Ad uses Scalise shooting against Ossoff in Georgia

by Julia Manchester - 06/18/17 6:44 PM ET

CHAMBLEE, GA. — Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel are both speaking out against an ad appearing to link Ossoff to Wednesday’s shooting at a Republican baseball practice outside of Washington, D.C.

The television spot, which was produced by the Principled PAC, shows House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) on a stretcher after the shooting, along with the sound of gunshots.

“The unhinged left is endorsing and applauding shooting Republicans,” the ad’s narrator says.

“When will it stop? It won’t if Jon Ossoff wins on Tuesday,” the narrator continues.

{mosads}The spot then shows several images and videos including one of comedian Kathy Griffin holding a fake severed head that looks like President Trump, as well as a letter that reads “Resist the Fascist takeover. String up the collaborators.”

The ad then claims “these same leftists are all for Ossoff, and if he wins, they win.”

“Stop Jon Ossoff. Stop Nancy Pelosi. Vote Karen Handel for Congress,” the narrators concludes.

Ossoff called the politicization of the shooting that injured Scalise and four others last week “disgraceful.”

“The man is fighting for his life. I think it’s disgraceful to politicize it, and I think Secretary Handel should call for it to come down,” Ossoff told a small group of reporters after a canvassing launch at his Chamblee field office.

“You have a national tragedy that has united people. There are still people who are in critical condition. It’s just got no place in an attack ad.”

A spokeswoman for Handel stopped short of demanding the ad be removed, but called the piece “disturbing and disgusting” in a release to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“For any group to use the shootings this week for political or personal benefit is shameful,” spokeswoman Kate Constantini said in a statement. “This group should be ashamed.”

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James Hodgkinson, who shot Scalise and four others at the baseball practice before being killed by police, had posted a series of anti-Republican Facebook posts and reportedly had a hit list that included other Republican lawmakers.

The ad comes two days ahead of Tuesday’s 6th District’s special election for Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price’s Georgia seat.