Eric Greitens’ ‘RINO Hunting’ Ad Condemned: This ‘Gets People Killed’

A new campaign ad showing Missouri GOP Senate candidate Eric Greitens going “RINO hunting” is getting backlash on social media, where critics have accused him of promoting political violence.

In the video, Greitens, a former Missouri governor and Navy SEAL, is seen holding a gun while warning about RINOs. The term, which refers to “Republicans in name only,” is often used against the party’s more moderate members. Greitens describes them as feeding “off of corruption” and “marked by the stripes of cowardice.” The candidate, along with men wearing tactical military gear, barges into a home where they shoot their weapons. He then invites his supporters to “get a RINO hunting permit.”

“There’s no bagging limit, no tagging limit, and it doesn’t expire until we save our country,” Greitens says. His campaign tweeted the video on Monday, alongside a link allowing campaign donors to receive a sticker that says “RINO hunting permit.”

In response, many critics quickly called out the video for promoting political violence. Since the U.S. Capitol assault on January 6, 2021, federal lawmakers have received death threats, and earlier this month a man allegedly plotted to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Some critics also noted the video was inappropriate because of domestic assault allegations made against Greitens. Sheena Greitens, his ex-wife, has accused him of physically abusing her and their children. She has also alleged that he purchased a gun, did not tell her where he kept it and threatened to kill himself “unless I provided specific public political support.”

Greitens has said the allegations against him are false and “politically motivated.”

Justin Kanew, founder of the progressive news website Tennessee Holler, was one of the critics who condemned the ad on Monday.

He wrote: “Truly shameful stuff here, on every level. Modeling and encouraging violence against those you disagree with. This s*** gets people killed.”

Niles Francis tweeted, “That Eric…