... because the latest snark-filled Web ad from the McCain campaign does more than portray Barack Obama as a lightweight “rockstar.”It shows white women veritably wetting their drawers over this “dreamy” black stud.
Y’all think I’m tripping? Or playing the “race card” even? (Moi?)
The smoking gun is at 1:01. It goes by so fast, you might miss it the first time you watch... as I did. A white dude holds up an Obama button (with little hearts on it) and says: “Hot chicks dig Obama.” (Hat-tip: The Politico.)
Think about that. Hot chicks. Dig. Obama. What’s the “political” message there? To whom is it addressed?
I doubt that many white Southern males over the age of 50 hang out on YouTube. But if they did... they’d get it.
Or am I tripping?
UPDATE (08/12/08): The original “Fan Club” ad was pulled down by the McCain campaign and replaced with the one below.
Why? Because in the original one, McCain’s genius communications staff used an unauthorized clip of Mike Myers and Dana Carvey from “Wayne’s World.” Busted!
Sadly, you are not tripping.
ReplyDeleteNot just white southern males. It's aimed at white guys all over, all ages.
ReplyDeleteThe desperation will backfire, though. If this is all McCain's got, it's sad.
First of all, it's just stupid. Like Paris' mom said, "It's a waste of donor money."
ReplyDeleteOne of the talking heads, a white southern Republican strategist, whose name I can't remember now, said that essentially he saw the "lock up your daughters" message all over the Paris Hilton ad. The combination of the blond women and phallic symbols, e.g., the leaning tower of Pisa, made it obvious to him what McCain was trying to say. No one else on the panel agreed with him. Well, they should now. This is like a sledge hammer.
And, that traitor Joe Lieberman was defending McCain on MTP this weekend saying that "he doesn't have a prejudice bone in his body." These ads belie that!
I wanted to shake the crap out of Lieberman when he kept calling Obama "a young man." Since when is 46 young? I wanted Kerry to call McCain "very old" in response. (BTW, Kerry is a very weak attack dog.)
How old was Clinton when he first got elected? Are there any clips of people going crazy for Kennedy?
Nope, you're not tripping. It's funny, I'm trying to adapt Ellison's Invisible Man for the stage, and I've been debating about whether or not to cut the whole fascinationwith/fear og Black male sexual prowess thing. That it's still in play in the 21st century says something.
ReplyDeleteI think you're tripping a little.
ReplyDeleteThe ad isn't great politically, but it isn't as offensive as the others.
Besides... why are you assuming that "hot girls" have to be white?
Yeah, I think you are tripping a little. Someone beat me to "hot chicks does not necessarily equal white chicks" argument so I won't make it again. White southern males (or white males in general) who are inclined to be threatened by a Black male authority figure won't be swayed by this. They're already against Obama. If the dirty tricksters really want to push the "mandingo" symbolism they should get Ken Norton Sr to appear in an ad.
ReplyDeleteWhat did give me pause in that ad was the Taco Bell bit. What was that about? Is that another "white trash" reference or are they trying to equate the candidate to junk food?
No, I don't think you're tripping. Although I would say that the instances shown of various young white women talking about his endearing attractiveness does just as much damage as the “Hot chicks dig Obama” pin.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Malcolm: UBM isn't assuming hot chicks have to be white, main stream media/society has already done that for us. Whiteness has always been a beauty standard around here with very few selected exceptions.
No, UBM, you are not tripping. Not quite as bad as the Harold Ford ad, but I found the numbers of white women effusing so much praise on Obama to be interesting. You have to ask, who is the intended target audience for that ad ?
ReplyDeleteThis is just so childish. A war drags on, the economy's in the tank, gas prices are through the roof, banks are failing, and Russia just invaded Georgia. But this is the level of discourse McCain feels is appropriate? Very sad. I've felt for a long time that Obama isn't just smarter than McCain, he's more emotionally mature. I hope this backfires on the Republicans. I hope people finally get sick of this crap. I'm not holding my breath that they will, however.
ReplyDeleteYeah, you're trippin'. There have been references to his hotness for months everywhere, why pick on McCain for this? MadTV had women, including Hilary all over him and nobody called it the race card.
ReplyDeleteThere are enough real issues without having to manufacture one.
Trippin. McCain didn't cut the Obama Girl video.
ReplyDelete^ Touche, Phelps.
ReplyDeletehell, Dave, I'm a white dude, and even I think Obama is hot...not that there is anything wrong with that. Even so, I still don't think I can vote for him
ReplyDeleteOf course, I am not overly impressed with McCain either. He doesn't seem to be the same guy I voted for in the primaries 8 years ago. Maybe I will just go with the Libertarian candidate
Perhaps those are phallic symblos in the Paris Hilton ad (though I don't think so) but one thing is for sure - that's NOT the leaning tower of Pisa. I don't evn thin he went to Italy on that trip.
ReplyDelete... I'm a white dude, and even I think Obama is hot...not that there is anything wrong with that.
ReplyDeleteThe irony, Dick, is that John McCain was rather hot in his younger days... BAM!
Old-school manly man.
Yes, I agree, McCain was a good looking fellow back in the day. Not that he is a bad looking man now, but age has a way of catching up to us all. Good god, I can't believe how gray and fat I have gotten.
ReplyDeleteI think you're probably right, but like all "dog whistles," it's very hard to prove.
ReplyDelete... a white southern Republican strategist, whose name I can't remember now, said that essentially he saw the "lock up your daughters" message all over the Paris Hilton ad.
ReplyDeleteGenevaGirl, that was David Gergen... and it was one of the great talking-head moments of 2008.
Russell, you're right. It wasn't the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Guess I had Little Einsteins on the brain. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteUBM, thanks for that name.