Barrett Releases New Ad

Sorry, but this is trashy. 

Barrett does not speak in his new minute-long ad titled “Stand Up.” Instead, his wife Kris describes getting the phone call from her sister-in-law that night in August 2009 telling her of the attack.

Barrett, 56, suffered injuries to his head, mouth, face and hand in last year’s attack. He was trying to help a screaming woman who was struggling to protect her 1-year-old granddaughter from being taken by the child’s drunk, belligerent father.

The ad also features news footage from the night of the beating as well as clips of the West Allis police chief describing how Barrett was “viciously attacked by a desperate individual.” A picture of Barrett’s bloodied face appears on the screen for about five seconds.

“I know and our kids know that their dad will always stand up for them,” Kris Barrett says at the end of the ad as Barrett is shown walking down the street with her, their four children and their dog. “And he will always stand up for Wisconsin.”

We all know what Barrett did and I think he has rightfully garnered universal praise for his actions that day.  But to use that in a campaign ad as a reason to vote for him is trashy.  It’s like the guy who brags at the bar about manhandling a purse snatcher.  Yeah, it’s a good thing, but nobody likes a braggart. 

So since Barrett brought this issue up as a campaign issue, is it fair game for campaign fodder?  Or is it still off-limits?