Tennessee Waltz
EmailGood Morning America viewers know that we took a look at some nasty Republican ads Wednesday (FREE VIDEO HERE) and some Democratic ads this morning (the video’s not up yet, but HERE’S THE DOT-COM VERSION)…
The most controversial ad is, of course, the Republican National Committee ad against Senate candidate Rep. Harold Ford Jr (D-TN), which uses the image of a white blonde bimbo expressing attraction to Ford, who is black and single. The RNC says the ad is meant to highlight Ford’s reputation as a man about town who attended a Superbowl party hosted by Playboy — which to be frank Ford was somewhat wormy about in an interview with Mr. Stephanopoulos, parsing his claim that he never attended a "Playboy MANSION party" (emphasis mine, too-clever-by-halfness, Ford’s).
But in this media-savvy age, nothing in a TV ad in a highly competitive Senate race is there by accident, and it has not escaped notice or criticism that Tennessee is a state with a racist past that may be extra-sensitive to the spectre of a white woman "with" a black man — which the RNC has raised in other venues before, most notably on its FANCYFORD website, which depicts Ford’s allegedly elitist lifestyle alongside photographs of white attractive women and links to an inane website of a white actress whom Ford once dated.
The ad — and its implications of race-baiting and fears of miscegination — has caused a firestorm of controversy. Even Ford’s GOP opponent — Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker — has called for it to be pulled.
Now my friends in ABC News Radio tell me that the talk radio word is abuzz with a Corker radio ad that allegedly race-baits as well, using jungle drums everytime Ford is discussed. The Corker campaign denies this; the liberal website Talking Points Memo provides the audio — LISTEN HERE and you be the judge. And please weigh in, below.
– jt
CPAC: Romney Struggles to Convince Voters 
Obama Backs Off Birth Control Battle?
Straight from the Rove handbook; lie, cheat, deceive, pander–all is fair (or unfair, it doesn’t matter) as long as the slime-ball Republicrats win. Goal: the rich get rich, the poor and middle-class suffer, who cares as long as the power of the plutocrats is maintained.
Posted by: sophillyfatz | October 26, 2006, 11:35 am 11:35 am
Just when you think that the political ads in this year’s campaign have attained a new nadir, there’s always something new that manages to lower that point even further. Despite the RNC’s protestations that there is no race-baiting in their anti-Ford commercials, anyone who has any iota of intelligence can plainly see that, indeed, there is. And after listening to the Corker radio ad with its amazing tympanic accompaniment, I believe that it’s more than obvious that its creators had the “race card” in mind. For the “Faith and Family Values” party to resort to such tawdry and unsavory emotional appeals in its ads unmistakably shows where THEIR faith and family values lie. Ken Mehlman et al. should be ashamed of themselves, and the voters of Tennessee should resoundingly reject their candidate!
Posted by: chuck | October 26, 2006, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
It’s obviously that Corker is allowing racists dictate his campaign. By association, he’s a racist also. It’s a disgrace what Corker and Republicans are doing to Harold Ford…and I’m a Republican. I hope Tennesseeans recognize this last minute attempt to play to a racist theme.
Posted by: Barry | October 26, 2006, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
This speaks volumes of the Republican National Committee and the tactics they will use to win. They seem to be playing on Tennessee’s racist past. I hope the people of Tennessee are more enlightened than this ploy implies.
I don’t know if Ford is the better person for the job, but I do know that this is not the way to prove otherwise.
What happened to the high moral ground that republicans tout?
Posted by: JC | October 26, 2006, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm
Jungle drums are prominent when Ford is mentioned, violins are prominent when Corker is mentioned. But oh no, there’s no racism involved. Yeah, RIGHT!
Posted by: Indc | October 26, 2006, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
The subtle racial undertones are really too bad for Corker, because the actual message of this ad highlights the one legitimate advantage he has over Ford as a candidate. Yet that has been drowned out in news stories across the state by his clumsy attempt to insert an illegitimate difference between them into the ad.
Stupid doesn’t deserve to win.
Posted by: TJ | October 26, 2006, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
I cannot tell if that is a jungle beat or a poor drum solo. But what I do know is that I want a senator who used to sell ice. (Paid for by Sideshow Bob for Mayor.)
Posted by: reyonthehill | October 26, 2006, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm
It sounds like Corker is running for the senate of Disneyland. Is this a joke?
You bet this is race baiting. All that’s missing are monkey calls in the background. This is what “macaca” sounds like.
What a disgrace. And what a loss to the citizenry of Tennessee with so many important issues on the table. If they elect Corker, they will be getting exactly what they deserve. Nothing more.
Posted by: Ed | October 26, 2006, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
I am stunned. And I shouldn’t be. The sad part is, it’s so totally unnecessary.
Posted by: Shelleyd | October 26, 2006, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
this is very sad. what could the republican party and candidate be thinking ? this shows how little respect they really have for all of us who simply want to make the best of things.
Posted by: eric | October 26, 2006, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm
Other than questioning the cheesy music in the production, I cannot find anything remotely racist in this radio spot. Claiming otherwise is projecting intent into a typical “vote for me I’m great’ political ad. Dramatic drums (cheesy or otherwise) are not racist.
I tire of these red state blue state diatribes. As one who’s still undecided in this election I’m getting tired everyone trying to find ‘the snake under the rock’ while ignoring how these guys will likely vote in the Senate.
I know this is a tight race, but find some real news (like capabilities and voting records) to report.
Posted by: Dave | October 26, 2006, 6:12 pm 6:12 pm