White House: Didn't OK Obama's words in Fattah robocall
The White House says U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah did not have permission to use President Obama's voice in a campaign robocall that some voters received Tuesday.
The White House says U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah did not have permission to use President Obama's voice in a campaign robocall that some voters received Tuesday.
Fattah's primary day robocall to Democratic voters in the Second Congressional District has City Councilwoman Cindy Bass saying, "Listen to what President Obama has to say about Chaka Fattah."
What follows appears to be from a tape of Obama speaking in September 2013 to the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, according to a transcript of that speech on the White House website.
"Thank you to Chaka Fattah . . . for your leadership, especially on the issues of brain research that have the potential to change so many lives," Obama said in the 2013 speech - and in the robocall.
"We have not endorsed a candidate in this race and did not approve of the president's voice being used in this ad," White House spokeswoman Jennifer Friedman said Tuesday about the call, which was first reported by the website PhillyVoice.
Fattah did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The 11-term Democrat was defeated by State Rep. Dwight Evans in Tuesday's primary.
Evans, too, used a robocall on Tuesday - from Mayor Kenney, who has endorsed him - to reach out to voters.
Fattah's call also has State Sen. Vincent Hughes introducing an old recording of former President Bill Clinton praising Fattah.
Fattah, who was indicted on federal racketeering and bribery charges in July and starts his trial in 20 days, also used his Twitter feed Tuesday to circulate a campaign flier he is using in his bid for a 12th term in office. The flier shows two pictures of him with Obama.
Fattah's district includes parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery County.
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@ByChrisBrennan