticizing Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona because she “won’t oppose higher taxes, she won’t oppose more federal spending and she won’t oppose increased debts that slow economic growth.” The footage was apparently shot in 2016.
“In 2016, Senator McCain warned us,” a narrator says.
The other ad features McCain reprimanding Michigan Democrat Elissa Slotkin for “not telling the truth” during a Senate hearing when she was a witness. It plays the same clip twice in the 30 second advertisement.
McCain passed away of brain cancer less than a month ago, on Aug. 25.
