After One year of workshopping, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy unveiled the GOP’s 2023 “Commitment to America” platform — featuring stock footage of Ukraine and Russia used to demonstrate the beauty of the United States and a fake Abraham Lincoln quote used in a letter to members of Congress.
The following is a Video promotional released yesterdayTitled “The Preamble To the Commitment America,” the narration tells how a narrator explains America’s exceptionalism, blams Democrats for leading the country “off-track,” and then announces that the author will be reintroducing the nation. Priorities of the 2023 party platformA strong economy, a secure nation, freedom-based government, and an economy that is accountable.
Intentionally vague, the platform is designed to unite Republicans ahead of an uncertain election season marred by internal conflict and expected rifts between moderate Republicans. Donald Trump’s election-denying allies, The Washington Post reported.
Several clips in the video meant to portray the diversity and “vibrancy” of America — including scenes of a woman shopping in a supermarket, a child running through a field, and a farmer carrying a bag of wheat — were actually stock footage filmed in Russia and Ukraine, HuffPost first reported.
Serg Grbanoff, an Russian filmmaker, created many images. HuffPost reported,He confirmed to the outlet that the images were made in Volgograd, Russia. A Shutterstock contributor created another image. DedovStockHe posts photos he took in Ukraine.
McCarthy spokesperson Mark Bednar stated, “Interesting to see how you guys don’t even remotely care about the issues facing American citizens in the video.” HuffPost –When asked about stock footage.
The rollout of the platform was not without problems. In a letter to House members announcing its priorities — Olivia Beavers, Politico reporter — McCarthy signs his name to letterhead featuring a quote falsely attributed to Lincoln.
The letter says that commitment is what turns a promise into a reality. reads,The quote can be attributed to the 16th president.
Christian McWhirter, a historian from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, said The Daily BeastHe couldn’t find any reliable evidence that Lincoln ever said these words.
McWhirter said, “They don’t appear in his writings. I can’t find them recollected any of his contemporaries.” The Daily Beast.
The phrase, attributed online to Lincoln, Shearson LehmanAnd anonymousSources depend on the reference point. This advertisement was published in 1986 in The Wall Street Journal. It was paid for by Lehman Brothers, an investment banking firm, to thank its employees.
“Commitment transforms a promise to reality,” reads the ad. The Daily Beast reported. “It is your words that are boldly expressing your intentions. The actions speak louder than the words. It’s making time where there is none. You go through it year after année, year after decade.
Insider reached out to Rep. McCarthy’s representatives but they did not immediately reply.
