THIS Is Racism?
Although I live in Tennessee, the nearest major media market to my home is Huntsville, Alabama. Because of this, I normally wouldn’t be able to knowledgeably discuss the furor surrounding the ad recently run by the Republican National Committee focusing on Democrat Harold Ford’s candidacy for the United States Senate.
Fortunately, though, we live in the internet age. So when I heard about a tacky ad with racist overtones being run in support of Republican Bob Corker, I took an immediate interest, and was able to find a link that enabled me to watch the ad on my computer.
Imagine my surprise when the first face I saw on the ad, designed to support the Corker campaign and damage Ford’s, is that of a black woman who is obviously making light of the fact that “Harold Ford looks nice, isn’t that enough?” As ironic as that fact was, I was already aware that that particular part was not what prompted the cries of racism – a term, by the way, that I have been saying for some time has lost its impact due to its overuse.
Finally, the controversial portion of the ad came up – an attractive white woman coos that she met Harold at a Playboy party – a party which, incidentally, Mr. Ford took pains to try to imply he wasn’t at on George Stephanopolous’ television show, before he finally admitted to attending it at a press appearance a few days later. After some comments from a narrator, the ad returns to the woman, who looks into the camera and says, “Harold, call me.”
The first thing I thought when I saw this ad, with the knowledge of racist allegations that have been made over it, was, “Would this portion of the ad have lost any of its effectiveness if they had used a black woman?” I pictured one of the most attractive black women I have ever known – who, by the way, was a highly intelligent Assistant District Attorney that I used to do business with in a previous career – playing the part of the attractive female in this ad.
The impact was the same. As it would be if it were a Tyra Banks or Naomi Campbell playing the part. Because the point of that portion was not to incite racist fears over a black man being with a white woman – the only people who believe that this would incite panic among the citizens of Tennessee are the nimrods who desperately want to believe that the South is still inhabited by two groups of people – racists whites and oppressed minorities. The point of this ad is that, while most Tennesseans are hard-working, family-oriented people, who actually spend most of their lives in Tennessee, Harold Ford is a playboy bachelor who has never held a job outside of politics (inheriting his father’s U.S. House Seat) and has benefited tremendously from his family’s wealth and political clout in Memphis – a city which the Ford family pretty much owns politically.
Lost in all the furor being raised by the left over this ad – probably intentionally – is the fact that the comments made by the young woman, as well as everyone else in the ad, are an accurate reflection of who Harold Ford is, and where he stands on issues that Tennesseans pay attention to. This, of course, explains why the vast majority of Harold Ford’s campaign funds have been raised outside of Tennessee. He would be a good choice for the Senate for the folks from New York or California – from whence comes the lion’s share of his contributions. But his being a “representative” of the interests of the people of Tennessee makes little sense to most attentive folks outside of Memphis’ 9th District.
Fortunately, though, we live in the internet age. So when I heard about a tacky ad with racist overtones being run in support of Republican Bob Corker, I took an immediate interest, and was able to find a link that enabled me to watch the ad on my computer.
Imagine my surprise when the first face I saw on the ad, designed to support the Corker campaign and damage Ford’s, is that of a black woman who is obviously making light of the fact that “Harold Ford looks nice, isn’t that enough?” As ironic as that fact was, I was already aware that that particular part was not what prompted the cries of racism – a term, by the way, that I have been saying for some time has lost its impact due to its overuse.
Finally, the controversial portion of the ad came up – an attractive white woman coos that she met Harold at a Playboy party – a party which, incidentally, Mr. Ford took pains to try to imply he wasn’t at on George Stephanopolous’ television show, before he finally admitted to attending it at a press appearance a few days later. After some comments from a narrator, the ad returns to the woman, who looks into the camera and says, “Harold, call me.”
The first thing I thought when I saw this ad, with the knowledge of racist allegations that have been made over it, was, “Would this portion of the ad have lost any of its effectiveness if they had used a black woman?” I pictured one of the most attractive black women I have ever known – who, by the way, was a highly intelligent Assistant District Attorney that I used to do business with in a previous career – playing the part of the attractive female in this ad.
The impact was the same. As it would be if it were a Tyra Banks or Naomi Campbell playing the part. Because the point of that portion was not to incite racist fears over a black man being with a white woman – the only people who believe that this would incite panic among the citizens of Tennessee are the nimrods who desperately want to believe that the South is still inhabited by two groups of people – racists whites and oppressed minorities. The point of this ad is that, while most Tennesseans are hard-working, family-oriented people, who actually spend most of their lives in Tennessee, Harold Ford is a playboy bachelor who has never held a job outside of politics (inheriting his father’s U.S. House Seat) and has benefited tremendously from his family’s wealth and political clout in Memphis – a city which the Ford family pretty much owns politically.
Lost in all the furor being raised by the left over this ad – probably intentionally – is the fact that the comments made by the young woman, as well as everyone else in the ad, are an accurate reflection of who Harold Ford is, and where he stands on issues that Tennesseans pay attention to. This, of course, explains why the vast majority of Harold Ford’s campaign funds have been raised outside of Tennessee. He would be a good choice for the Senate for the folks from New York or California – from whence comes the lion’s share of his contributions. But his being a “representative” of the interests of the people of Tennessee makes little sense to most attentive folks outside of Memphis’ 9th District.
posted by JeffreyH | 11:53 AM
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