Corker vs Ford

[TkMasTaH]

I dont know how many of you have seen the controversial add that was pulled because it suggested that Ford had been to a playboy party and had met a playboy bunny who asked Ford to call her, but ere is what baffles me. It seems that the biggest controversy with this add lies in the fact that the playboy bunny was a white girl, and it was suggesting that Ford dates white women. Thus it was playing the race card. WTF?? If it had depicted a black bunny people would have said the same thing. This might be the most ridiculous claim that I have ever heard. Its people making race issues out of shit that isn't even close to being there.

[larcain]

Ehh. Just a way to make a campaign ad backfire. He tried to play up Ford as immoral, Ford was able to spin it as racism. Just campaign tactics.

[TkMasTaH]

See, the thing was, even as a republican, I felt that the ad stepped over the line and was a little over the top, but i definitely did not see the racism in it. I feel that often, the democrats play up the race card too often, and that this one was totally out of line. In fact, I feel that by claiming this, one is being racist themselves.

[xero]

I've seen the add, and it clearly is meant to imply that Ford likes the white womens. There is no other way to interpret it.

I was pretty sure Corker would win though. It is Tennessee.

[larcain]

I just thought it was meant that he like blondes...so do I for that matter. I wonder if that makes me racist some how...

[MidnightStalker]

Link to ad, anyone?

[xero]

http://www.slate.com/id/2152485/

[Zogo]

that is not close to the stature of a playboy bunny.

either my brain is growing each election or these commercial are getting dumber and dumber.

[Moniker]

It's called race baiting, look it up.

[Outflow]

I wish all Republicans would kill themselves off and endow the USA with a brighter future.

**WOIUDDW***

In order to sort of be on topic, I will say that there was a definite connection with a BLACK MAN hanging with the WHITE ladies however vagues, useless, and trivial it might seem. Don't understand how this can hurt a campaigner; he likes the vagina so the fuck what? At least he doesn't stick his dick in under-age paiges and then turn around saying "GAYS = OBLIVION." Republicans know what I'm talking about :p Mmmm just the idea of hot-boy sex is turning on all the hardcore right wingers here I bet. Some people gotta come to terms with their sexuality; that shit, when bottled up, can be unhealthy :(

PS- I bet they made the ad because they're jealous that Ford can hook up with the women (among other things WINK WINK CMON); instead they have to resort to using their frustrated, shrivelled little dicks to penetrate the office help. Tsk tsk.

[TkMasTaH]

Personally, I think that you are all racist for even thinking that this is a race issue. Is he not allowed to like white women because he is black? How the fuck is that racist? This baffles me.

[xero]

Personally, I think that you are all racist for even thinking that this is a race issue. Is he not allowed to like white women because he is black? How the fuck is that racist? This baffles me.For some time now, this statement has baffled and infuriated me so much I couldn't figure out how to respond. I thought, "this guy is absolutely retarded."

Then I realized that only your reasoning is severely impaired on this subject. So I'll help you out.

Corker, a white dude, ran an ad against Ford, his black opponent, clearly stating that Ford has turned his back on black women, and prefers to have relations with white ones.

This is racist on two levels -- asserting that Ford is an Uncle Tom; and that like always, thems negroes likes the white womens and we gots to protect our womens' innocence from those damned negroes!!!11

I'm completely serious. There are people out there who vote based on this philosophy. It's sad, and they certainly aren't a large portion of the population (and there probably weren't enough to swing the vote), but it's still sickening that a candidate would go this route for so much as a couple thousand votes.

But it's not really that surprising either. Karl Rove ran a similar campaign against John McCain during the 2000 Presidential primaries in South Carolina. He had people called up and asked if they would be more inclined to support Bush if they found out McCain had a child with a black woman out of wedlock -- which is completely false and unsubstantiated. Corker's ad was straight out of Rove's slime-covered political playbook.

Please note I'm not really trying to single Republicans out. However, I think we're all reasonable enough to admit that the Republicans are not strangers to using racial tensions to gain political leverage and votes -- this dates back all the way to the early 1900s. But racism isn't exclusive to Republicans -- Ray Nagin is also a racist fuck, and he's a Democrat. There were also numerous Dixiecrats who were strongly opposed to the Civil Rights Movement, who won their reelections based on the racist views of their southern constituents.

I don't know when the last time you went to the Deep South was, but interracial relations in a lot of places is still a very sensitive issue.

On a personal level, I personally can remember being told at a very young age by my grandparents and my father that the only race of women I should ever date is white. Since then, my grandparents and my father have 'changed their opinions' on that, but we all know racism doesn't really just go away.

Running an ad like that is easily sufficient to push many of the more 'traditional conservatives' (i.e. racist fucks) towards voting for Corker. Though I'll also be the first to admit most of those same people weren't going to vote for Ford anyways because he's black -- I imagine it did change some minds for some closet racists though.

[Sutterkane]

I was pretty sure Corker would win though. It is Tennessee.

Yeah, that landslide democratic win in the governor's race must have been a fluke. I tell you as a decently staunch republican that I had no problems voting for Bredesen.

Why do people outside of the south still think that there's just a bitter hatred between whites and blacks? It's maybe 1/5 as bad as people make it out to be. Yes, there are some backwater hicks that are extremely racist fucks. There is probably the same percentage of blacks that are just as racist the other way around.

[AntioK]

The guy was in Bill Maehrs(sp?) show on HBO for a little interview, and he said that he didn't really think it was a race issue.....so i dunno if he is saying one thing nationally and spinning it differently in Tenn or what

The guy has some Charisma though, and a bright future, only 36 years old, elected to congress at the age of 27.....

"Well i like women and football, and that seems to go over well here in Tennessee" - In response to if he regrets attending the Superbowl party in Jacksonville.

[Tone-Loc]

If the Rove vs. McCain thing is true, then I would be more inclined to conceed the possibility that the ad was meant to play on racial tensions.

However, the more applicable reason for the ad was to call out the hypocrisy of Ford's campaign... specifically as a response to Ford's ad about his Christian values that he shot in a church.

I'm white. I have lived in Tennessee my entire life, except for my 4 year "exile" in Iowa. I'm not just from Tennessee, I am from the foothils of the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee... you know, Hillbilly territory. I've been around racism my entire life. I have seen it bring out the worst in people, and as an overall observation seen it diminish greatly over the years (I'll be 34 in less than a month). For anyone to say racism is still not present is ridiculous, but to say it exists to the level that many outside of Tennessee would like to stereotype it as... is patently false. If anything, the bulk of racism now lies in the minorities... but that is a topic for another thread.

When I saw the ad, I didn't for one second say... "ooooh, a white woman after a black man," or any variant on that topic. I thought they were blatantly trying to link Ford to what some would consider a hollywood/porno industry lifestyle... of partying and sex... and lots of both.

I didn't like the ad. As I don't particularly like attack ads, or particularly vicious appearing ones. I would prefer to hear candidates talk about specific issues and ideas, rather than generic pablum or attacking their oppoents generic pablum. Regardless, I didn't see it as a racially charged ad.

Can I see how some would see it that way? Certainly, if that's what they were looking for... and perhaps that is the stupidity of running the ad. And I am sure that was the reason it was pulled.. it didn't air very long... or did it need to seeing as how it has been picked up by the media as a "story" and also can be found widely on the web.

If they would have added a Black woman in addition to the white woman, would it have been more clear of the message, and seem less like a racially motivated ad? Or could there only be a black woman, or a woman from some other race? If that is the case, then who has the problem with race here?

[Tone-Loc]

I was pretty sure Corker would win though. It is Tennessee.

What about Maryland? They didn't vote for a Black guy there, but I have not heard one word about racism in that... oh yeah, the black guy there was a conservative... he doesn't count... I mean he's practically white.

[xero]

Yeah, that landslide democratic win in the governor's race must have been a fluke. I tell you as a decently staunch republican that I had no problems voting for Bredesen.

Why do people outside of the south still think that there's just a bitter hatred between whites and blacks? It's maybe 1/5 as bad as people make it out to be. Yes, there are some backwater hicks that are extremely racist fucks. There is probably the same percentage of blacks that are just as racist the other way around.Clearly you didn't read any other posts in this thread.

See my quotes below that you obviously didn't read.
It's sad, and they certainly aren't a large portion of the population (and there probably weren't enough to swing the vote), but it's still sickening that a candidate would go this route for so much as a couple thousand votes.

...

Running an ad like that is easily sufficient to push many of the more 'traditional conservatives' (i.e. racist fucks) towards voting for Corker. Though I'll also be the first to admit most of those same people weren't going to vote for Ford anyways because he's black -- I imagine it did change some minds for some closet racists though.And yea, I definitely don't live in the South. I also don't experience some form of racism against blacks or hispanics at least once a day. Good call on that one.

[Sutterkane]

Texas is an honorary member of the south at best.

You guys want to be a part of everything. At times you wanted to be part of Mexico, The United States, The Confederate States, and even your own country. Texas is as much a part of the south as Arizona and New Mexico are since they were slave state territories.

[newbie`]

actually, i dont think it had anything to do with race. ford jr really is a partier and i think this ad was trying to portray that. my friend is from memphis and his parents are good friends with ford jr nad he has been over at his house several times. according to him ford likes to get drunk. but who doesnt

[Moniker]

And yea, I definitely don't live in the South. I also don't experience some form of racism against blacks or hispanics at least once a day. Good call on tat one. Oh shut the fuck up, seriously, Texas and the Deep South are two completely separate regional cultures.

[newbie`]

Clearly you didn't read any other posts in this thread.

See my quotes below that you obviously didn't read.
And yea, I definitely don't live in the South. I also don't experience some form of racism against blacks or hispanics at least once a day. Good call on that one.

wow, i live in tennessee and i dont experience racism even once a week. in fact, i party with all the black people down the hall in my apartment complex every thursday and everyone gets along great, but how can that be?! i must be racist because im white and live in tennessee!! please shut the fuck up

[kno[x]]

I'm white and from Tennessee (living in East Bumblefuck a.k.a. Bristol home of the Bristol Motor Speedway) and I definitely get the race card at least once a week, maybe every other day on a bad week. Get the race card for all sorts of stupid shit, such as taking the parking spots closest to the school, skpping blacks in line, or even something so little as having an extra pencil for one of my white friends and not a black. Seeing as Tone-Loc is from the Smokey/Appalachian region as well, I'll have to agree with him on the bulk of racism being in the minorities.

[|RES|arod]

The whole race of Ford vs Corker reinforced my apathetic political views. The whole race boiled down to each opponent taking shots at the other rather than saying what he wanted to do for the people. I wish neither of them were elected to senate, but I guess thats just how politics play out.

[munks]

The whole race of Ford vs Corker reinforced my apathetic political views. The whole race boiled down to each opponent taking shots at the other rather than saying what he wanted to do for the people. I wish neither of them were elected to senate, but I guess thats just how politics play out.
the two party system is a magnificent thing, eh?

[hawk]

Oh shut the fuck up, seriously, Texas and the Deep South are two completely separate regional cultures.
In terms of black racism certainly. I imagine hispanic racism is much worse in Texas.