Marine Corps to Duncan Hunter: ‘Stop using our emblem and phrase in your campaign ads’

U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) has been using imagery from the US Marine Corps in his campaign mailers, but it turns out the military branch that he claims to revere wants nothing to do with him.

In a letter to Hunter, the Marine Corps pointed out that his campaign was using the official Marine Corps emblem and the phrase “No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy” in “at least one fundraising mailer” to constituents, the Marine Corps Times reports.

“We thereby request your campaign immediately remove the Emblem and the Phrase from its mailers, and, without limitation, from all campaign materials including websites and other instances where the Emblem or the phrases are being used,” the letter, which was first obtained by NBC News, reads.

From the Marine Corps Times:

The campaign mailer, according to NBC News, targets Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar, who is running against Hunter in 2020, and two other Democratic congresswoman Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan by calling them “radical Democrats” who “want you to forget their anti-Semitism or family-terrorist ties!”

The phrase “No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy” was coined by former Secretary of Defense James Mattis when he commanded the 1st Marine Division during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

That phrase is now a registered trademark of the Marine Corps.

According to a spokesperson for Hunter, his campaign “immediately complied” and is “taking all appropriate measures to ensure this matter is addressed appropriately and thoroughly.”

The mailer, which has been labeled by some as being Islamophobic, targets Hunter’s 2020 opponent Ammar Campa-Najjar. It also targets progressive Democratic House members Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, calling them them “radical democrats” who want voters to “forget their anti-Semitism or Family-Terrorist Ties!”

“But as a Marine I’ll never forget the 1983 Beirut bombings and the 1972 Olympic murders!” the mailers adds, using Hunter’s voice.

Hunter is currently facing federal charges of wire fraud, campaign finance violations, falsifying records, and conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Featured image via screen grab/ABC1o News

Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.