WASHINGTON: Six siblings of a Republican congressman from Arizona seeking re-election in November’s midterms have publicly endorsed his Democratic opponent — all but ensuring an awkward Thanksgiving family dinner this year. Paul Gosar (pictured), who first entered Congress in 2011 with the backing of the populist Tea Party movement and is known for his hardline views on immigration, is odds-on favourite to retain his seat in the rural, conservative state when he faces Democrat David Brill this fall. But that hasn’t stopped six of his nine brothers and sisters from featuring in a series of videos released on Friday for the Brill campaign, drawing surprised and bemused reactions as the family feud plays out across national media.
In one of the ads, entitled: “Paul Gosar Is Not Working For You,” the siblings are introduced by only their first name and profession as they take turns to lay out the case against him. “If (Arizona voters) care about healthcare, they care about their children’s healthcare, they would hold him to account,” says physician Grace. Lawyer David adds: “He’s not listening to you, he doesn’t have your interests at heart.” Their last names and identities are finally disclosed in a “reveal” toward the end, before candidate Brill closes out the video to say he approved the message. In a second video, called “A Family Defends Its Honor,” the siblings say that speaking up against their brother is personally difficult, but they feel compelled to stand up for what is right. — AFP
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