race politics

[heatray5d]

You've all seen this ad.

There's this ruckus about it being racist, which I guess is because Ford is black. The implication here is that a white woman (and worse, one of the virginal flowers from Playboy Magazine!) might have had relations of some kind with him. As you know, the very thought of a white woman succumbing to the animal charms of our lesser African brothers is horrifying to many cracker minds; us white boys recoil at the thought of the African's mighty, pulsing manhood thoroughly corrupting our womenfolk, and forever poisoning them against white meat. Also, black dudes are scary even with their clothes on.

I don't know if I really buy that part of the controversy. If the ad is anything, it's sexist. I don't think folks who vote based on their fears of racial impurity are capable of catching the racial subtext in the ad, if it's there at all. The feel is more one of religious fear of sexuality than Southern race politics. Also, there's the implication that Ford is not only soft on terrorism, but that he's a staunch defender of terrorist-rights; which if that's true, he's got my vote. I feel ashamed every time a terrorist is forced by the bus driver to give up his seat for me. It's time someone stood up for the terrorists.

What bugs me about the ad, though, is how totally insubstantial it is. Is the Republican party in Tennessee so devoid of a message that they can afford to produce such a vapid advertisement? I know political ads are generally disingenuous at best and outright lies at worst, but they also usually at least take a shot at substance with little graphics of highlighted newspaper text and sepia film of farmers or coal miners/black and white footage of rapists eating filet mignon depending on the non-issues at stake in the election.

I rarely agree with Republicans, but I remember a time when I respected their party in many ways. Reagan was a psycho, but he was an ethical psycho who knew how to tell a yarn. But if the entirety of your message in a given election is that:
a) Your opponent (a single man, I think) has sex with Playboy Bunnies.
b) He may be black.
You've already lost.

Seriously, if I was Harold Ford's campaign manager, I would respond with a positive ad that went something like this:

"Harrison Ford saved the galaxy from Darth Vader as Han Solo, and married a princess. Then, he fought Nazis and saved the world from deranged psychopath Adolph Hitler, at the same time securing the Ark of the Covenant – and God's permanent blessing – for the United States. Then, he saved a little Amish boy's life, protected his nation from Irish terrorists, a top-secret Soviet nuclear submarine, and rampaging killer androids from space. Harrison Ford is a God Damn hero. What the hell has Bob Corker ever done?

"Vote Harold Ford this November."

You know what else? The Republican Party is missing the boat with this ad anyway. Look at Ford's website. That dude is only a teeny, tiny bit blacker than I am. He doesn't even have any pictures of black folks on his web site. His platform says fuck all about race issues or affirmative action. I'm willing to bet that a good percentage of the people he represents don't even realize he's black, but even if they do he's exactly the kind of black guy who makes white people feel okay about black people. 50 Cent he is not. He's not even Usher.

You know what I think? I think Ford, in the next debate, should show Tennessee exactly how much of a pussy Corker is. Cater to stereotypes. From his podium across the stage, Ford could offer this rebuttal:

Ford: Bitch, did you just scuff my Nikes?

Corker: What?

Ford: What the fuck do you mean what, bitch? Did you just scuff my Nikes?

Corker: Um.

Ford: [leaves his podium and approaches Corker, while removing his sport coat] Oh it's ON, now, bee-yatch. You gon' be pissin' blood 'n I'm through wit you.

Corker: Wait!

Ford: You got something to say, bitch? You got something to say, motherfucker?

Corker: No! I. . . I'm sorry I scuffed your Nikes.

Ford: Sorry what, bitch?

Corker: Sorry I scuffed your Nikes. . .sir?

Ford: S'cool. [returns to his podium] Next question?

Also, since when is picking on diseased celebrities cool? How come no one told me it was okay to kick these fuckers while they're down?

Remember that time Richard Pryor died? Shameless publicity stunt, trying to promote baby-killing stem cell research. I hope he dies again. Christopher Reeve was also faking in a calculated attempt to gain sympathy for Palestinian terrorists.

Comments

[brigid.livejournal.com]

this is the best thing i've ever read.

[rojagato.livejournal.com]

Is brilliant!

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

the best thing is also the most irrelevant. when i read your mood my 17-pound monster jumped up on my lap

[xjuggernaughtx.livejournal.com]

Just as an aside, Forest used to have a 33 pound cat. Paws the size of old-style silver dollars.

[miss-soap.livejournal.com]

Big paws (http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=ydckjb&outx=800&quality=70) are the way forward. That way you can wrestle your owner to the ground and sit on their head.

[xjuggernaughtx.livejournal.com]

The bigger the cat, the better, in my opinion. Especially the paws.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

mine actually have tiny paws, so when they stand on you their weight is focused on a small, painful point.

once my biggest one hit 20 i got nervous about him potentially eating me someday. putting him on a diet has made him very angry (well, whiny)

[xjuggernaughtx.livejournal.com]

I have a friend with a cat like that. She's shaped like a bowling ball, but with tiny paws. She leaves bruises if she stands on you.

[heatray.livejournal.com]

I didn't even like that stupid cat, but I was really sad when he disappeared.

[xjuggernaughtx.livejournal.com]

Dude, that cat was awesome. I wish it had still been there when I was there. Roxanne was a good substitute, though. Probably more fun.

[alex-victory.livejournal.com]

I can't even describe the number of ways in which this ad offends me. It doesn't make me just hate the RNC, it makes me hate a universe in which such people have power. OUR UNIVERSE.

[sirendipity.livejournal.com]

Nice.

[latemodel.livejournal.com]

You should look at Ford's responses: they're almost that good.

This campaign commercial is literally shot in a CHURCH.
At the end of this debate clip, he says, "... otherwise, be quiet, and let's keep running for the Senate."
this ad runs as follows: "Bob Corker lives in a 30-room mansion. He's worth over 200 million [dollars], and owns six SUVs."

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Yeah, now they both look like ass-hats to me.

RE: The debate clip -- Corker's point about multiple Ford family members in politics didn't especially move me, but then Ford's dumb-assed rebuttal, where he tried to sidestep the question into YOU TALKIN' SHIT ABOUT MY FAMILY?! SHUT UP, BITCH, lost me completely.

[couplingchaos.livejournal.com]

Awesome.

[an13743.livejournal.com]

yep... I live right next door to that. It seems paradoxal that TN is the same state that elected the "over-intellectualized" Al Gore to that senate not that long ago.

[ayun.livejournal.com]

"Corker" is a really unfortunate name.

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

If my last name were Corker, I'd marry a Butts. And hyphenate.

Either that, or I'd change my name.

[heatray.livejournal.com]

Not as unfortunate as Dick Swett (http://www.vis.org/crc/MemberTermInfo.aspx?p=297).

[xjuggernaughtx.livejournal.com]

This is from left field to me. I've never heard of this uproar. I watched this before reading your post, and I can honestly say that watching it uncritically only once, I had no idea what they were talking about most of the time. I guess if I was in that region, I would understand, but I wasn't even sure who they were lampooning until the end.

This is the type of ad that turns me off. Not because of it's content, but it's lack of content. I have a sort of political kill switch which is activated by lack of substance. Too many ads/interviews where you don't tell me what you are for and how you are going to achieve it, and I just begin to ignore you as a candidate.

[heatray.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what I'm talking about! This ad is so incredibly vapid, I can't imagine it would have much of an effect either way. What is it saying? What does it mean? There's no message here - it's all just white noise.

[futurenurselady.livejournal.com]

How embarassing for the actors who were in the ad. I hope they raped the RNC for every cent they could in their paychecks.

[xjuggernaughtx.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, this ad is probably better.better than most of the movies these guys have been involved with. I've been working in indie film for years now, and I have yet to be involved with a good production. Luckily, I'm on the other side of the camera, so it's less embarassing.