South Dakota man wants his image taken out of Governor Noem's latest divisive attack ad

We saw the latest Kristi Noem black-with-red-lettering attack television ad earlier this week on Keloland's morning news and just laughed outloud. So melodramatic. We could only imagine what the guys at the bar might have to say.

But Vaney Hariri, Sioux Falls entrepreneur and co-founder of Think 3D Solutions whose image is used to attack Democratic candidate Jamie Smith, isn't laughing, Keloland's Eric Mayer reports in Sioux Falls man requests his image be removed from Noem’s latest attack ad.

Here's the Facebook post that spurred Mayer's coverage:

Hariri's full statement on the Facebook post :

I feel comfortable saying this because I genuinely believe that most of you know my heart for the work I put into this community. I have never had a substantive conversation with the governor, though. One would think we would have crossed paths, given our work. I say that because I don't want to give off the impression that I know her as a person because I don't. I have to go off what I see; almost everything is harmful speech, negative tone, negative leadership style, negative policy positions, and negative campaign style. Below is an ad for the governor that was just released, and it contains an image of me standing next to Jamie at a rally that took place post the death of George Floyd. If anyone attended this event (not to be conflated with what happened at the mall later that night), you would understand why it was one of the most beautiful things I've laid my eyes on. People came together from all backgrounds, saying we would not accept these things in our community. We're not going to take the mistrust. We're not going to buy the division.

 

Thousands of people were there peacefully, along with police officers, to keep us safe. Police officers that we are in league with and that we work with to help better our community. Jamie Smith was standing with people like me who have often felt like no one heard their voice or was there for them. He was there standing next to me, and the idea that somebody who wanted to represent me was standing next to me, willing to participate to show that they cared about me and loved me along with everyone else. The idea someone would take that image and make it harmful. That someone would take that image to diminish it and intentionally take that image and misrepresent what that moment was about saddened me and disappointed me. This post is not about Our governor. What this is about is the type of country we want, the kind of state we want, and the type of leaders we want, and I don't want leaders that engage in this kind of toxicity. I've requested that they remove my image from this ad. Honestly, I don't know if they will, but I have to say it's as clear as I can. We have to say no to this.

 

You can disagree. You cannot like someone's policies, but I don't want to be at odds with my neighbors. I don't want to make everyone who doesn't agree with me an enemy, and I don't want a leader that wants to do that, either. The sad part about it is I know that the governor might not have even seen this ad yet. She's likely using a firm that isn't even in the state. The most challenging part is that someone who probably isn't even from this state may have paid to take one of its children, take one of its citizens and try to vilify them in an attempt to vilify another citizen of the state. Whatever you feel about the governor, whatever you feel about Jamie Smith. I think we can all agree. We don't want any more of this. Stop accepting it. Then maybe we can stop expecting it.

 

I'm not staying for the comments because more work is needed, and I prefer to spend my time doing that.

In Sioux Falls man requests his image be removed from Noem’s latest attack ad, Mayer reports:

In Noem’s “Extreme Jamie Smith: Endangering Families” ad against Smith, the Sioux Falls lawmaker and Democratic candidate for governor, Smith’s photo with Hariri is used with the text “Jamie Smith. Marching with Black Lives Matter.” . . . 

The voice on the ad says “While crime’s skyrocketing, Smith’s marching with BLM and backing Biden’s open border agenda.”    

Hariri told KELOLAND News he reached out to the Noem campaign at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Hariri said he contacted Chris Hupke, Noem’s deputy campaign manager, and Hupke told him he’d get back to him. More than three days later, Hariri said he hasn’t heard back.  

KELOLAND News reached out to the Noem campaign to confirm if they received Hariri’s request and if the photo will be removed from the ad. Any response from Gov. Noem’s campaign will be added to this story.  

Hariri said his post is not about Noem and is about “the type of country we want, the kind of state we want, and the type of leaders we want.  . . .

Mayer noted Smith's reply on twitter:

In running for governor, I knew lies and mischaracterizations about me were coming.

But no constituent deserves this treatment. Governors must respect the people they work for. https://t.co/SyuFiNd7xT

— Jamie Smith for SD Governor (@RepJamieSmith) September 30, 2022

We agree with Hariri and Smith.

Related posts

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• While South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem looks for a job, Minnesota unemployment rate drops
• Fake state economy news: Noem for Governor digital ad marketed in Iowa, NH, & SC:
•  Pants on fire at CPAC: Governor Kristi Noem claims "We kept kids in the classroom
• South Dakota ethics: Will lawmakers resolve Governor Noem's closed-door meeting with daughter violated public trust?
• SD Gov Noem blames Soros' money for pipeline protests; cuts tribes out of anti-protest bills talk 

Still: In a Smith ad, a couple of guys critique an earlier Noem ad.

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