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The National Rifle Association established ties with conservative pundit Dana Loesch in June, but that did not stop them from using it in a new affiliation campaign, apparently without warning.
The NRA bought eight Facebook ads last week containing Loesch's one-minute videos, recorded during his tenure, promoting the organization and its political battles against supposed enemies of the Democratic Party and of the press. Each ad refers to a website inviting new members to sign up.
"I did not know that the ads were still going on and I do not know why," Loesch told The Daily Beast in an email.
The ads appear to be part of a new social media advertising campaign. The NRA has more than doubled its weekly advertising spending on Facebook last week with paid articles featuring Loesch, as well as a series of ads attacking Democratic presidential candidates and urging their supporters to "stop politicians prohibit firearms ". and this week Richard Childress, a long-time board member, resigned from the group.
For years, Loesch has hosted a show on the streaming service of NRA television. Former NRA advertising firm Ackerman McQueen led the show as part of his work for the gun group, and Loesch worked for the firm. For decades, there was no visible day between the advertising firm and the gun group. This changed, however, earlier this year, when the NRA government investigations fueled tensions within the group. The NRA sued the company, the company sued, and the two entities separated. They are now involved in a multi-million dollar legal battle.
When they broke up, Loesch's official relationship with the NRA ended. That's why the group's continued use of its image and videos is a bit of a surprise.
A spokesman for ARN has not responded to a request for comment on his new Facebook ads.
A representative of Ackerman McQueen, meanwhile, did not criticize the arrangement.
"It's nice to see a former customer continue to appreciate your work," said Bill Powers, spokesperson for the advertising company.
The videos in question present the character Loesch who launches the bomb. She led an aggressive public relations campaign that targeted not only the traditional adversaries of the group, but also the media outlets, including The New York Times and progressive university campuses.
Loesch's public relations efforts led by Loesch also focused on President Donald Trump's criticism. "We are witnessing the most ruthless attack against a president and people who voted for him, as well as the free system that allowed this to happen in American history," says Loesch in the One of the videos used last week to promote NRA memberships.
Oliver North, the former NRA president, also worked with Ackerman McQueen. The advertising firm entrusted him with the production of a documentary series, but the NRA claimed in court that North had not kept his promises. Childress, the board member who has just resigned, was close to North and read aloud a statement from him after abruptly leaving the tumultuous meeting of the NRA in April.
Childress wrote in his letter of resignation, which The Daily Beast had obtained, that he was leaving to devote himself to his business. The letter also alluded to the NRA's internal struggle to decide whether or not to embark on Loesch's kind of cultural warfare battles with the NRA.
"My hope is that the ANR will go ahead by focusing on its important mission of upholding the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens, as provided for in the Second Amendment, to promote gun safety and hunting, to improve our shooting sports and to educate the general public. about guns, "wrote Childress.
In a statement, the NRA thanked Childress for his work within the association.
"We accept the resignation of Mr. Childress and are deeply grateful for his many years of service to the NRA," said NRA President Carolyn Meadows. "We wish him the best of success in his future endeavors. Naturally, we appreciate his desire to focus on these interests right now. Of course, we are pleased to know that Mr. Childress will continue to support our organization and the constitutional freedoms it believes. "
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