Running While Black

[JoyJuice]

Op-Ed Columnist
Running While Black

By BOB HERBERT
Published: August 2, 2008

Gee, I wonder why, if you have a black man running for high public office — say, Barack Obama or Harold Ford — the opposition feels compelled to run low-life political ads featuring tacky, sexually provocative white women who have no connection whatsoever to the black male candidates.

Spare me any more drivel about the high-mindedness of John McCain. You knew something was up back in March when, in his first ad of the general campaign, Mr. McCain had himself touted as “the American president Americans have been waiting for.”

There was nothing subtle about that attempt to position Senator Obama as the Other, a candidate who might technically be American but who remained in some sense foreign, not sufficiently patriotic and certainly not one of us — the “us” being the genuine red-white-and-blue Americans who the ad was aimed at.

Since then, Senator McCain has only upped the ante, smearing Mr. Obama every which way from sundown.

The Rest....

 

[QuiltAngel]

I was not impressed with the ad with the actresses either. BUT, I am less impressed with the left calling us racist all the time for not supporting a black candidate. How many times do we have to say it is not his skin color but his stands on issues we do not agree with. I would not support Sen. Obama if he were a white man or any other race.

 

[Scribbler]

It wasn't the greatest ad I've ever seen, but the comparison was 'vapid celebrity', not 'he's going to take the white women", despite Herbert's claims to the contrary. The point of McCains ad was clear- "People fanatically follow Obama like some sort of celebrity, but the emperor has no clothes."

It's also bit of a stretch even to claim that for the Harold Ford ad, If you watch the ad she was
referencing his going to a party at the Playboy Mansion...again, not so much 'He want's the white women'.

The Harold Ford Ad in question

The John McCain Ad in question

 

[Panzerkamfwagen]

Why is it that liberals think everyone is reacting like the townsfolk in Blazing Saddles when Sheriff Bart shows up?

I guess that makes my comparisons more apt.

 

[MichaelFJF]

But isn't Obama half white?

 

[Scribbler]

Looks like McCain isn't the first person to compare Barack Obama to Paris Hilton. That honor goes to...Barack Obama.

 

[SummerMadness]

Yep, this is how the Republican slime machine works. They use images of blonde white females to illicit a racial subtext in campaign ads against black candidates. Of course when called on this, there is denial and claims that the ad was saying something else. Herbert hit the nail on the head with this article.

McCain wants to run a dirty campaign because that's the only way he can win. High turnout favors the Democratic Party, low turnout favors the Republican Party. McCain believes if he can poison the well enough, he'll be able to lower voter turnout enough to eke out a victory.

 

[Scribbler]

Yep, this is how the Republican slime machine works. They use images of blonde white females to illicit a racial subtext in campaign ads against black candidates. Of course when called on this, there is denial and claims that the ad was saying something else. Herbert hit the nail on the head with this article.

The ad said quite clearly it was about celebrity. He used two 'white girls' because the two people he chose are the most well-know celebrities around the past two years. If you want to show an example of vapid celebrity worship, there are no better examples than those two.
What racial subtext was supposed to be illicited and how was it done so?

 

[Panzerkamfwagen]

Yep, this is how the Republican slime machine works. They use images of blonde white females to illicit a racial subtext in campaign ads against black candidates. Of course when called on this, there is denial and claims that the ad was saying something else. Herbert hit the nail on the head with this article.

How do people come up with these kinds of conspiracy theories?

I'm surprised I haven't read 'Vote RonPaul!' yet.

 

[jamesrwright3]

LOL I am sorry but he was just putting up celebrities that everyone would know.
I mean if he put all black celebrities in the ad he would have been accused of racism as well. He can't win.

The left is just goofy.

 

[JustOneWay]

LOL I am sorry but he was just putting up celebrities that everyone would know.
I mean if he put all black celebrities in the ad he would have been accused of racism as well. He can't win.

The left is just goofy.

The left is goofy....lol

and the right runs stupid attack smear campaigns.

Did it ever occur to you that McCain would have not have to face this win/lose scenario (your comment he can't win) if he never ran the smear ad?

 

[jamesrwright3]

The left is goofy....lol

and the right runs stupid attack smear campaigns.

Did it ever occur to you that McCain would have not have to face this win/lose scenario (your comment he can't win) if he never ran the smear ad?

Part of it may be a parody, but hardly a smear. He only used Obama's own words in the ads. He is also making fun of the media in the ads as well.

 

[JustOneWay]

I don't see any racial components to the smear ad, although it is a smear ad nonetheless.

What is true is McCain's wife said her husband would not run a negative campaign....well she just proved that she is a liar or that her husband doesn't care that he made her into a liar.

 

[JustOneWay]

Part of it may be a parody, but hardly a smear. He only used Obama's own words in the ads. He is also making fun of the media in the ads as well.

Obama's words out of context. This is what they do on the comedy channel.

Ya, do you think running a parody is an intelligent thing? Who is his campaign manager? Weird Al Yankovic?

You believe this makes McCain look Presidential?

 

[jamesrwright3]

Obama's words out of context. This is what they do on the comedy channel.

Ya, do you think running a parody is an intelligent thing? Who is his campaign manager? Weird Al Yankovic?

You believe this makes McCain look Presidential?

Its better than the ads Obama is running which are telling absolute lies about McCain's policies.

 

[Scribbler]

Obama's words out of context. This is what they do on the comedy channel.

Ya, do you think running a parody is an intelligent thing? Who is his campaign manager? Weird Al Yankovic?

You believe this makes McCain look Presidential?

Sorry, but McCain's ad is dead on. This ad shows Obama for the empty suit celebrity he is. We all remember when Obama began running few could name any of his accomplishments or legislation. Rock-star status and massive crowds don't denote a serious candidate.
He's little more than another celebrity. Even Obama has compared himself to Paris Hilton...what's the difference that McCain has done it, JOW? Double standard for the right?

 

[JustOneWay]

Its better than the ads Obama is running which are telling absolute lies about McCain's policies.

Which is unproven, and totally irrelevant to the topic at hand....

 

[JustOneWay]

Sorry, but McCain's ad is dead on. This ad shows Obama for the empty suit celebrity he is. We all remember when Obama began running few could name any of his accomplishments or legislation. Rock-star status and massive crowds don't denote a serious candidate.
He's little more than another celebrity. Even Obama has compared himself to Paris Hilton...what's the difference that McCain has done it, JOW? Double standard for the right?

Looks like you approve of negative campaigns, Scribbler. <staff edit>

 

[jamesrwright3]

Which is unproven, and totally irrelevant to the topic at hand....

McCain's ads maybe a little off the wall, but they are hardly racist.
All McCain was doing was putting well known celebrties in the ad.
I mean if he put Ludacris in an ad, the majority of Americans would have no idea who he is.

 

[Scribbler]

Looks like you approve of negative campaigns, Scribbler. I am not surprised.

I certainly approve of the apt comparison to Obama to a celebrity.
Obamas seems to as well, seeing as he's doing it to himself.
Can we keep on-topic and leave the personal attacks out of it?