The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) floated an ad on Friday that takes down Minnesota’s liberal candidate for Congress. The ad’s rock-solid foundation hinges on the fact that Dan Feehan, the focal point of the ad’s attacks, supports Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the National Anthem. Clips are intermingled with gravelly backroad narration, along with images of Feehan’s tweets in support of Kaepernick. Part of one is highlighted: “His [Kaepernick’s] activism matches the patriotism of our military.”
The ad begins pointing out how many have given their lives in support of the U.S. and what it represents. Our soldiers “never took a knee.” That’s the transition into Kaepernick. The ad’s narrator says Feehan doesn’t know anything about what it means to be a patriot.
It wraps with the line, “Tell Dan Feehan: Real patriots stand together.”
The ad might not have gone that far if its creators glanced at the hashtag in Feehan’s tweet, “#veteransforKaepernick.” Turns out Feehan served two tours in Iraq before moving into politics, so he probably already knows a thing or two about how and when patriots stand.
If you have the fortitude, check out the ad yourself below. You’ll find Feehan’s response further down.
I can tell you from experience, taking fire from terrorists is harder than having my opponent & the @NRCC question my patriotism. These attacks are disrespectful to all men & women who have worn the uniform, especially the 40k veterans in #MN01. But don’t just take it from me… pic.twitter.com/RXIIL2mAGK
— Dan Feehan (@danielfeehan) October 9, 2018