With no press release, social media, or news story, Heidi Heitkamp has silently gone on the airwaves with a new ad, smearing Kevin Cramer on health care, immigration, and- inexplicably- women.

LET’S BE CLEAR— 

• Kevin Cramer is strong on border security, but Heitkamp supports dangerous sanctuary cities.

• Cramer has supported a better health care system for North Dakota, but Heitkamp wants to leave Obamacare fully in tact.

• And after the events of this week, Heidi Heitkamp has no place trying to once again exploit women’s issues for political gain.

Heidi Heitkamp paid for an ad labeling women as sexual assault survivors without their consent, according to at least four women publicly posting about it.

So far, the Heitkamp campaign has not responded publicly, though they’ve admitted to messing up in a Facebook message. And while a Heitkamp surrogate called them “idiots;” these women, and everyone who saw the ad, deserve an explanation for Heitkamp’s actions.

In Case You Missed It…

Women Say Heitkamp Campaign Identified Them as Sexual Assault Survivors Without Their Permission

Forum Commentator Rob Port

10.16.18

Recently Senator Heidi Heitkamp’s campaign ran an ad (see below) formulated as an open letter sent to Congressman Kevin Cramer by survivors of sexual assault.

The letter purports that some of Cramer’s recent comments about the controversy surrounding the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh were insensitive, but at least four of the women named in the ad feel like they got the raw end of the deal.

Kady Miller of Bismarck is one of the women named in the ad, but says in a Facebook post that “A lot of these people listed, including me, did not give anyone permission for our names to be posted.”

“I don’t even support Heidi Heitkamp and I am not a domestic abuse survivor,” she continues.

Miller didn’t name any of the other women allegedly included in the ad without permission, but in the comments to her post Keeley Beck of Mandan says her name was included without her permission as well:

Another commenter on Miller’s post, Lexi Zhorela of Bismarck, also says she was used for the ad without her permission:

In a separate Facebook post, Eve Lancaster of Bismarck also indicates that her name was included in the letter without her permission. She describes herself as “disgusted” and “furious.”

I’ve communicated directly with two of the women who say they were misidentified and I’m working on getting more information from them.

I’ve reached out to the Heitkamp campaign for comment about this ad, asking how it came to be and how the names were chosen for the ad, but the Senator and her Senate/campaign staff don’t typically respond to me.

I’ll update this post with any response I receive.

UPDATE: In a comment to Miller’s post Mary Rennich of Bismarck, who has appeared in multiple ads supporting Heitkamp’s candidacy, and who described this humble observer as a “thug” earlier this year, suggests that the women upset about the use of their names are idiots:

UPDATE: A source provides this exchange, via Facebook, with the Heitkamp campaign which resulted in a campaign staffer named Isaac apologizing:

The Bismarck Tribune was also contacted about the ad, confirming that it was paid for by the Heitkamp campaign:

Below is the full ad. Note the Heitkamp for Senate campaign disclaimer at the bottom, which is also visible in this version published by the Wahpeton Daily News.

https://www.scribd.com/document/390950588/Heitkamp-Open-Letter-Ad#fullscreen&from_embed

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In a desperate move to distract from her anti-life, anti-gun, anti-North Dakota vote against Justice Kavanaugh, Heidi Heitkamp is now trying to make debate schedules and accessibility an issue in this campaign, but that won’t work.

Throughout her career, Hiding Heidi has ignored tough questions facing her constituents, declined interview opportunities with local media, and even “run scared” from reporters asking tough questions. In clear contrast, Kevin Cramer is known for his accessibility, and it’s one of many reasons North Dakotans support him.

This striking diffence will be on full display tonight, as Kevin Cramer hosts a televised town hall, where he will hear directly from his constituents and tackle the tough issues facing North Dakota.

Senator Heitkamp was offered the same opportunity, but she declined.

“Hiding Heidi Heitkamp has spent the last six years avoiding tough questions from her constituents,” said North Dakota Republican Party Communications Director Jake Wilkins. “Instead of baselessly attacking her opponent, Heitkamp should focus on answering for opposing North Dakotans on important issues like tax cuts, illegal immigration, and the Supreme Court.”

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In another desperate attempt to remake her image, liberal Democrat Heidi Heitkamp is trying to call out Hillary Clinton last night for saying Democrats “cannot be civil” with Republicans.

Heidi, where have you been?

After she endorsed Hillary in 2016, Heitkamp remained one of Hillary’s biggest backers as Clinton called half the country deplorable, said President Trump would cause a recession, denounced his plan to combat illegal immigration, and claimed states like North Dakota were only “looking backwards.”

With her campaign on the brink of defeat, cheap political stunts like this are too little, too late for the Heitkamp campaign. If she really thought Clinton’s comments were “disgraceful,” Heitkamp would call on Hillary Clinton’s Super PAC to pull out of North Dakota.

“Heidi Heitkamp has spent the last six years ignoring the will of her constituents and dutifully following her liberal party leaders like Hillary Clinton,” said North Dakota Republican Party Communications Director Jake Wilkins. “One cable news appearance won’t make voters forget her support for higher taxes, dangerous sanctuary cities, and opposition to Justice Kavanaugh.”

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