Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
The super PAC backing Hillary Clinton’s bid for president is out with a new advertisement taking aim at Donald Trump and his controversial comments about people with disabilities.
The 60-second spot is set to begin airing in seven states, including Florida, Ohio and Virginia, this week. The advertisement kicks off $20 million ad buy by Priorities USA, the political committee backing Clinton. Priorities USA ads will run through the convention.
The advertisement — called “Grace” — features the Glaros family, whose daughter was born with spina bifida. In the advertisement, the Ohio couple said their daughter is “a total blessing in our lives” and “the happiest child you’ve ever seen.”
“When I saw Donald Trump mock a disabled person I was shocked,” said Lauren Glaros in the advertisement. “The children in Grace’s school all know never to mock her. And so for an adult to mock someone with a disability is shocking.”
In November, Trump was criticized after he mimicked a disabled New York Times reporter. The reporter has a congenital joint condition that impacts the movement in his joints. It is noticeable in his right arm and hand. At a rally, Trump waved his arms around and appeared to be imitating the reporter.
“Donald Trump’s mocking of someone with a disability was a troubling look into who he is as a person and proof that he lacks the character necessary to be president of the United States. As Grace’s mother notes, even elementary school students know not to mock someone for being disabled,” said Guy Cecil, communications director at Priorities USA. “Throughout his career and campaign, Donald Trump has repeatedly ridiculed and marginalized people who are different from him and he will never fight for them. Donald Trump should never be our president.”
The advertisement will run statewide in Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Nevada, Colorado, Iowa and New Hampshire.
