[UPDATE: Is it on or off? John McCain clearly doesn’t know how to control bigot eruptions in his own party — first there was an announcement by Charlie Black that the ad was pulled by the NCGOP; state party chair Linda Daves says it’s still a go for the color arousal show. A number of local stations are refusing to run it.]
If you want to know how far to the right the Republican party is in North Carolina, look no further that this bottom-feeding video. It is an ad supposedly about Dem gubernatorial candidates Bev Perdue and Richard Moore (both endorsed Obama). They are trying to link that support to Rev. Wright (again!) to generate color arousal.
The bottom line is that the GOP wants Hillary Clinton as an opponent. They know they can run a successful campaign against her, so this is their attempt to stir the pot. And as Barack Obama said, all the race-baiting that the Clintons have tossed out there so far is just a warm up compared to what’s coming from the Republican machine.
Well that time is now. Echoes of Jesse Helms tactics…(and we’ll see that classic after the jump):
Extreme? Please. And it’s not just Dems reacting with alarm to this ad. John McCain has told the NC GOP to cease and desist - and the wingnuts here in this state will have none of it.
“Narrator: For twenty years, Barack Obama sat in his pew listening to his pastor.Jeremiah Wright: And then wants us to sing God Bless America. No, no, no. Not God Bless America, God (censored) America.
Narrator: Now Bev Perdue and Richard Moore endorse Barack Obama. They should know better. He’s just too extreme for North Carolina
Chairman Linda Daves: The North Carolina Republican Party sponsored this ad opposing Bev Perdue and Richard Moore for North Carolina Governor.”
McCain urged state party leaders to withhold the advertisement, calling it “offensive.”All that said, this “outrage” by McCain allows him to distance himself from the race-baiting and smears, but the filth gets out there anyway. That’s your preview playbook for the fall. Wash, rinse, repeat.“This ad does not live up to the very high standards we should hold ourselves to in this campaign,” McCain said in a letter e-mailed to state GOP chairwoman Linda Daves.
GOP spokesman Brent Woodcox argued that despite the ad’s overwhelming focus on Obama, the spot is targeted at Democratic gubernatorial candidates Richard Moore and Bev Perdue, who have both endorsed the Illinois senator.
“We have a great relation with the RNC and we fully support John McCain for president,” Woodcox said. “But this is an ad about two North Carolina candidates for governor. The ad is going to run.”
Let me tell you all a little something about the Republican party in North Carolina. It’s below the fold.
Here is the blather from Linda Daves of the NC GOP about the ad.
It is no secret that Barack Obama has also received scrutiny recently for his ties to controversial figures, such as his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and former Weather Underground terrorist, William Ayers. This ad presents a question of patriotism and judgment. It is entirely appropriate for voters to evaluate candidates based on their past associations. The people whom a candidate surrounds himself with during a campaign are the same ones that will follow that candidate into office if elected. Unfortunately, in Barack Obama’s run for the White House, he has chosen to associate himself with the wrong people.Come on, this is a ridiculous press release, but it is the kind of garbage you’d expect from this state’s GOP.Likewise, Richard Moore and Beverly Perdue in their pursuit of the Governor’s mansion have not chosen their associations wisely. Beverly Perdue was linked to Thomas Betts, a member of the North Carolina Board of Transportation. Betts later resigned amid allegations that he was raising money for Perdue’s gubernatorial campaign. Richard Moore has been closely linked to Wall Street executives with whom he has formed ties while managing the state’s pension fund for N.C. government employees. These same executives and their employees have donated thousands of dollars to Moore’s campaign for Governor. These associations have brought stains on the character of both candidates. The Democrat candidates also show poor judgment and a lack of leadership by endorsing Barack Obama, a man too liberal for North Carolina and linked to extremist figures throughout his political career.
The party is so off-the-rails extreme that Republican transplants to this area from other parts of the country don’t know what to think of the bible-thumping flat-earth set that is firmly established and in control. The country club, pro-business set within the party detests the backward-thinking winger crowd because they know it’s bad for business, but the Old South mentality in key positions of power is stunting any progress into the 21st century for the party.
As more folks from other metro areas move here, these fossils will be replaced. One such fossil is House Minority Leader Paul “Skip” Stam (NC-37), a sponsor of the failed marriage amendment bill (check out his platform). He’s in one of the fastest growth areas (Apex, Cary, Fuquay Varina, Holly Springs, New Hill, Willow Spring) in the state and it’s fertile for change. Challenging him is progressive ally Ed Ridpath. This is a race to watch.
***
As I said in an earlier post on the Wright matter — this kind of ad plays into racial discomfort/color arousal.
I think this episode with Rev. Wright exposed the whole “scary black revolution” primal fear here.What the continued pounding on the association is trying to reinforce is attention to Obama’s blackness. Many progressives have idealized him as a “post-racial” candidate, however in order to be post-racial, our society has to be over racial conflicts and lack of communication about difference. As we all have seen, no conversations of substance occur in the MSM, and until Obama’s speech that was specifically about race, no one was challenging people to think about what hasn’t been discussed, because the topic is so uncomfortable.When I heard Wright, I heard a delivery not unlike the unhinged gay-bashing Rev. Willie Wilson (Wright is actually gay-affirming, btw). The delivery sounds so angry, so harsh to many. You get the feeling, based on the reaction out there, that people are afraid Barack Obama by association, is some sort of Trojan Horse of Black Anger waiting to be unleashed, prepared to exact revenge on white society by pulling their wool over their eyes by appearing friendly, “articulate” and non-threatening. In other words — not that [Wright] kind of black guy.
The GOP has no problem tapping into primal fears that we don’t want to talk about.
I recently discussed the NC Republican party in an interview with Dem Lieutenant Governor candidate Dan Besse.
Speaking of bias, regarding the state of the NC GOP, Besse believes that it’s a party in crisis, illustrated by the gubernatorial primary, as the Republicans decide whether to circle the wagons around Pat McCrory, who’s no friend of the gays, but is a more business-friendly Republican, and homophobe Fred Smith, who is backed by the fundies.
I mean, take a look at the insane party platform. Forgiveness for divorce is kindly offered, but no mercy for the homos.I think there is an element, as in many states of course, for whom that kind of explicitly unwelcoming, unaccepting and intolerant spirit is a selling point. And he will win some votes, certainly in the primary and lesser percentage in the general election if he makes it, on that basis…I think our state has changed enough for the good that we will have as many people who would vote against him as those who would vote for him in the election…An element of the business-based Republicans is worried about that, and rightly so, that it’s bad for business, and that’s the only thing they care about. They would rather have someone who has the image of being moderate on social issues.
The ideal environment for raising children is a two-parent family where a husband and wife live in harmony in one home.We praise the courageous efforts of single parents who work hard to provide stable homes.We recognize that single parents often succeed and that two-parent families sometimes fail.Womb control is part of the agenda as well.…Homosexual behavior is not normal and should not be taught as acceptable in public education or in public policy.Public schools should not be used to teach children that homosexual behavior is normal.Taxpayers should not fund benefit plans for unmarried partners.We support federal and state constitutional amendments to ensure that marriage is limited to the union of one man and one woman.We oppose the adoption or foster parenting of children by same sex couples.
…Government should treat all citizens fairly and impartially and should assure equal opportunity without regard to wealth, race, religion, sex, or national origin.We oppose all forms of invidious discrimination.We oppose efforts to include sexual orientation as a category under civil rights laws.
We also support the adoption of a human life amendment to the constitution. We stand with the overwhelming majority of Americans who oppose efforts to mandate legalized abortion or to fund local, national, or international organizations that provide or promote abortion services.Mind you, our legislature is Dem-controlled, so these Neanderthal beliefs have been held in check for several cycles. This is why the state party has to go to extreme measures to rally the Base. Unfortunately, the GOP here has nothing to offer voters. It’s nice to see that party draw national attention for its bigotry, pettiness and narrow thinking. It’s all good.
***
Now let’s take a trip in the time capsule and let Jesse show you how it’s done. In his 1990 “Hands” ad. Dem Harvey Gantt had a lead in the polls and watched it evaporate when this started airing:
“You needed that job, and you were the best qualified, but they had to give it to a minority, because of a racial quota. Is that really fair? Harvey Gantt says it is. Gantt supports Ted Kennedy’s racial quota law that makes the color of your skin more important than your qualifications. Your vote on this issue next Tuesday. For racial quotas, Harvey Gantt. Against racial quotas, Jesse Helms.”
27 Responses to “The NC GOP’s anti-Obama color arousal ad”
Leave a comment
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>
“You needed that college admission, and you were the best qualified, but they had to give it to a legacy, because of a legacy quota. Is that really fair? George W. Bush says it is. George W. Bush supports legacy admissions that make his last name more important than his qualifications. Your vote on this issue next Tuesday. For legacies, George W. Bush. Against legacies, Gore/Kerry/etc.”
All that said, this “outrage” by McCain allows him to distance himself from the race-baiting and smears, but the filth gets out there anyway. That’s your preview playbook for the fall. Wash, rinse, repeat.
Yes. McCain’s repudiation of the ad just keeps the Rev. Wright “controversy” in the news cycle while making McCain appear reasonable and “above it all”. Of course, this will ensure that the Obama-hates-white-folk smear Will. Not. Die.
The NC GOP is Jesse’s party. This tactic is reminiscent of another page from Jesse’s playbook.
In 1984, Jesse was trailing popular Gov. Jim Hunt by a large margin in Helms’s reelection bid. Fortunately for Jesse, Ronald Reagan was at the top of his ticket, while Mondale was at the top of Hunt’s. Helms grabbed on to Reagan’s coattails and tied Hunt to Mondale every chance he could. Helms narrowly won reelection.
The Republicans did something similar to Erskine Bowles in 2004, tying him to Bill Clinton. (Perhaps that’s why Perdue and Moore endorsed Barack Obama) He went from a 10 point lead to trailing almost overnight.
“Narrator: Now Bev Perdue and Richard Moore endorse Barack Obama. They should know better. He’s just too extreme for North Carolina”
They endorsed someone who listened to someone who said something. That’s pretty far removed.
Just a question - when McCain told them to stop it, was it a private or internal communication that got reported, or was it a press-conferencey publicity move?
Just wondering. There is no possibility of me supporting anyone running as a Republican. The man could walk on water, but he’d still be supported by the current machine, and I’ll have no part of it, even if the Democrats didn’t have candidates I can support whole-heartedly.
But, while I still don’t like him, I do think under the slime he’s wallowing in, there is more character and principle than we’ve seen in a while. I might even be convinced that he personally doesn’t want the tactics used. If he hadn’t hired Rove. Point taken. Never mind.
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice and I’m a republican voter…
The party of Lizzie Dole can win in america in ‘08? I’m outta here…
Perhaps the key to combating this is to encourage them to make it even more blatant (if that is even possible), so that even their constituency recoils from them.
“The bottom line is that the GOP wants Hillary Clinton as an opponent. They know they can run a successful campaign against her, so this is their attempt to stir the pot. And as Barack Obama said, all the race-baiting that the Clintons have tossed out there so far is just a warm up compared to what’s coming from the Republican machine.”
NO! The bottom line is that the GOP is racist and wants to begin their smears against Obama now. You seem to understand this at other points in the post. Try to see the big picture.
They cannot run a successful ad against Sen Clinton. why do you think that?
McCain cannot fucking win. No matter who he runs against.
Merl - I only wish it were true. Let’s just stop doing the GOP’s work for them by bickering. The lively debate of two strong candidates should be regarded by us (you know the Dems) as positive. GOP horseshit like this ad shows they are afraid of our strength and the awesome turn-out we have been showing in the primaries. We must keep harnessing that energy through November.
That’s because the GOP is trying to pick who they run against. Obama who wants to be president in 2009 or Hillary that wants to be president in 2012… They will be able to beat Hillary. She’s a woman. Easier target than a black man.
Make no mistake, I don’t think anyone in the Hillary camp thinks that she can survive the GOP assault on her for this election BUT they are strongly hoping that McSame fucks up so badly that she can swoop in 2012 and act all ‘I’m here to save you’ and have people then take her seriously.
McCain will be Bush in his third term (more and worse), Hillary will be like Bush in his first term (hopefully minus the help from the Saudi’s in another September ’surprise’)
“Just a question - when McCain told them to stop it, was it a private or internal communication that got reported, or was it a press-conferencey publicity move?”
Not sure, but it cannot be coincidence that it widely came out in the press. Rove and Co. are more subtle than to make it blatantly obvious just how manipulative the whole thing really is…
(snip to)
I wish it could be so. But this is the man who called Falwell and ilk “agents of intolerance”but now begs for their blessing, while riding a bus he claims can be called the “straight talk express”.
It’s the man who publicly acted morally offended by torture and then publicly and with great fanfare negotiated a bill with the Bush administration that gave the Bushies everything they wanted.
He’s got an awfully good relationship with the press, and talks a really good show, but there’s no “there”, there, when it comes to character and principle.
This three ways battle is going to cost Democrat more than GOP.
Well, as I have said before, Obama’s association with Wright and that church is a serious problem for me. I believe Obama sat there in that church with his kids and listened to Wright say anti-Semitic things.
Airing Wright is not about showing that Obama’s church is a black church. It’s about the things Wright is saying, things that are uniquely about Wright rather than general to black clergy.
I don’t see how it’s racist to make an issue out of Wright. If a Republican were running for office and his preacher was that guy in Kansas who goes around protesting funerals, I’d think that would be an issue as well.
If McCain were truly appalled and disgusted by this, wouldn’t he disavow and repudiate the North Carolina Republican Party and its leadership, refuse to appear with them, and refuse to campaign with anyone who supports them?
It’s a rhetorical question
.
This three way battle only helps the GOP if the candidates keep letting it.
When someone asks a stupid question misstating their opponent’s position, the correct response is:
“I don’t believe that is consistent with Sen. Clinton/Obama’s record. Where I stand on that issue is….”
Dems should not be playing the GOP/MSM games. That is what hurts them.
“Airing Wright is not about showing that Obama’s church is a black church. It’s about the things Wright is saying, things that are uniquely about Wright rather than general to black clergy.”
Showing the Black church is most definitely part of the strategy, especially hearing the supportive voices after Wright says “God Damn America!”. It emphasizes the “otherness” of Blacks/Negroes/Coloreds for those who are already inclined to see them as a threat because they are different.
Many of the targeted voters either lived through the era of Jim Crow (and probably saw it as natural and not a flaw), or are barely one generation removed.
I’ve said it here many times, and I’m sure some Pandagonians are tired of hearing it, but most McCain voters won’t be voting FOR McCain - they will be voting AGAINST Obama. Because many of those people don’t want to see themselves as racists, the strategy of the Rethugs is to provide them with some excuse that seems legit.
I can hear it now (probably because I live in a very Red county in SoCal) “I didn’t think Mr. Obama was a bad person, and then I heard about that preacher of his. I just couldn’t vote for him after that…” or “…I heard he’s one of those mooslims…”, or “…he thinks he’s so smart, looking down on us regular folk…”, or one of the dozen other attacks the Reichwing is laying out there for somebody to pick up.
I have to say I admire the man more for knowing just how shitty the attacks have already been, knowing how much worse they will get, and yet sticking to it and taking it all with a sense of grace.
Not many could pull that off…
You aren’t thinking like a racist. These white people willingly associated themselves with a black man. They endorsed him. It’s not like the liberal courts and ACLU are forcing them to work with him and refrain from calling him “boy” or worse to his face. They chose this. And it’s not even like he’s a well-behaved black man. He has opinions of his own, and speaks aloud in public, and he’s associated with other outspoken black people. For white people to voluntarily associate themselves with a man like this, it makes them the worst type of people: race-traitors.
We’ll see how far NC has come from Helms’ era with this primary vote. I think the students, AAs and transplants to NC will combine to whip Hillary in NC. Not only that but there are many former Republicans that have declared independence from this party muck. I called Sue Myrick’s office and expressed my outrage, asked her to remove me from her robocall lists as I am know a Democrat who is contributing money and voting for Obama. Many REPUBLICANS I know in Charlotte will be voting for Obama. Here’s the secret: native Dem NCers (minus the AAs) will vote mostly for Hillary. We’ll see what happens. Don’t think that the primary dragging out is all bac, as Obama will be the nominee and he is now able to introduce himself to voters, test his GOTV and amass voter stakeholders for the General Election. Cheers, margie
You’d think so, except you have John “Catholics worship the Whore of Babylon” Hagee campaigning for John McCain, who said about Hagee, “I’m glad to have his support.”
So I’m thinking there might just be a bit of a double standard here, hmmm? Or is it okay to say horrible things about Catholics, the largest Christian denomination in the United States?
I can’t believe how much political traction this Reverend Wright thing has, but I don’t think it has hurt Obama that much. Groups like this can use it, but I don’t know how much of an impact it will have, should Obama get the nomination.
I still believe that Hillary or Barack can beat McCain in the Fall - irrespective of how nasty the right wing nuts become.
I don’t know much about Hagee, but being endorsed by a clergyman is a different thing from worshipping in his church for twenty years.
“Obama sat there in that church with his kids and listened to Wright say anti-Semitic things”
Sorry but what did Wright say that was anti-semitic? Anti-Israel yes, but I haven’t heard anything else. Keep in mind I haven’t listened to every sound bite provided by fox and other News outlets.
What I have heard was a man being critical of the way nations due business, a man critical of how America, his nation, has done things. Which reminds me of the idiocy of people equating his critical statements about America with racist statements. Perhaps these people think America = white folks?
Not “is”… “was”.
Had I been an Arizona resident, I doubt I would have ever voted for him as my Senator, because, well… I just don’t vote for Republicans. Ever.
That said, there were things about McCain that I once saw as good and decent. I thought McCain-Feingold was a great bill, and long overdue. I viewed his efforts with Senator Kennedy to resolve the immigration issue humanely as a sign of genuine bipartisanship. I thought he was highly principled when he called out Falwell and Robertson.
Basically, all the things that Ann Coulter hated about him is what I used to like about him. Things that would make me say, “He’s not too horrible… for a Republican.”
But he’s decided that he needs to kiss some Republican ass right now to rally the base, so whatever. The guy’s now just another slimy Repuke with no redemptive qualities whatsoever.
I wouldn’t even call it that, unless you believe the idea that the Israel situation is completely black and white absolute moral question lacking any gray area(Israel is always right, period, and the Palestinians are always wrong, period).
I would say that he wasn’t “pro-Israel”… but that isn’t the same as being “anti-Israel”. It’s more like being neutral in that matter. But the popular construct in America is that “if you’re not for Israel, you are against it”.
Personally, I’m for peace in that region that respects the dignity and equality of all human beings there, be they Israeli or Palestinian.
Now I’m sure somebody thinks I’m anti-semitic, despite the fact that I’m half Jewish (I was raised Catholic, though no longer practicing any religion).
Well I listened to NPR interview with Linda Daves, herself, the N. Carolina GOP chairman - about the attack ad. She said she got an email, not from McCain himself, but from someone associated with his campaign.
So there you go. He didn’t even pick up the phone - one of his retinue sent an email.