“When I saw Donald Trump mock somebody with a disability, it showed me his soul. It showed me his heart. And I didn’t like what I saw.” The father of a child with spina bifida delivers that devastating closing line in a new tv ad by Priorities USA Action. The super-PAC that supports Hillary Clinton for president is running the 60-second spot in seven swing states, including Iowa. I enclose below the video and transcript.
Although this commercial probably won’t change the minds of anyone inclined to support Trump for president, it should reinforce his historically low favorability ratings, especially among women with children.
Most early electoral vote projections show Iowa as a tossup state, though I have seen a few putting our state in the “lean D” category. Democratic candidates have won Iowa’s electoral votes in six of the last seven presidential elections.
“Grace,” a 60-second ad Priorities USA Action released on June 6:
Transcript of the ad featuring Chris and Lauren Glaros, parents who live in Columbus, Ohio:
Chris Glaros: I remember being in the ultrasound room and finding out that our daughter was going to be born with a disability, spina bifida. [viewer sees Chris and Lauren Glaros sitting next to each other, speaking to someone just off camera]
Lauren Glaros: She was born 20 weeks later, on Valentine’s Day, and she is a total blessing in our lives. [viewer sees photos of baby Grace in the hospital, then Lauren Glaros speaking]
Chris Glaros: Grace is the happiest child you’ve ever seen. Despite all of her medical challenges, she brings out the goodness in each person, and that’s what we see every day with Grace. [viewer sees Chris Glaros talking, interspersed with photos of happy moments of Grace, who sits in a wheelchair]
Lauren Glaros: When I saw Donald Trump mock a disabled person, I was just shocked.
clip from CNN of Trump speaking at a rally in 2015: You gotta see this guy, “Ahhh, I don’t know what I said, ahh, I don’t remember!” [Trump uses his arms and facial expression to ridicule a reporter; CNN chyron at bottom of the screen reads UNDER FIRE: TRUMP MOCKS REPORTER WITH DISABILITY]
CNN presenter’s voice: That reporter he is talking about suffers from a chronic condition that impairs movement of his arms. [viewer sees screenshot from CNN; photo of reporter Trump was referring to; CNN chyron at bottom of the screen still reads UNDER FIRE: TRUMP MOCKS REPORTER WITH DISABILITY]
Lauren Glaros: The children at Grace’s school all know never to mock her. And so for an adult to mock someone with a disability is shocking. [viewer sees the Lauren Glaros talking, then part of the Trump clip again]
Chris Glaros: When I saw Donald Trump mock somebody with a disability, it showed me his soul. It showed me his heart. And I didn’t like what I saw. [viewer sees Chris Glaros talking, Lauren Glaros looking on in agreement]
Male voice-over: Priorities USA is responsible for the content of this advertising. [viewer sees footage of the Glaros family in the driveway near a small basketball hoop. Sitting in her wheelchair, Grace shoots a basket and celebrates, along with her family]