Governor Pat McCrory’s reelection campaign is out with a provocative new ad.
It’s a testimonial, featuring a survivor of sexual assault speaking in favor of House Bill 2.
But the ad may give the wrong impression of the circumstances surrounding her assault.
It’s not the content but the context of the ad that raises questions.
The spot begins with five words on the screen, 'The Truth about Roy Cooper.' Then Gina Little begins to tell her story.
"At 9 I was molested by a teenager. When I found out that President Obama and Roy Cooper want to force schoolchildren to share the same locker room, shower and restroom with someone who claims to be the opposite sex, I was horrified."
An obvious reference to House Bill 2.
Little then goes on to praise Governor McCrory for defending the law.
But there’s a problem with what seems an implied link between Little’s story and the restroom provisions of HB 2.
It’s not true.
The assault did not take place in a school or locker room. But at home. And the assailant wasn’t a stranger, but a brother.
Little is a therapeutic riding instructor for a group that works with special needs and abused kids. She has written about her own assault as part of that work.
Little suffered a horrible ordeal. But one that seems mischaracterized by this ad.
The McCrory campaign did not respond to our request for comment.
