The Paranoid Style: Miscegenation

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2006
Posted on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 12:21:13 PM EST
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From Mark Schmitt on the Tennessee Senate GOP ads:

[L]ook at the independent ad in question. Then look at Republican Bob Corker’s own ad, here.
The independent ad begins with an African-American woman saying, "Harold Ford looks nice. Isn’t that enough?" The Corker ad begins with an African-American man saying, "Whoo, he looks good on TV!" (Apparently that’s the basis on which black people decide who to vote for. I did not know that.) It ends with someone else saying, "but he looks good on TV."
In between, the two ads have a virtually identical rhythm and look -- very short, person-on-the-street clips, alternating white and black, men and women, in a staccato rhythm, all cheerful and direct. . . . Together . . . these two ads sure look like a well-coordinated attempt to echo a single coherent message: He’s a pretty boy, he’s not from here, has weird values, ("He’s just not right," the independent ad concludes).

Which puts me in mind of Homer Stokes from the Coen Brothers film "O Brother Where Art Thou?":

Wait a minute...you's miscegenated! All you boys! Miscegenated! These boys is not white! These boys is not white! Hell, they ain't even ol'-timey! I happen to know, ladies'n gentlemen, this band a miscreants here, this very evening, they interfered with a lynch mob inna performance of its duties! It's true! I b'long to a certain society, I don't believe I gotta mention its name, heh-heh...Ahem. And these boys here trampled all over our venerated observances an' rich'ls! Now this-here music is over! I aim to - Listen to me! These boys desecrated a fiery cross!

Lock up your wimmen.

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The Paranoid Style: Miscegenation | 24 comments (24 topical)

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xx (1.00 / 0) (#16)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 08:34:16 PM EST

Big Tent writes:

There is not a reasonable person alive who believe the ad was not racist

The ad used a black man because it wanted to pull some black voters away from Ford. The comment was about his being "slick," etc. You think using a black spokesperson to appeal to other blacks is racist and call anyone who disagrees with you "not reasonable."

I call you a partisan Demo who wouldn't know racist if it bit you on the butt.

In the meantime someone had better tell blacks they can't be actors unless the demographics show a lilly white audience.

Racist you know.

Ma rk McKinnon GOP consultant (none / 0) (#17)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 09:57:10 PM EST

just said on CNN the ad was racist and despicable.

As i said, no reaosnable intelligent person can think otherwise.

Label yourself Jim.


: No reasonable person can think otherwise. (none / 0) (#20)
by Edger on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 10:16:46 PM EST

Label yourself Jim.
He does everyday, Big Tent. His middle name is "Denial". His last name is "Baits".

xx (1.00 / 0) (#21)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 10:18:27 PM EST

Big Tent - Facts are facts and you can twist and turn, but the facts won't change.

I repeat. It's not racist to use a black as an actor in a TV spot designed to reach blacks.

Again - you are a partisan Demo who wouldn't know racism if it bit you on he butt.

Slow morning... (none / 0) (#1)
by Gabriel Malor on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 12:32:42 PM EST

Okay, I'm having a pretty slow start today. The ad is bad because it has black people in it? Is it just because the first guy says "Whoo, he sure looks good on TV!" that it's a problem?

If you squint real hard, it kind of looks racist (none / 0) (#2)
by roy on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 01:38:40 PM EST

More likely they used black actors to resonate with black voters. Not because that's how "black people decide", but because it's how voters in general, shallow sheep that we are, decide. It's condescending, but it doesn't have much to do with race.

The Left has a reputation for looking for racism wherever it's politically conveneient to find. Is that a Republican slander, or something well-earned?

Besides, if they'd used non-black actors, then that'd be racist too.

Bonus points for getting another Klan reference on to the site, though.

: The Right (none / 0) (#4)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 02:03:10 PM EST

was a well earned reputation as racists.

For rhose who want to defend it (none / 0) (#3)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 02:02:26 PM EST

You disgrace yourselves frankly.

There is not a reasonable person alive who believe the ad was not racist. That the ad did not play on the classic race bait of black men taking white women.

But act like idiots if you like.

I didn't see that. (none / 0) (#7)
by Gabriel Malor on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 02:56:31 PM EST

Woah, that's a strong response. And I can't speak for the other posters, but I was genuinely asking what the problem was--with either ad. It is apparently obvious to you, but it wasn't obvious to me.

In the RNC ad, I assume you're talking about the "Playboy mansion party" woman. It appears to me that the she's is the one doing all the "taking:"

"Harold, call me!" /sultry voice

And I don't see the problem at all with the Corker ad. Oh my goodness, it's got black people in it! And they're daring to show it on TV! Somebody call the sherrif already!

I guess what I'm asking for is some discussion that's a little deeper than "Republican = racist."


re: over-the-top condescension (none / 0) (#8)
by roy on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 03:05:28 PM EST

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my specific points rather than insulting me.


: Sorry (none / 0) (#19)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 09:59:08 PM EST

But your points are not reasonable.

Oy vey (none / 0) (#5)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 02:33:36 PM EST

Uh, there was a white woman also saying something about how "he does look good on TV" in the Corker ad.

So, racist via the black actors and, I don't know, sexist via the white woman? Hey, she also looked older than 30, so it's probably ageist as well. Then again, she appears to be a blond, so maybe it's also blondist?

Some people go through life looking for offense like there's a reward for it.

He's just not right (none / 0) (#6)
by Dadler on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 02:56:01 PM EST

What a g*ddamn bizarre piece of election propaganda. Like a marginally legitimate first draft of an SNL skit that needs a few rewrites, or more. But it was attempting to be politically serious. Yipes.

And that tag line "He's just not right", I dunno, it's just a very racially suggestive choice of words. He's not the right man, right person for the job, fine. But he's just not right? Intended or not, it leaves an unsavory taste in my mouth for the makers and candidate. The subconscious is a powerful thing. In all of us. And it's certainly in play in this ad. I mean that tag line is bookended at the other end at the beginning by the only black character, a lady saying "He looks nice, isn't that enough?"

He looks nice. He's just not right.

Like I said before, yipes. That racially subtextual, subconscious vibe is just at play there. It's creepy. Because, in the end, this is not a skit on a comedy program but a real political ad attempting to be serious in that respect. You certainly can be both funny and make a serious point. Here, however, in trying to do both, they accomplished neither.

For example, the "hunter" out in the woods with the painted face and the raging angry eyes who's saying sarcastically that Ford is right, he does have too many guns...Ford IS right, that nutcase shouldn't be anywhere near a squirt gun, much less real firearms. I laughed my ass off. But it makes no sense for the supposed intent of the ad, and the whole commercial is like a raging, post-modern, unchecked id.

"he's just not right" (none / 0) (#9)
by cpinva on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 03:16:17 PM EST

has mr. ford been ajudicated an incompetent, and i missed it? hell, if that's all it takes, i submit brother bush should be dwelling in a rubber room. after all, god speaks to him, and tells him what to do.

i'll have to check out those ads, but i think i get where BTD is coming from. whether or not i'm in concert remains to be seen.

both ads are basically substance-free (none / 0) (#10)
by Joe Bob on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 04:24:41 PM EST

If you ask me, the apparently topless white "Playboy" woman is a pretty transparent appeal to the subset of the population who gets worked up at the idea of a black man sleeping with a white woman.

Aside from that, what bothers me most about both of these ads is that they are totally devoid of any substantive content whatsoever. It's 100% name-calling and character assassination. It's an insult to the intelligence of anyone trying to make an informed decision about how to vote.

Lastly, so what if Corker is 'from' Tennessee and Ford is not? Is it some sort of appeal to 'Southern' identity? Because it's not like there aren't plenty of people who live in a state different from the one they were born in.

Racist Ad Pulled (none / 0) (#11)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 04:34:47 PM EST

Universal outcry the reason.

Well, not quite universal. A few Republicans apparently didn't see the obvious racism.

The fact that the rest of the world did does not affect their thinking.

It's in your head (none / 0) (#12)
by jarober on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 05:07:01 PM EST

Those of us who don't sense racism around every corner simply don't see it that way. By your reasoning, every attack on Foley is gay bashing.

heh (none / 0) (#14)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 05:23:18 PM EST

No offense, but that makes no sense.

Was Ford a sexual predator? Was he attacked for being a sexual predator?

Seriously, I hope you can do better than that.


heh (none / 0) (#15)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 05:57:55 PM EST

No offense, but that makes no sense.
Was Ford a sexual predator? Was he attacked for being a sexual predator? Seriously, I hope you can do better than that.

Wow, easy there tiger. Actually, I have no idea, I've never even heard of the guy before - like most Americans I suspect. All I know is what the ad seemed to to me to imply.

I think you got some issues. Seriously.


: I see now (none / 0) (#18)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 09:58:31 PM EST

You are not adept at the logic.
I'll leave you be from now on.
Uncharacteristic for the site I must say.
Live and learn.

Ad pulled (none / 0) (#13)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 05:12:12 PM EST

I gotta thank Joe Bob above for explaining how the first ad played to racism. I gotta say it never even occurred to me.

The whole ad itself seemed kinda "out there" for a political ad, even a negative ad, but my only reaction was that I figured the supposed playboy bunny/pol/sex angle was the negativity intended - negativity based on race never occurred to me.

Still don't see racism in the Corker ad, considering both a black and white person say much the same thing...

: I'm Shocked...Shocked I tell you! (none / 0) (#23)
by Ernesto Del Mundo on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 12:40:55 AM EST

negativity based on race never occurred to me.
Somehow, I totally believe you on that one.

xxx (none / 0) (#24)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 06:21:33 AM EST

DA - The ad uses a black actor and Big Tent writes:

If you can't make the connection that is your problem.

Predators (none / 0) (#25)
by jarober on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 08:11:10 AM EST

Funny how Foley - who has yet to be accused of a sex act with a minor - is a predator, while your guy Clinton - who had sex with a subordinate less than half is age - was not.

I guess to be a predator, the following has to be true:

"Doing something I find distasteful while being a member of the other party"