Harold Ford, the "Jungle Bunny"

[CatWoman]

So Tennessee senate candidate Bob Corker (R) says he's all bent out of shape about that RNC 'Harold Ford's an Uppity Negro' ad. So how does Corker feel about the radio ad his own campaign is running that features rumbling jungle drums every time the narrator mentions Ford's name?

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/010571.php

[saltpoint]

1. I personally believe Corker knew about, and may have helped design,

that ad -- well in advance of its first showing in Tennessee -- but that an agreement was reached between Corker and Mehlman to allow for a plausible denial on Corker's part.

As in: "Hey, this is just an outrageous ad on poor Congressman Ford, whereas I, the benevolent Bob Corker, disapprove of its racist stench."

And the ad, meanwhile, runs on and on, and Corker is the beneficiary.

Damn these Republicans all to hell.

Go, Harold Ford.

[grasswire]

3. the line that bothers me is...

..."...just not right."

I find that highly offensive.

[saltpoint]

8. Hi, grasswire. My slam on the Republicans is a partisan bias, I admit.

And you picked one thing to object to, but I think you're right to pick it and wouldn't have blamed you one bit if you'd picked a lot more.

The Republicans have just stunk up the place. The Courts, the Congress, especially the White House.

Their behavior, including the race-baiting in Tennessee, is beyond the pale.

May the voters punish them accordingly.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

30. Rhymes with..

.."just not white".

Perhaps that's the subliminal effect the line is going for.

[niyad]

2. dear goddess in heaven, PLEASE tell me you are making this up!!!

[CatWoman]

4. ....

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2006/oct/25/tn_sen_corker_radio_ad_has_tom_tom_drums_during_mentions_of_ford

[Bluebear]

20. Jungle drums? Wow....Corker vs. Mandingo, huh?

Tell me again why we are called the "United" States.

[Dr Fate]

5. Jungle drums? Are you shitting me? What is the DEM response on TV?

????????????????

[CatWoman]

7. Hey Dr. F

check out the TPM Cafe link above -- contains more info

:hi:

[truebrit71]

17. Wow....oh, and btw where DO they find these self-satisfied June Cleaver-

...-sounding white women to do these voice-overs? They drive me NUTS!!! They all have that middle-aged female "We know what's best for you dear" condescending sound to them...:grr:

Oh, and a big :loveya: to Catwoman.....

[CatWoman]

Hey Sweetie

:hi:

:loveya:

you ever wonder why all of those kids stars from the 50's sitcoms grew up to be so fucked up? :)

[juajen]

28. Must be the same woman doing the Boustany ads in

Louisiana. She drives me nuts. I rarely hear an ad for Skaggs (I think it's Mike Skaggs running against him). I don't think anyone thought he could do anything against the pug machine in LA. They could be right, but I'll be glad to vote for Skaggs. He's an allright guy and brave to fight the machine. I wish they would give him some money to run down here, though. Ah, well; they've written if off I guess.

[kath]

Jungle drums?!?! OMFG.

I'm soooo sick of these racist asshole Repugs...

[buff2]

6. OMG..........

Those idiots are going way over the line. But then,we have to remember the GOPerverts are the party of bigots,racists and hypocrites. How any black person can run on the repuke ticket,or even vote for them is a mystery to me. Repukes make me sick. :puke:

[Snotcicles]

9. Has Kenneth Blackwell responded yet? n/t

[woodsprite]

10. Hubby brought up something interesting at lunch,

Not that they would, but could Ford Motor Co. sue for some of the lines they're using in these ads?

[elehhhhna]

26. FMC is probaby getting RESIDUALS from them.

[cboy4]

11. Why didn't the narrator just say, "and worst of all Harold Ford Jr is a

nigger."

Or a jungle bunny.

You know that's what they so badly want to say.

corker =

[Hav]

12. .

Oh surprise, a new day and I get to know how the Repubs reached a new low.
Racist pigs.

[KharmaTrain]

13. More GOOP Codewords And Lying...

Repugnicans hate Campaign finance...they want to do away with all laws so they can buy elections. Look at how Joementum is spreading cash around and my bets there are other Repugnican groups that are doing the same thing. The FEC is toothless and they look upon the rules with scorn. They've been looking for ways to get around the laws, so why should this be surprising.

The GOOP can play "hot potato" since there are so many groups that are involved with this advertising and can spend a week punting things around while the lies and slander play unabated. Also, add the free media play as a "news story"...which gave this ad even far greater play. All the time, Mehlmann denies, Corker denies...the ad keeps getting played and more promotion is generated. Ya think this is the end of it?

The desperation of the Repugnicans has led to the sliming of candidates through masked codewords. McLuan and Wilson Key would be proud as to the use of subliminal language and images in these campaigns...and it's all being directed by Mehlmann and his goons at the RNC.

Ford's a threat so bring out the mysogny and race card. That ad hits on every unsaid taboo about blacks in the "old south"...fear of sex with a white woman, the uppity nigger syndrome (as you accurately note) and how blacks are lazy and corrupt (the attacks on his family). In our local race, Tammy Duckworth had her eyes airbrushed in an add to make her look oriental and the slime campaign rotates between her being a woman (one whisper line has been "if Duckworth had been a man, she wouldn't have been shot down") to tying in her ethnic background intermixed with "illegal immigration" which is nothing more than codewords for hatred against Mexicans and Hispanics.

These goons are protected by freedom of speech and by the noise that is made in getting an ad like this pulled draws more attention to it than it deserves. My hopes are the voters in Tennessee are enlightened enough to read through the codewords and reject them. Ford isn't my favorite candidate this year, but he sure has a special place now in having to deal with the sleeziest GOOP hatchet job since Max Cleland.

[KittyWampus]

14. Oh, COME ON! Damn, when are the Democrats just gonna say the words

RACIST REPUBLICAN AGENDA?

[KamaAina]

15. Jungle drums?! Fine. Let's make one that has "Dueling Banjos"

every time the narrator, James Earl Jones of course, mentions Corker's name. :grr:

[w13rd0]

18. Damn...

...you know, that would make a GREAT ad.

Fade in to "Dueling Banjos" from Deliverance.

Then the line, "Squeal like a Pig"

"The Republicans in Washington are ass raping the people of the United States. And they are trying to convince you that you are enjoying it. Isn't it time we told the Republicans in Washington to keep their hands off?"

[Clark2008]

16. Letter writtin' time!

How ignorant!

[CatWoman]

19. a caller on Randi is talking about this ad now

:kick:

[Catherine Vincent]

21. Those repukes sure think they are slick!

*shakes head*

[TornadoTN]

22. I hope my state is smarter than this, but I am losing hope fast.

A few weeks back I was excited and fired up for Ford. He was making the right decisions, appealing to the Dem base and the moderates alike, remaining upbeat and on the offensive.

Since the Torture Bill debacle, his campaign has switched into full-on "Sway the Republicans" mode and abandoning the Democratic base entirely. They don't want to appear to be Democrats so that they can get that mythical Republican crossover vote (Which is just that in Tennessee - a MYTH). I've posted about it over in the Tennessee forum, but they have really alienated a lot of Dems in the state by marginalizing their enthusiasm to volunteer or be associated with the campaign.

This new Race-baiting assault by Corker is beyond reprehensible - but I fear it may work. The common person is growing tired of this race and with this new advertising blitz they are more likely to be swayed in the last two weeks of the election by playing to that age-old southern stereotype that still exists today - that is Black people look after Blacks first and foremost. Yes, it's sad and ignorant, but this little line will resonate in the back of peoples minds when they make their decision. I hope I'm wrong - but I see some reminder of this every single day.

I've written a lot over on the Tennessee forum about these issues over the past few months, so if you are interested in seeing the metamorphasis of this campaign, I urge you to head over there. A lot of good people post there and you will find it enlightening.

[AlCzervik]

23. Jesus christ!! This is beyond outrageous!

[spanone]

24. Corker is a real turd just like his god mr. bush*. He feigns humbleness yet

he's one mean spirited son of a bitch. He's a rich businesman who wants to go to Washington to get richer.

I hadn't heard that term 'JB' since I was a kid, I'm white but it knocked me back a bit.

[Neecy]

25. OMFG

This kind of shit just makes my head explode.

One can only hope the voters resoundingly reject the racism that's been injected - in ABUNDANCE - into Corker's campaign. This is beyond sick.

[CatWoman]

27. RANDI'S GOING TO PLAY THE AD

[last_texas_dem]

29. That's pathetic

I saw this Corker dude on one of the Sunday morning shows a while back, and he came across as a total Shrub shill. If TN ends up voting this slimebucket in, it will be like a replay of the Cornyn-Kirk race four years ago, where the moderate, more charismatic black candidate, is beat by the obnoxious Bush stooge, due to racism and the state's traditional bias towards worthless Republicans. It's just sad when obviously weaker candidates win races just because of states' traditional biases. Ford has run a good race so far, though, so hopefully his recent minor slips in the polls will be temporary and he may be able to pull it off in the end. The last thing the Senate needs is another idiotic stuffed suit like Corker.

[talk hard]

31. so uncool

they should be ashamed

[SoCalDem]

32. Cue the banjos.. Corker & the Banjo boy..separated at birth?