5th District Challenger’s Graphic Abortion, Anti-Islam Ads Air on TV

A candidate mounting a primary challenge against 5th District Rep. Keith Ellison has begun running controversial television ads with graphic images of dead children and purported aborted fetuses.

that Gary Boisclair had released an anti-Islam ad. That ad by an anti-abortion ad. No television station aired the ads at the time, but the Tea Party supporter looked forward to seeing them on TV during the 45-day period before the primary when rules require stations to carry candidate ads—however disturbing the imagery.

The candidate saw his plan fulfilled this week.

Boisclair is running in the DFL primary . The Minnesota Independent accuses him of launching the primary bid as part of a Society for Truth and Justice effort to exploit the loophole that allows the airing of graphic ads.

“That’s certainly one of the sub-goals of the mission,” Boisclair told Patch.

But broadcasters aren’t happy about it. KARE 11 ran a disclaimer before the first ads ran during its 4 p.m. Tuesday broadcast that stated, “The following political advertisement contains scenes that may be disturbing to children. Viewer discretion is advised.”

The TV station aired a segment explaining why it had to run the ads. It also posted an article on its website with the headline, “TV stations powerless to block objectional political ads.”

The anti-Islam video shows images that purport to be a destroyed church in Kirkuk, Iraq; dead Christians in Egypt; and beheaded bodies in Indonesia. It juxtaposes Ellison swearing an oath on the Koran with a presumed terrorist holding a Koran and an assault rifle.

The abortion ad begins with Boisclair saying, “This is beautiful, beautiful beyond words,” as photos of mothers and babies flash onto the screen. The ad then segues to photos of aborted babies.

“This is ugly, ugly beyond description,” Boisclair says. “Who would do this? Who would kill an unborn baby? Congressman Keith Ellison for one.”

Boisclair then attacks Ellison’s support for what the challenger calls “the criminal syndicate Planned Parenthood.”

( to watch Boisclair’s anti-Islam ad. to watch the anti-abortion ad. Caution. Both contain graphic content.)

Boisclair lists his home address as Purgitsville, WV, according to filings with the Secretary of State. Congressional candidates do not have to live in the states they’re running to represent on the day of the primary. The U.S. Constitution only requires that they live in the state on Election Day.