The 2010 midterm elections have distinguished themselves for the torrent of racist ads produced by political candidates and their campaign staff. In order to counter this, the Cuéntame the ¡Latino Instigators! are highlighting this ad as the ‘most racist’ ad for 2010:
Cuéntame has done some expert work around combatting racism in the media. They were part of the effort to remove Lou Dobbs from CNN for his immigrant-bashing rhetoric. And, in April of this year, launched the “Do I look illegal campaign?” in protest against Arizona’s anti-immigration law. If you’d like to support the work of Cuéntame , you can connect with them on Facebook.
I have just been reading Tali Mendenberg’s 2001 book, the Race Card, where she argues that the old openly racist themes used in political ads back before Nixon (and esp. in the 1860s-1950s era) have disappeared and been replaced by a new accent on racial equality in overt US politics–with racist framing only seen now implicitly in ads that are not openly racist. These current racist ads indicate that argument was premature. Openly racist ads, clearly, are back in force, if they ever disappeared.
Jessie,
Unfortunately, here is another ad that is openly racists towards Latinos:
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/page/226875_David_Vitters_new_ad_trafficks
It is so outrageous that I wonder how it can work in a country that largely (and falsely) believes we are beyond race?!
Maria
Can you link to the ad? I think I know which one, but couldn’t find it on facebook either. For some reason, the embed isn’t showing up.
Here’s more on racist American political ads.
Campaign racism is a proud bipartisan American tradition. From the Liberal Democrats to the Conservative Republicans.
It’s pathetic as it is predictable.
China Emerges as a Scapegoat in Campaign Ads
http://redantliberationarmy.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/china-emerges-as-a-scapegoat-in-campaign-ads/
Breathtakingly Racist Anti-Chinese Political Ad
http://www.reappropriate.com/2010/10/22/breathtakingly-racist-anti-chinese-political-ad/
Campaign Demonization of China Means Chinese Americans Will Face Hostility
http://www.apimovement.com/chinese-american/campaign-demonization-china-means-chinese-americans-face-hostil
Just a ditto on: “Campaign racism is a proud bipartisan American tradition. From the Liberal Democrats to the Conservative Republicans.”