RNC Dropping "Daughter Wants Black Man" Bomb on Ford. Do Dems have response?

[Sensitivity]

The Republicans have been using the "White Fear" Southern Strategy
for decades.

They are rolling it out with a "Daddy's Worst Nightmare" twist
against Harold Ford in the last weeks of the campaign.

After all this time, have Dems developed an answer to this.

What is the "retaliatory strike?" Would think this called for
"nuclear missile" type response.

Or is the DNC just hoping that the attack boomerangs?

[ashling]

1. This ad just seems really stupid

I hope it will backfire.

[Sensitivity]

6. History shows that crass racist attacks can work. Hoping it backfires

Does not seem like a good Party strategy.

Ford has in every way tailored a centrist (almost conservative)
image for a Southern state campaign.

Everyone says he has run a "perfect" campaign.

But it is really naive to think that race would not be a major factor in his ability to
win in Tennesee.

Even when the polls show him in a dead heat, there is a strong suspicion that about
5% of those polled who say they intend to for a black man will not do so when
election day comes.

One would hope that after all these years the Party has developed some response
to address the kind of racist attacks that are now emerging. Ford, himself, cannot
answer these type of charges. The PARTY HAS TO DO IT.

[ellacott]

9. I Agree

I get tired of not seeing a response to these types of ads. It's not enough to say that type of thing.

It plays right into their hands and the GOP knows it.

[Sensitivity]

17. I am amazed that the Party leadership were not prepared with a counter-attack

[wholetruth00]

48. Here is a counter: "We don't want a black man in our bed. We want them

in our house, the White House!"

[bullwinkle428]

26. It sure worked for * in the S.C. primary against McCain in 2000...

[TornadoTN]

30. And it will probably work this time

A few weeks back I was excited and fired up for Ford. He was making the right decisions, appealing to the Dem base and the moderates alike, remaining upbeat and on the offensive.

Since the Torture Bill debacle, his campaign has switched into full-on "Sway the Republicans" mode and abandoning the Democratic base entirely. They don't want to appear to be Democrats so that they can get that mythical Republican crossover vote (Which is just that in Tennessee - a MYTH). I've posted about it over in the Tennessee forum, but they have really alienated a lot of Dems in the state by marginalizing their enthusiasm to volunteer or be associated with the campaign.

This new Race-baiting assault by Corker is beyond reprehensible - but I fear it may work. The common person is growing tired of this race and with this new advertising blitz they are more likely to be swayed in the last two weeks of the election by playing to that age-old southern stereotype that still exists today - that is Black people look after Blacks first and foremost. Yes, it's sad and ignorant, but this little line will resonate in the back of peoples minds when they make their decision. I hope I'm wrong - but I see some reminder of this every single day.

I've written a lot over on the Tennessee forum about these issues over the past few months, so if you are interested in seeing the metamorphasis of this campaign, I urge you to head over there. A lot of good people post there and you will find it enlightening.

[Sensitivity]

36. The PARTY can turn it around with focused attack on Corker - a weak reed

[Warren DeMontague]

55. Difference being, that was a GOP primary.

You're talking about a voter pool heavily weighted towards the knuckle-draggers.

[riverwalker]

2. Something just occurred to me

while reading your post. Could this also be a GOP trial run pre-emptive proxy attack on Obama should he run in '08?

[Kber]

46. Yep!

[Webster Green]

3. Ford had a great response...

"I like girls and I like football."

The guy is young and unmarried, so that was a perfect response.

The Gang Of Pervs has got nuthin'.

[chefgirl]

5. I agree

But the fear that the Republicans are trying to instill is that he likes 'white' girls.

Sadly, yeah, I think it just might work down in dumbfuckistan.

-chef-

[Sensitivity]

12. Watch Pervs connect "I LIKE GIRLS" TO IMAGE OF BLONDE IN ATTACK AD

The Southern Boys still don't like that. Neither do the Dads.
Nor do the "Sisters."

If Dems let this line of attack stand they don't deserve to win.

The PARTY need to do something that tells the PUKES
"Do this shit, and we will blow you away."

Anything less just encourages the Republicans to continue these
tactics into the future.

[shanti]

28. they are targeting this ad

to white men and black women. this is SICK.

[Sensitivity]

29. But it will work unless DEMS learn to counter this type of tactic.

[Vidar]

43. Ford can put "At least" in front of "I like girls". That would shut them down

for a few days. This is not aimed at any DUers or democrats & no whales were harmed in the making of this post.

[Qutzupalotl]

57. They deserve to win even if they can't counter this well.

The one has nothing to do with the other.

[SouthernBelle82]

15. Exactly

He's thirty something years old and what he does in his private life should be of nobody's business. Corker should be more worried about his daughter going out doing parties and doing a lesbian kiss.

[smokey nj]

4. I would love the DNC to attack right back with ads that feature

images of KKK rallies, burning crosses, and cops spraying African American children with fire hoses. It's about time they started calling the pukes on their racist bullshit.

[bleedingheart]

7. yep...I agree

[kevinbgoode]

35. Actually, I think the Dems should respond with ads featuring

Corker...and then pictures of Senate pages. . .and Corker...and the pages....and Corker...and the pages!

then watch the repuke machine scream!

[WI_DEM]

8. exactly what does the ad say?

I'm not sure I've seen it.

[StellaBlue]

10. I used to be a tour guide at the Texas Governor's Mansion

during Shrub's reign

and I have on VERY good sources

that he regularly nixed the professional chef's menu (she had been there for several previous administrations) and insisted on having hot dogs for lunch. Yes, seriously.

[hedgehog]

11. ?

[StellaBlue]

14. ?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. Maybe you thought this was the thread...

about the angry white house chef?

[Cleita]

13. Yes, they must point out the racism and loudly.

It probably will piss off a lot of racists, however, they won't vote for a Democrat anyway, but it will make those who believe in equality think about it.

I have pointed out to Christians that God created all of us not just white people and he loves all his creation, not just the blondes. So to consider a person of another race as not worthy of your son or daughter is telling God that his children aren't worthy of your son or daughter.

[DeepModem Mom]

16. This ad is, thankfully, being attacked by some of the MSM on TV

I saw Chris Matthews attack it last night, and heard he was still slamming it on the "Today Show" this morning. And I saw Diane Sawyer slam it today, in an interview with Sean Hannity (???).

[hedgehog]

19. I think it shows how out of touch the Republicans are.

10 years ago, I don't think there were three black families in my rural county in Upstate New York. Now I see interracial couples all the time. My area has integrated with no apparent fuss or muss. I also have two adopted nieces that most people would label black although they are multiracial. There are plenty of people now with multiracial families. IMO, these ads are attacking my nieces who happen to be great kids.

On edit, maybe that's the ad the Democrats need to run; a mixed race family with adorable kids looking at the camera and asking what the Republicans are trying to insinuate.

[Sensitivity]

20. Doubt this is accidental-ad, much testing in Tennesee likely was done

The republican know who they are appealing to and how they will
respond -- just as they did when the devised the "swift-boat" attacks
on Kerry.

[hedgehog]

21. I don't know if this will win them votes, though.

I would think that it will only appeal to the faithful and that it might get other people out to vote against them

[Clark2008]

45. So they're banking on the 13 percent of Tennesseans

who said they MIGHT know someone who wouldn't vote for Ford because he's black?

Well, that seems awfully short-sighted. Thirteen percent isn't a whole hell of a lot - particularly when one couples the fact that people answere that they only "might" know someone. That could be as low as 7 percent.

[Dr Fate]

22. What historical precedent do you have for DEMS responding to attacks?

Since when do we respond to attacks?

Give me an example of us ever doing that- and by "response"- I mean something that is on TV as much as the original attack- not text on a website or some obscure press release or conference- but on TV. Something the people who saw the attack will see.

Good question- but it needs to be asked about nearly everything we have ever been attacked about or will be attacked over in the next few weeks.

[Sensitivity]

23. RNC is spending .5 Mill on Ad. Lack of DNC response shows we will

tollerate continued use of sick racial stereotypes and appeal to
racist feelings.

[Warren DeMontague]

40. I can't imagine anyone is going to be convinced by this thing.

It's amazingly weak, even for the GOP.

[rasputin1952]

24. It just shows me the level of desperation. They have nothing to run on

but some supposed "fear"; makes no difference what that fear is, just so long as it scares some people into getting to the polls to "protect" themselves and their kids from something they perceive as "evil".

The "issue" is to scare people, gorget about discussing what might be important, like a living wage, just make sure you bolster the lowest denominator and create fear...what a glorious party of ideas...:eyes:

[Sensitivity]

27. The "Fear" seems to help them win! Its a disgrace if DNC lets Ford fall

under the circumstance of this kind of racist attack.

Like many here, I think many of Ford's positions are too conservative.
But, if the PARTY allow Ford to loose under this kind of "Southern Strategy"
racist inuendo would be a damn SHAME.

The party should have been prepared to hammer this kind of sneeky use of racist feelings
and have a response that knocked it out of the park.

[SouthernBelle82]

53. The key phrase here is

"values voters." It's what the two guys running against Corker in the primary's went on so now Corker is going that route too all the while still trying to appear "moderate" which he isn't. He's trying to play both sides of the coin. That is how I think he won the primary by appearing more sane than the others since TN is moderate/conservative I think.

[hunter]

25. ???

I'm in California. Is there a link to this ad anywhere?

[Warren DeMontague]

39. NY Times.

The ad is pretty fuckin' pathetic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/26/us/politics/26tennessee.html

[paparush]

31. These last 2 weeks are gonna be ugly..the Rethugs will pull

no slim covered punches. No lie is too great, no position to low to stoop...

[Sensitivity]

32. DNC should have been ready to HAMMER this. Totally predictable!!!!

[radfringe]

41. Despite bush's confidence, Rove's pronouncements of GOP victory

and the rest of the neo-con spinning...

between this ad, Limbaugh's attacks on MJ Fox, and other ads - it shows just how desperate the "stakes" are for GOPers that they have to wallow not in mud, but rather wallow in a pile of "sh*t"

they only things they have left is FEAR and SMEAR

[Snotcicles]

33. It's not that they want a black man,they want a Democrat

because when they think of Republicans their uterus's slam shut.

[Sensitivity]

34. Pretty girls prefer Democrats! Thats a better comeback that DNC has so far

We should not be whining about racism, but dropping our own bomb
in response to despicable attack.

[WinkyDink]

37. Republicans are morans. Haven't they seen Heidi Klum and Seal?

And nobody cares about Playboy, either, anymore.

[Warren DeMontague]

38. Oh No! Democrats are the party of consenting adult sex!

While "family values" Republicans are the party of protecting pedophile Priests, sick internet chats with underage pages, and sticking lightsticks up people's asses at Abu Ghraib!

[sandnsea]

42. Most people are attacking the ad - not the Democrats

It's stunning so many still don't get the obvious.

If you're spreading the slander, you're helping them. You may as well send them a check for $1,000 because that's how much time and money it takes to counter every person who spreads a right wing lie.

[Sensitivity]

44. Issue is not Attacking the Ad, but attacking the RNC for the outrage

Unfortunately, they continue to feel it is ok to fish for the racist swing vote
because there is no real painful consequence. A counter to this racist behavior
does not even have to address the Ad itself. I has to send a painful message.
Why do we have to hope that responses by Chris Mathews is enough.

To date, studies of bi-racial races show that these racist attacks are very effective
regardless of what people say publicly or to polsters.

[sandnsea]

49. They pulled it

Because there was outrage. Too bad you chose to bash Dems.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=racist+ad&btnG=Search+News

[Sensitivity]

51. Not correct -Said it ran its expected course. Followed by other slime

that supports the "framing" they were trying to effect.

Ford is doing a great job. But it is a shame that the Party has never
faced up to the need to punish the Republicans when they do this shit.

[sandnsea]

54. Did you click the link?

Even Corker was forced to disavow the ad. There is an "uproar" and "outrage" in newspapers across the country. Did you want Howard Dean to go punch Mehlman in the face???

[warrens]

52. It looks like even Mehlman was embarassed by that ad

He was on NPR this morning, sort of defending it (claims he didn't see it as racist) but saying it was a bad ad and he was glad it is gone. He's lying, of course, but it is an embarassment nationally. If it had stayed in Tennessee, no one would have been the wiser.

With Limbaugh humiliating them with his attack on Fox, this sicko ad, and the bomb one in PA, the GOP has nailed its reputation for sleaze in the hearts of a lot of Americans, and not just Dems.

[NancyG]

47. Anyone notice what I noticed on the new ad?

Haven't seen any commentary on this. On the replacement ad, there's the part about young girls getting an abortion pill and the white girl graphic moves right into Harold's arms. They're continuing the meme about white girl/black man in a more subtle way. This one should be removed also.

[Sensitivity]

50. Removing Ad After the fact does not help. The need is to counter-attack

racist tactics when is shows up as it regularly does.

[AnnieBW]

56. And Your Republican Representative

Wants your teenaged son!

[B Calm]

58. WHAT NEXT? JUNGLE DRUMS...

[Jack Rabbit]

59. Hopefully, they will have a response ready by the weekend

When it cones to the Bush-led GOP, there is no lie about any opponent they will not tell. If it is not challenged, it will hurt. A lot of people probably still think that Al Gore claimed to have invented the Internet and that John Kerry did not deserve his medals in Vietnam.

Also, the GOP racists should get this straight:

If an adult White woman wants nookie from Harold Ford,
that is between them and nobody else's business!!

Am I getting through to you, Mr. Mehlman?

[yurbud]

60. correct response: black kid watching commercial with grandma...

"Granny, why do they think a black man isn't good enough for that white girl?"

"Honey, when I was a girl, a lot of white folks thought we weren't as good as them, and they even made us use a separate drinking fountain and bathroom and even sit in the back of the bus. And if a black man even looked at a white girl funny they'd kill him."

The kids eyes widen. "Do the people who made that commercial want to do things like that again?"

"No, child. They just think people will vote for them if they pretend they do, but people in Tennessee are better than that."