White Not?
Posted on October 27th, 2006 in Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
Have you read about all the hubbub over the racist ad Republicans are airing against Tennessee senatorial candidate Harold Ford?
From the Times:
The spot, which was first broadcast last week and was disappearing from the air on Wednesday, featured a series of people in mock man-on-the street interviews talking sarcastically about Mr. Ford and his stands on issues including the estate tax and national security.
The controversy erupted over one of the people featured: an attractive white woman, bare-shouldered, who declares that she met Mr. Ford at a âPlayboy party,â and closes the commercial by looking into the camera and saying, with a wink, âHarold, call me.â
I’ve read a lot about this ad, and none of the reporting points out one of the subtexts the ad manipulates so grossly: Harold Ford does like white women.
How do I know this? A female friend of mine, who is white, dated Ford…and it was her strong impression that white women were Ford’s girlfriends of preference.
Let’s be clear: There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this.
My point: The ad is even more vile than the press has reported, because it uses an innocuous truth which is probably somewhat known in Tennessee to manipulate and exaggerate racial fears.
5 Responses
10/27/2006 12:49 pm
I think it’s certainly in bad taste, but I’m afraid you have to expect your attendance at Playboy parties to pop-up in negative ads, especially in Tennessee. That’s local politics for you, deal with it.
10/27/2006 12:54 pm
I don’t think it’s the Playboy part that’s the issue, I think it’s the racial angle.
Also, having a woman says, “Harold, call me…” in a campaign ad. Come on….
10/27/2006 1:16 pm
And I’m saying the Playboy angle is providing cover for any racial angle. They can say “racial? This is about his taste in parties.” If he didn’t attend parties thrown by an elicit magazine, there would have been no opportunity for subtle race-baiting. So anyone with political aspirations should stay away from the Playboy Mansion. Not too much to ask.
10/27/2006 2:12 pm
You’re right, of course. It was stupid of Ford.
10/27/2006 7:27 pm
Just to clarify this, it wasn’t a party at the Playboy Mansion. It was a party at the Superbowl, sponsored by Playboy.
Not sure it matters, exactly.