Tyroch’s campaign manager, daughter Melissa Tyroch, said they contacted YouTube about the spoof ad.
“The only thing we did, was bring it to their attention,” said Tyroch. “They reviewed it, and all we know is they removed it.”
The treasurer of the Austin-based Empower Texans Political Action Committee that altered and posted the ad on YouTube said Martha Tyroch doesn’t have a sense of humor.
“We spoofed their ad. It was very clear,” said Michael Quinn Sullivan. “We altered it for the purpose of making a parody and making a point.”
Sullivan also charged that removing the video stifled free speech.
“The First Amendment clearly was designed to protect political speech, and copyright laws were never intended to be used as a weapon to stifle discussion in a campaign season,” Sullivan said.
Martha Tyroch issued a statement backing YouTube’s decision.
“We believe the copyrighted Martha Tyroch for state representative campaign video was taken, modified inappropriately, and used in violation of the copyright laws in order to mislead the constituents of District 55,” Ms. Tyroch said.
Sullivan, who also narrated the spoof video, said it took only about 15 minutes to alter the original Tyroch ad.
“I grabbed the video off YouTube, as one can do, and spliced in our own images.”
One of those images features Ms. Tyroch sitting at her desk checking off items on a to-do list that says, “raise taxes” and “increase spending.”
On Friday evening, Ralph Sheffield’s campaign manager James Walpole issued a statement about the video.
“I don’t see anything wrong with having a little laugh every now and then, but I can understand why Martha is eager to hide her record of raising taxes.”
In the March 4 Republican primary, Tyroch took 36 percent of the vote, unofficially, followed by Sheffield with 31. A runoff is necessary because no candidate received more than 50 percent. Mike Pearce (20 percent) and John Alaniz (12 percent) were eliminated.
fafflerbach@temple-telegram
