RNC ad with Obama and Newtown mother infuriates DNC

The Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) clashed Wednesday over a new RNC ad that the DNC says cruelly exploits the Newtown shootings.

{mosads}The ad, called “The First 100 Days,” criticizes Obama on the failure of his legislative agenda, including gun control, so far in Congress. It features a voiceover saying that Obama’s agenda has “already suffered a string of defeats,” and a black and white photo of the president reaching to embrace Nicole Hockley, the distraught mother of a victim in the shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. 

Democratic National Committee spokesman Brad Woodhouse called the ad “disgraceful” in a tweet and “disgusting” in another.
 

.@seanspicer @gop made an editorial decision 2 celebrate the defeat of the gun bill by including a clip of POTUS consoling a mom #disgusting

— Brad Woodhouse (@woodhouseb) May 1, 2013

RNC spokesman Sean Spicer shot back, saying the image was part of an ABC News package that it pulled for the ad. 

I dont think we control ABC MT @woodhouseb: @samsteinhp actually RNC used @abcnews package youtu.be/AlR17_M_97Q

— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) May 1, 2013

The dust-up is another instance in a combative week for advocates on both sides of the gun debate. On Tuesday, the daughter of a Sandy Hook victim confronted Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) over her vote against a measure last month that would have expanded background checks for gun buyers.

The White House pushed hard for Congress to act on gun control legislation, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) pulled a comprehensive reform package after a measure to expand background checks failed to get the 60 votes it needed to move forward.

The ad was meant to focus on criticism that came out of the president’s Tuesday press conference, in which Obama said he couldn’t make an obstinate Congress bend to enact the reforms he’s pushing. The president replied sarcastically to a question about whether he still had enough “juice” to get something significant done in his second term.

“Maybe I should just pack up and go home,” Obama said.