NOT Made in Alaska – DC Dan Buys from New Zealand
Earlier this week Jeanne Devon documented the hilariously unfortunate copy and paste job of Dan Sullivan’s website.
“Carpetbagging Republican Senate candidate Dan Sullivan (OH->DC->AK) is running against incumbent Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) this fall. When serious and professional candidates run for office, they usually hire someone to develop a website for their candidacy.”
The Mudflats has now uncovered some new issues on his site. This time they’re not just from out of state, they’re from the other side of the planet.
New Zealand, in fact.
Most Alaskan politicos have their own stock of photography from their years in Alaska – photos of the candidate fishing in Bristol Bay, sailing near Homer, shooting something, or climbing Denali. DC Dan seems to have to rely on iStock from Getty. I’m not knocking stock photography; I have work on sites similar to this – but if I was running for Senate, I might look to the local stock photo sites first.
Buying from out of state is one thing, but I did a bit more digging. The proud Second Amendment photo circled below is not only taken by someone from New Zealand, it is actually taken in New Zealand. That’s taking outsourcing to a whole new level.
In fact, as far as I can tell, all of the photos here are taken by out of state photographers (with the ironic exception of the ‘jobs & the economy’ photo which I have not been able to trace).
DC Dan isn’t really from Alaska, so I guess his photos just follow suit.
Images on Sullivan2014.com as of the time of original posting on March 26th, 2014
iStock Profie
Getty Photography (who owns iStock) confirmed through an e-mail that the photo is indeed not the scenic landscape of Alaska – but the “Kaimanawa Forest Park, North Island, New Zealand.” While New Zealand may be an excellent setting for Lord of the Rings, I’m not sure it works as a backdrop for an Alaskan political website. But hey. At least it’s the North Island.
The other candidates:
A quick look at Mark Begich’s site shows little or no stock photos – same goes with Mead Treadwell. Both the Senator and the Lt. Governor have very few photos on their sites in which they don’t personally appear. In fact, both Mark and Mead have campaign videos that showcase Alaska quite well. Though, as a filmmaker and editor I will say Mark’s new ad is probably the best one I’ve seen since Scott McAdams’ run for the Senate in 2010.
“In fact, as far as I can tell, all of the photos here are taken by out of state photographers (with the ironic exception of the ‘jobs & the economy’ photo which I have not been able to trace).”
One of the boats in that picture is an 86′ power scow, and I’ve skippered a few of them. That one looks like “Ecologic”. The names have been Shopped off of them along with the ADF&G numbers. Who took the photo? Most likely it was Putin, shirtless, while wrestling a lion.
Okay. Since he’s using a Kiwi as an example, then by association, he is agreeing with NZ’s gun laws. To wit:
In New Zealand, only licensed gun owners may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition
Genuine Reason Required for Firearm Possession
Applicants for a gun owner’s licence in New Zealand are not legally required to prove genuine reason to possess a standard hunting or sports shooting firearm, but specific reasoning is required for special licence endorsements for pistols, restricted firearms, and Military Style Semi-Automatic weapons, including sports shooting, hunting, and collection.
Owning a firearm for self-defence is specifically excluded, and prohibited
Minimum Age for Firearm Possession
The minimum age for gun ownership in New Zealand is 16 years, 18 years for military style semi-automatic firearms, and any age while shooting an unrestricted firearm (shotgun, rifle, or airgun) under the immediate supervision of an appropriately qualified licence holder.
Gun Licence Background Checks
An applicant for a firearm licence in New Zealand must pass a background check which considers criminal, mental, medical, addiction and domestic violence records
(Reference: Required for Firearm Licence)
In New Zealand, third party character references for each gun licence applicant are required
Partner to be Advised or Interviewed
In New Zealand, licensing authorities are required to conduct interviews with, or to advise an applicant’s spouse, partner, or next of kin before issuing a gun licence
Domestic Violence and Firearms
Where a past history, or apprehended likelihood of family violence exists, the law in New Zealand stipulates that a gun licence should be denied or revoked
Firearm Safety Training
In New Zealand, an understanding of firearm safety and the law, tested in a theoretical and/or practical training course is requiredfor a firearm licence
Gun Owner Licensing Period
In New Zealand gun owners must re-apply and re-qualify for their firearm licence every ten years
Licensing Records
In New Zealand, authorities maintain a record of individual civilians licensed to acquire, possess, sell or transfer a firearm or ammunition
Limit on Number of Guns
Licensed firearm owners in New Zealand are permitted to possess any number of sporting type shotguns or rifles
Limit on Quantity, Type of Ammunition
Licensed firearm owners in New Zealand are permitted to possess any quantity of ammunition
So, if that’s what he’s advocating, I’d like to hear more. Are any of the other photos representing socialism?
Reference for data is http://www.GunPolicy.org
Those of you crying foul over the use of stock photos, should note UNITE HERE’s use of this iStock (as you said cheap) photo of a British veteran in a wheelchair to attack Assemblyman Trombley’s vote on People Mover bus fares… So feign some outrage! http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-15061653-soldier-in-wheelchair.php?st=63ce05e
I’ll go find UniteHERE’s campaign page where they use their Alaskan cred to urge people to give them monetary donations and votes, and I’ll totally rip ’em a new one! Because it’s totally the same thing as a candidate who has carpetbagger problems using some kiwi with a rifle in the New Zealand mountains to represent Alaska. Dan Sullivan is as Alaskan as his photos, and whatever company he’s using to tell people he is.
@SamuelMoore is a paid commenter. The same person will have infinite user names that will be shed when successfully repelled, and show up at the next post with a new alias. That Koch money gets spread far and wide; there’s a whole battalion of assclowns with writing skills trolling progressive blogs, attacking any issue that displeases their masters, using red-meat buzzwords and repeating ad nauseam the bullshit list of the day. I’ve had the pleasure of being attacked by an entire squad! I FART in their general direction! Their mother was a hamster, and their father smelt of elderberries!
Silly Mr Moore in FB comments above-
Banal is your notion that poo-pooing someone’s take on a candidate’s website is sufficient to the concerns that someone has. It just about reaches the level of logical fallacy as stated on 2 counts also, too, even and as well.
Whoever used a non AK photo for 2nd amendment crap is tone deaf to concerns that Mr Sullivan is a carpetbagger- something the campaign should be striving quite seriously to counteract given the most recent poll showing Mr Treadwell ahead of Mr Sullivan in a head to head with Mr Begich
Adding in your own tone deafness to Ms Devon’s delicious sense of snarky humor ? Pfft!
It is Mr. Roberts’ delicious sense of snarky humor this time, but other than that you’re spot on, Pi!
Sorry Zach!
Mr Roberts’delicious sense of humor !
He musta studied at MF Central to get that tone just so… 🙂
istock being one of the least expensive sources of copyright free images. They are being cheap.
For Begich to win, many of us who disagree with some of his votes will have to hold our noses while filling in the bubble. I will proudly do just that because I know his opponent would have cast the same vote plus so many more wrong choices. I will take someone who I agree with half the time over someone who I hardly ever agree with. Mark sometimes appears to be a republican in democrat clothes, but that is better than voting for crazy in Bat S#%t clothes.
There’s only one way to return Begich to the Senate. First, make sure everyone you know who is eligible is actually registered to vote. Second, understand that many Alaskans will vote for whomever is running with (R) next to his name. Third, motivate every Democrat and Independent to get to the polls. RWNJs are not elected (despite gerrymandering) by Republican voters. They’re elected by all the Dems and Inds who STAY HOME.
p.s. Begich’s ad was beautiful.
Banality? I have spent some time..since reading that comment..and wondering why..any of us..present the truth in pictures. Am I..to tear up the original pictures..of my sons..as they played and built sandcastles..on the ocean shore? Wouldn’t a picture of some monumental, prize winning effort at ..sand castle building…be more of a..’grabber’? How about I photoshop all my almost 76 years of some pictures..with beautys n babes photos? Sorry husband..you were so normal..but your picture in the wedding albums..gotta go. Doctor dear..please erase that tumor picture..for my right breast..and substitute..a ‘clean bill of health one’..ok? Good Samuel..what could POSSIBLY..go wrong..with lies..and yet..you say..banality.