The original photo, on top above, shows three people in between U.S. Rep Mark Schauer (D-MI) and Nancy Pelosi. Schauer's opposition candidate, Tim Walberg's campaign wanted to depict him "arm in arm" with Pelosi, so they apparently doctored the photo. See lower image.

The Detroit News‘ Ad Watch spotted a fake photo in the TV ad paid for by Tim Walberg, a candidate for Congress.  The ad targeted U.S. Rep Mark Schauer (D-MI) and showed a photo of Schauer with Nancy Pelosi “as if they are arm in arm.”

The photo is a doctored version of a June 10 image. The original photo shows the two standing with “two Michigan State Univ. students who won the 2010 National Debate Tournament last year, their debate coach and debate director” in between them.

“Schauer’s office concluded the photo was digitally altered,” the Detroit News reported.  The Michigan Messenger reported that Walberg called the fake photo “not a biggie.”

iMediaEthics has written to The Detroit News  asking about Ad Watch. We will update with any response.

UPDATE: 11/09/2010 10:32 AM EST: The Detroit News’ Catherine Jun responded to iMediaEthics’ e-mail inquiry.  She credited the Michigan Messenger with first noting the photo was a fake.  Jun noted that “the Schauer campaign confirmed it was fake.”

Jun further explained that the Ad Watch column was a watchdog column which ran once or twice a week for the last six to eight weeks prior to the Nov. elections.