The Content of their Character

As you may recall, I had a couple of posts last month; God Damn F***ing Seniors and God Damn F***ing Seniors: Part II, about the neo-con organization USA Next and their smear campaign against the AARP. As you may remember, USA Next ran this ad on the American Spectator website:

Well, there has been a development...from a press release yesterday:

A $25 million lawsuit was filed today against right-wing front group USA Next and political consulting firm Mark Montini International for stealing an Oregon couple's wedding photo and using it without permission in a high-profile gay-bashing ad designed to drum up support for social security privatization.

Following an admission of photo theft by the creator, advertiser and publisher of the ad, the couple whose image was stolen - Rick Raymen and Steve Hansen of Portland, Oregon - today filed a four-count lawsuit in federal court in Washington, DC. The suit alleges that the use of the couple's image without permission constituted an invasion of privacy, was libelous, violated their right of publicity and constituted an intentional infliction of emotional distress [...]

"Our privacy and personal integrity were violated when our wedding photo was stolen and used to portray us as treasonous, unpatriotic, and a threat to American troops," Rick Raymen said. "We have been harassed and humiliated by this hateful ad campaign and by the bigotry and anger it has generated against us nationwide."

"Our lawsuit is intended to make USA Next and Mark Montini pay for the harm they have caused and to send a message to them that they cannot recklessly play with peoples' reputations and make them targets of hate, as they have done with us," Raymen said. "When we get our judgment, we intend to donate to those who fight the kind of hate and homophobia that USA Next and Montini have demonstrated."

Compassionate Conservatives (i.e. ruthless hate-mongers) Strike Again!

For more information about the lawsuit, check out this site: Lawsuit of Rick Raymen and Steve Hansen versus USA Next and Mark Montini International. Good luck to Mr. Raymen and Mr. Hansen...(and I hope the Oregon Supreme Court recognizes their wedding license).