SEQUIM — There’s something missing from Republican Clallam County commissioner candidate Jim McEntire’s newspaper advertisements that include a 1995 photo of him in a Coast Guard captain’s uniform: a disclaimer required by the Department of Defense.
Coast Guard Chief of Media Relations Chris O’Neil said Tuesday the disclaimer is required if McEntire, a retired Coast Guard captain running against Democrat Linda Barnfather in Tuesday’s election, uses a photo of himself in a military uniform for political purposes.
McEntire, a Port of Port Angeles commissioner, “will have the appropriate disclaimer on all ads that need them,” he said Tuesday.
“I’ve said all that needs to be said.”
The Coast Guard directive was sparked by an inquiry Barnfather said she made about the ad to the 13th District.
In a statement to the Peninsula Daily News from Barnfather late Monday, she called the ad “an insult to those members of the military who do play by the rules.”
Disclaimer specified
The DOD disclaimer, contained in Directive 1344.10, applies to “photographs in military uniform” and says, “Any such military information must be accompanied by a prominent and clearly displayed disclaimer that neither the military information nor photographs imply endorsement by the Department of Defense or their particular Military Department (or the Department of Homeland Security for members of the Coast Guard).”
Coast Guard District 13 in Seattle will contact McEntire to tell him to add the disclaimer to all advertising that includes McEntire in his uniform, O’Neil said in a phone interview from Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.
“The plan is for someone in the district to reach out to him and say, hey, by the way, you may not be aware of this disclaimer, please, if you want to use that photo in that way, he will need to include in that advertisement the appropriate disclaimer,” O’Neil said.
McEntire said in a statement earlier Tuesday that in using the photo, he had relied on the Coast Guard Public Affairs Manual “that retired officers are free to use photographs of themselves in uniform, unless it can reliably be inferred from such use that the Coast Guard endorses their campaign for office.”
McEntire complaint
It’s the latest campaign advertisement dust-up between McEntire, 61, and Barnfather, 48.
In her statement to the PDN on Monday, Barnfather mentioned a complaint he filed against her last week with the state Public Disclosure Commission.
In his complaint, McEntire took issue with a Barnfather campaign flier, which she later admitted contained an endorsement quote attributed to Navy Rear Adm. Robert McClinton that was not his.
McClinton said: “While those were not my words, my support of Linda’s candidacy remains steadfast.”
Said Barnfather in her statement Monday: “I have made every effort to take the high road on my campaign, even with Mr. McEntire’s threats and ultimate action to file a frivolous complaint with the Public Disclosure Commission that has no merit.”
Barnfather attributed the use of the quote to “miscommunication” between her and her staff.
PDC
PDC spokeswoman Lori Anderson said Tuesday that McEntire’s complaint is being processed.
The PDC does not have jurisdiction over the propriety of a uniform-clad McEntire appearing in campaign ads, Anderson said.
That photo of McEntire also was used in a color advertisement in the Peninsula Daily News on Sunday that incensed Barnfather’s supporters and has been the topic of PDN letters to the editor.
“Serious Times Require Serious People,” it says, offering choices showing McEntire in his uniform as an “experienced, seasoned, serious leader” juxtaposed below that with a photo of “Linda Barnfather (D), Staff Employee” depicted in a photo as “demonstrating at a rally in Olympia” with arms outstretched, an ebullient expression on her face.
It includes the disclaimer that “no candidate authorized this ad” and says it was “Paid for by Supporters of Jim McEntire, 925 N. Minstrel, Sequim, WA 98382.”
Barnfather called the ad “distasteful” and “condescending” and took issue with someone taking a photo from her Facebook page to use in such a way.
“I am disappointed it has come to that,” she said.
McEntire, saying the photos of him were taken from his Facebook page, claimed he knew nothing of the ad or who purchased it.
He said he did not give permission to “Supporters of Jim McEntire” to use the photos of him but said Facebook photos are “in the public domain.”
“By state law, I cannot coordinate with people or have knowledge or have anything to do with independent advertising,” he said.
He would not respond to Barnfather’s criticisms of the ad — and would not disavow its contents.
“Of course not. Why would I do that?” McEntire said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
