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GOP Super PAC posts doctored image of Healey, ties racist caricature to migrant policies
The no-limit super PAC was created in May to support former MBTA head Brian Shortsleeve’s campaign and oppose Healey.
A no-limit super PAC backing one of Gov. Maura Healey’s Republican challengers posted a doctored image to social media that showed the Democratic incumbent wearing a sombrero and criticized her pro-migrant policies as part of a Spirit Halloween-themed campaign.
The post, made by the Commonwealth Unity PAC, depicts Healey wearing a Halloween costume, including a sombrero and poncho, and holding an oversized bag with a dollar sign on it. The fake costume packaging claims to include “free hotels for migrants,” “illegal immigrants,” and a “flaming cop car” but not “progress” or “housing solutions.”
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“Spirit Halloween called — they’re out of Maura Healey costumes because failure’s been flying off the shelves!” the super PAC wrote in the post. “Nothing’s scarier than higher bills and blind leadership.”
The super PAC was created to support venture capitalist and former MBTA head Brian Shortsleeve’s campaign, chair and former Sen. Scott Brown aide Lydia Goldblatt confirmed to WBUR. However, a Shortsleeve representative confirmed that the committee is legally required to operate independently from the campaign.
Though the committee is not listed on official filings as supporting Shortsleeve’s campaign, it has spent more than $34,000 to promote opposition to Healey, who announced in February that she would run for reelection next year. The super PAC has also raised over $1 million, according to the filings.
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Of the committee’s 66 donors, 54 are individuals and 12 are businesses, the filings show. The donations, received between May 23 and Sept. 26, range in amount from $100 to $50,000.
Since its inception in May, the committee has repeatedly attacked Healey. In a similar post earlier this week, the super PAC criticized the governor’s migrant policies through another doctored image of a Spirit Halloween converted into a migrant shelter.
“Hotels full? Don’t worry, Spirit Halloween has space!” the post said.
Representatives for Shortsleeve, Healey, and Commonwealth Unity PAC did not immediately return Boston.com’s requests for comment Thursday evening.
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