This ad, from the RNC, is being played on stations in Tennessee. The ad is airing on behalf of Republican candidate Bob Corker, who has asked stations to stop airing it. Former Republican senator and Defense Secretary William Cohen thinks the ad appeals to a “racist sentiment.”
Watch it. And then tell me: is the ad racist?
My initial reaction after watching the ad was to say that the ad definitely was filled with sarcasm and could have almost been a commercial for a TV sitcom, but I didn’t feel as though it was racist. After I read the articles you linked to and reading a little background behind the accusations, however, I could see why some people would believe that the ad was racist.
Nonetheless, Corker drew more attention to the ad by calling for it to be removed from the air then it would have probably received had it remained on the air. As a result of the commercial now receiving attention for potentially being racist, I believe people might already have some preconceived opinions about it and simply be looking for certain aspects that might be considered racist.
Posted by Bryan J. Scrafford | Tuesday, October 24, 2006, 11:58 pmBah. It’s not racist, and the NAACP head is wrong. It’s no more racist than the NAACP refering to “colored people” in its title.
And Bryan is brilliant. Corker just tripled the ad’s reach by calling for it to be pulled.
Posted by Insider | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 6:04 amI could barely imagine that it was a real campaign ad the first time I saw it. I don’t know if it’s racist, but it is definitely to close for comfort. The thing is, aparently Ford Jr. likes the white girls, which aparently is an issue outside the beltway? I don’t like traveling to no-man’s-land outside my beloved beltway so I wouldn’t know about that, but in Tennessee I guess stupid people care about stupid things.
Posted by Breaux | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 8:27 amIt didn’t seem racist to me, but then, I didn’t know Ford was Black.
People who want to be offended will find a way.
Posted by Jack | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 8:45 amAlthough I had read the pieces before I found the ad, the first time I watched it, I didn’t see the racism. Only in subsquent viewings did I really understand what the other folks were saying. That being the case, I have to wonder if others opinions on the ad are being swayed by those who see racism in everything.
Of course, I’m an outsider (although a TN native) looking in and while I have followed the race, I don’t live in TN and don’t know the dynamics of the area.
Posted by vjp | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 8:49 amOne of the few benefits of being born and growing up in the last capital of the confederacy (Danville, VA) is that I have some intuitive sense of what the answer is to Vivian’s question. Is the Rabbi Jewish, is the Pope Catholic? Of course the ad is racist, why else would the ad feature a white woman coming on to Ford.
Posted by Frank M. Feibelman | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 11:07 amTo be sincere, I don´t know. I live in Brazil and to me Harold Ford. Jr. is white. ; )
Posted by André Kenji | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 11:26 amI dont see it as overtly racist, but if you listen carefully you’ll find it. From my point of view the problem with the ad is that it’s just plain awful. It looks and sounds like it was filmed and acted by first-graders rather than the Republican party, and the smarm factor is way over the top.
Posted by Lynda | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 11:43 amAndre – interesting take
Posted by vjp | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 12:52 pmI think that it is racist, especially after viewing it several times. The racism is intended to be very covert! It’s the good ole Southern boy version of making a statement, along with a grin, wink, and elbow into the ribs – kinda like those code words Republicans use without coming out directly and saying what they mean. One TV program commentator last night said that it’s targeted to strike fear in Southern redneck voters so they’ll get out and vote, but before they do they’ll “lock up all the white women”. It’s the lowest kind of “dirty political ad” and stoops to a new low.
It’s several steps below the unintended “macaca” incident, where George Allen is talking to “the boys” and didn’t expect to be taken to task for his remarks. It’s the equivalent of him later looking directly into the camera, flashing that good ole boy grin, and saying he doesn’t know what this word means! This response is again repeated with Corker saying he’s against it and powerless to get it pulled! I believe that just like I believe that George Allen made up the word macaca. P-l-e-a-s-e, don’t insult my intelligence…
I just hope the public sees this for what it really is, and it backfires just like macaca did! Kinda shoots the hell out of a previous statement of “I’m a uniter – not a divider!”. I guess that desperation leads to new lows…
Posted by BS | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 3:43 pmNO! I can honestly say that I saw no racism in that ad. I thought it was hilarious. Perhaps that’s because we’re so used to whites and blacks dating. My son, who is white, had a black girlfriend for 3 years. She and I became close and still are. She’s a joy. One of my best friends is a conservative black man. So I just didn’t see the racisim. Sounds like many of you didn’t see it either, until someone told you that you should see racism in the ad.
We don’t see race, unless the democrats tell us that we must. That ad was NOT about race. It was just darn funny. Too bad we can’t even use humor anymore without being accused of something more sinister.
Posted by Jane Oldham | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 3:57 pmJane – the idea that the Democrats were the only ones who saw this ad as racist is plain false. Note that one of the links I provided was from former Republican senator William Cohen. And the Republican candidate asked that the ads be pulled.
Sometimes, things aren’t about party affiliation. Actually, a lot of times things aren’t about party affiliation.
Posted by vjp | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 4:03 pmLynda,
If you have to ‘listen carefully’ and search for the racism, then it’s hardly ‘overt’.
Posted by Jane Oldham | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 4:06 pmThe people here, complaining that the ad was racist, are liberals. I know it’s not always democrats who find racism where there is none, but they are usually the ones who do it. It gets old.
Posted by Jane Oldham | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 4:09 pmI’m off again to campaign until later this evening. Have a good evening.
Posted by Jane Oldham | Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 4:10 pm