BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — It’s 2020 and politics have become personal, but did a campaign mailer making rounds near Battle Creek go too far?
On the front of the mailer in question is a photo-shopped image of Republican State House Candidate in the 62nd district Dave Morgan sitting at a table behind piles upon piles of food.
It reads “For Dave Morgan...it’s about helping himself.”
The back is more typically political, attacking his record as Pennfield Township Supervisor.
“It's fair game to criticize someone’s record and you need to hold every elected official accountable for their record, but when you get into personal attacks on say, disabilities, family, you know, that's a no, that's going over the line, that’s unacceptable,” Dave Morgan said.
On Monday, Morgan spoke with FOX 17 about the image he’s taking exception to.
“Talking about someone's personal appearance, maybe a disability that many of the people face in our community and throughout the district, that's going overboard,” Morgan added.
Morgan says he first learned of it from people in his neighborhood.
“I went out to the store at Sam's Club and I was approached by quite a few people in the store. Everybody was disgusted by it,” Morgan said.
“I was really surprised to see something so over the top. Such a personal attack,” he added.
The mailer was paid for by the Michigan Democratic Party, FOX 17 reached out for comment and have yet to hear back.
But the image is already facing backlash online.
Republican congressional candidate Peter Meijer called it “absolutely disgusting” on twitter, adding the Michigan Democratic Party “should be ashamed.”
Absolutely disgusting mailer from @MichiganDems attacking Dave Morgan, Republican for State House in the 62nd district. Dave is a good and decent man, an Air Force veteran, and will be a strong leader for Calhoun County. The Michigan Democratic Party should be ashamed. pic.twitter.com/diHOjIyc2v
— Peter Meijer (@VoteMeijer) September 28, 2020
Morgan says he’s taking it in stride, he just wishes they went another route in their tactics.
“I'm the father of a 14 year-old daughter she was getting text from her classmates actually as soon as this came out, and as elected officials, we need to remember what we say and what we do matters. The kids are listening, and we need to hold ourselves accountable to a much higher standard than what's expected of other people, not to lower the standards which is what happened in this case,” Morgan said.
Morgan is going up against incumbent Democratic Rep. Jim Haadsma.
FOX 17 reached out to Haadsma's campaign office who says they have no comment, adding they had “no involvement in its production and only became aware of it when it came in the mail.”
