Political use of murder video reflects a shocking lowered bar, experts say

The New York State Republican Party’s Twitter feed had been featuring footage of a Queens murder as it unfolded in real time. The images are fuzzy, but graphic and meant to scare voters into backing Republicans in this year’s elections, experts said.

But they said it also raises questions about how far the bar has been lowered when it comes to political ads. Or whether there is even a bar at all anymore.

“The murder footage reflects the circulation of such graphic images on the internet, and the rise in people filming crimes on their phones which are then circulated. So yes, the bar’s been lowered,” said Robert Spitzer, a political-science professor emeritus at the State University of New York at Cortland and author of “The Politics of Gun Control.” He added: “It’s where we are as a society.”

It’s a long way from some 34 years ago, when the “Wille Horton ad” was seen as instrumental in the 1988 presidential election between George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis.

It was controversial at the time. It’s main image? A mug shot of Willie Horton, a convicted murderer and rapist who became the poster child in attacks on Dukakis’ record on crime.

It then was viewed as crossing a new threshold in political attack ads. But it’s nothing compared to today’s world.

On Sept. 30, the state GOP posted graphic footage on Twitter of the stabbing murder of Alison Russo, a FDNY paramedic, on a Queens street.

“What we’ve seen in politics is people trying to capture attention as quickly as possible and shocking statements and images clearly are playing a role in that,” said Luke Perry, a Utica College political scientist. 

“But I’m not aware of anyone using murder footage as part of a political appeal,” Perry said. “I think most people would look at that as too graphic and have concerns about the victim and concerns about using it for political means.”

The footage was removed Friday after a Newsday inquiry about the decision to post the graphic material.

"Out of respect for her family and loved ones, we removed the footage," said Jessica Proud, spokeswoman for state GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy. She also reiterated Republican contentions that Democrats are to blame for crime rates.

Fear often has been an effective political tool for Republicans and Democrats, experts said. The Willie Horton ad, seemingly groundbreaking at the time, plays into the same theme. 

"It's the same message, but nowadays it takes more to shock people," said David Pizarro, a Cornell University psychology professor who studies emotions and moral judgment. "The message is that crime is there and it’s going to get you."

The GOP Twitter feed had posted footage from a street camera that captured the moment Russo was slain on Sept. 29. Accompanying the post, state GOP text said: “This is the New York created by Democratic policies.”

Crime, gun laws and an overhaul of bail laws have been consistent GOP themes this year. But whereas Willie Horton had a direct link to a prison furlough policy in Massachusetts, the man arrested in the Russo murder, Peter Zisopoulos, appears to have nothing to do with New York policies on bail or guns.

Authorities have said Zisopoulos had no criminal record but his mother reportedly has said he, at one time, took medication for schizophrenia. He is in custody.

“I think crime certainly is an issue and certainly is worth discussing,” Perry said. “But I think legitimate questions can be raised about whether sharing images of graphic violence is the best way to persuade someone of your viewpoint.”

If anything, the use of such images is more about “prompting party die-hards to turn out” to vote rather than convincing moderates or independents to switch to your side, Perry said.

Cornell's Pizarro agreed the GOP message would more likely appeal to those already on the political right.

"There is a broad area of research showing that people who are more conservative on the spectrum are more responsive to physical threats," Pizarro said. "So there’s reason to believe those types of ads would be more appealing to those on the right."

In general, crime has always been a campaign theme for Republicans and they’ve leaned heavily on it this year. Murder rates across the U.S. spiked in 2020 and 2021 — at the beginning of the pandemic. Homicides have declined in 2022 compared with last year in New York City and among about 70 large U.S. cities, though the rate is higher than right before the pandemic.

In New York City, the murder rate is down 11% from two years earlier, through Oct. 2, NYPD reported. However, there’s been an increase in other major crimes such as rape (14%), robbery (37%) and felonious assault (26%).

Even with the rise amid the pandemic, the murder rate remains far below what it was in the early 1990s nationally. New York City’s murder rate is 78% lower than in 1993, according to NYPD statistics.

Spitzer called the use of extreme images for political appeals an “effort to stoke fear of crime at a time when it’s objectively a whole lot better than it was 30 years ago.”

In some ways, Republicans are looking to counter the political steam Democrats have generated in the wake of the rollback of abortion rights, he said.

“Clearly the Republicans are trying to gin up the crime issue as an emotional appeal that might counter the opposing emotional reaction to the (U.S.) Supreme Court’s repeal of the Roe abortion decision this summer, which the Democrats view as an issue that might have sufficient emotional appeal to increase turnout among Democratic voters,” Spitzer said. “The Republicans are looking for motivating issues when the complaint about higher gas prices, for example, has been blunted because gas prices are back down.”

Perry said while it is clear “norms have deteriorated” in political messaging, the reality is when it comes to political ads “what’s appropriate is what people deem appropriate.” The public plays a role, too.

“We can’t just blame political operatives for shocking ads … if the public doesn’t demand better or more decent communication, it’s not going to happen,” he said.

By Yancey Roy

yancey.roy@newsday.com@yanceyroy