Republicans say billboard offensive

[dubyaD40web]

Missouri Democrats have sponsored a billboard ad in Kansas City that Republicans contend amounts to “race-baiting.”

The billboard near the downtown loop features an African-American man next to the words “Missouri Republicans Have A Plan. You Are Not Part Of It.”

Democrats countered Friday that the Republican charge was off-base.

“We stand very much with what's behind the billboard,” said the Democratic Party's executive director, Jim Kottmeyer. “It has nothing to do with race.”



http://www.dubyad40.com/html/billboard.html

[gratuitous]

1. Are these the same Republicans?

You know the ones: The ones who think that the torture and death at Abu Ghraib is no big deal, or not much worse than a frat hazing.

Touchy bunch, aren't they?

[Spentastic]

2. The repubs are just pissed that it's not accurate.

It should be a white guy pointing at a black guy and saying the same words.

Or even better a guy in a white pointy hat with a burning cross saying

"Missouri Republicans Have A Plan. You Are Part Of It"

That would be cool.

[Richardo]

3. Perhaps Mr Kottmeyer should look up the word "disingenuous"

The message obviously has to do with race.

However, the Republicans upped the shrillness and idiocy by claiming that "...Democrats continued to press forward with a campaign that targets African-Americans in a hateful and vile manner.” So said Ann Wagner, chairwoman of the Missouri Republican Party. :eyes:

Hateful and vile to the Republicans, maybe :evilgrin:

[Just Me]

5. I think it's a good and accurate ad. n/t

[Richardo]

7. I do too.

I just think the Dem spokesman was being disingenuous when he said it had nothing to with race.

[Just Me]

15. Republican politicians leave "everyone" but corporatists behind.

I suppose you're right, though. That man was chosen because his face is likely more impactful than say, mine would be. Although, any woman's face could be put on that board and still be pretty impactful and accurate.

[Nevernose]

16. Except AA women are more likely to vote than AA men

And in that particular neighborhood, the target audience has got to be African American men, since the local Dems have got to know that they'got the female AA vote in a more secure position.

And you could put anyone's face up there, and it would probably still be accurate. A veteran's face, a handicapped person's face, a face with a blue collar around the neck, an immigrant's face...hell, anyone not on a board of directors or on a presidential cabinet.

[Just Me]

20. Oh, I totally agree. Any non-corporatist face would be accurate. n/t

[MissMarple]

28. It could be the first of a series of ads, all the faces of America.

It's true of anyone who doesn't walk in lock step with the Republican Party line, and to those who cannot or will not support the Republicans financially. One has to pay up front to be considered for government largess.

[Sunny_Sunshine]

41. "In that particular neighborhood"

Are you saying this isn't on I-70? The article said "14th and Troost" and "near the downtown loop" I haven't seen it yet since I don't go by there but I assumed (silly me) that it was on I-70 targeting all those Blue Springs, Lee Summit and Indie people.

[jo35042]

29. AMEN, unless

It was Condi's!

[damnraddem]

37. One aspect of American racism is that ...

if an African American face appears in something, then it's about race.

The guy in the ad can be a laid-off manufacturing worker, a veteran not receiving VA benefits, a victim of Parkinsons who needs the results of stem-cell research, and so on. Should the Democrats only put white faces on their ads?

[RummyTheDummy]

47. I actually think it was pretty funny

The Repugs pull that all the time.

[DavidMS]

22. Why are they whining?

Its just like what Adlai Stepenson said: If the Republicans will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them.

What's so hatefull about telling it like it is?

It is not about race, its about the racism and classism inherent to the Republican Party.

[TahitiNut]

30. Why must it be presumed to have a racial component ...

... merely because the face on the ad is (African-)American??

The "face" of America can be any color, any age, any gender. When we stop this knee-jerk bullshit we might approach sanity.

Mote. Log. Eye. :puke:

[Don_G]

4. Of Course They're Pissed

They didn't think of it first.

[Ripley]

6. I would have to say bull to both sides on this one.

1. Why does the Dem executive director say "It has nothing to do with race.” when it clearly does?

2. It's insane that the repugs would say it is hateful and vile towards African Americans. How?!?

Why can't the Democrats just grow a spine and stand up for what they fricking stand for instead of mealy-mouthing mushy convictions and half-baked insecurities about what their message is?? If their message is one as clear as this:

Blacks in St. Louis are going to be "left out" by the policies of the Missouri Republicans intended platform. (I assume it is based on tax plans and funding, or lack thereof of programs that overwhelmingly affect that particular minority community in St. Louis.)

Why do they have to back track?

Just one more reason I'm an Independent.

[msmcghee]

21. This is marketing . .

. . not a statement of the ideals underlying the Democratic party in Missouri.

Too many on the left live in this fantasy world where an election is where the candidates state their political convictions and air their ideology. All that would do is give their opponents the ammunition to destroy them. Instead they must produce short, impactful, messages that go right to the emotional buttons that cause people to choose one side or the other.

Ideals only have a place in political systems that are not "winner take all" - where parliamentary seats can be divvied up among the various constituencies even when those constituencies are small.

[Ripley]

24. Be that as it may...

Why deny what is obvious? It makes the Democratic head look foolish, if not simply someone wishy-washy about why he supports the billboard.

Are you referring to me living in a fantasy world? I don't think I do. I just wish more Democrats would act and speak like Howard Dean...someone who says what he means to hell with the way the Republicans will respond.

Marketing is fine. But please have the courage of your own convictions.

[msmcghee]

45. Just to set the record straight . .

Re: "acting and speaking like Howard Dean".

Although he fired up the hard core Dem base (like many of us here at DU) he failed to beat Kerry - even after having a big lead for a while and it looked like Kerry was toast.

There are plenty of theories about why that happened but I'd guess that those who spend their lives in politics know that saying what you mean and to hell with the way the Republicans will respond is a sure way to lose.

Although - in the case of the billboard, I don't think they are so concerned about repuke response. They want to fire up black voters to get out there to register and vote and take care of their own interests and fight against those who would exclude them from the process. I think that billboard was an example of very good marketing.

Although we of the base love to hear cogent and reasoned arguments about why the repukes are demons and out to destroy democracy, Dem campaign managers need to focus on their target market (not us) - and hit them between the eyes with emotional impactful graphic messages - one that focusses in on their greatest fear of what will happen if the repukes gain more power. Fear is one of the most powerful driving emotions. And we all have a lot to fear these days. It is not dishonest to use the fear of "exclusion from the process" to win. That's far more honest than the pukes using the fear of dark-skinned non-Christian people with Arab accents to attack us.

I don't want Dem campaign managers wasting their precious dollars on messages that make me feel superior to the pukes. There will be plenty of time for principles after Kerry and other Dem candidates get elected.

[freetobegay]

8. There is a push in the Administration to be more "black" friendly

I kid you not, it was on CNN last night. They are looking for votes where ever they can find them. There goal is to double the number of black votes they got in 2000. In 2004 instead of 9% that Bush got, they want 18%.

[Nevernose]

11. I saw that, too

What did J.C. Watts' father say on Larry King a few years back?

Something to the effect of, "a black man voting for a Republican is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders."

It's not race-baiting to accuse racists of being racist.

[snippy]

18. Has Bush apologized to John McCain and his daughter yet?

[demnan]

9. The Truth hurts

Actually most black people of intelligence already know this.

[KansDem]

10. Hey, GOP! Does the name "Willie Horton" ring a bell???

Those who live in glass White Houses shouldn't throw stones...

[Supormom]

14. That was my first thought as well.

And what a good point!

[neuvocat]

33. Good point.

eom

[bemildred]

12. Offending some people is a duty and an honor. nt

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. Really.

Even a billboard with only the words "Kerry for President" would be considered offensive by the loons.

[Ready4Change]

17. But The Billboard is TOTALLY Wrong!

A black man is just as able to work for starvation wages in a failed economy as anyone else. And that fits the republican plan just fine!

(/sarcasm)

[GoldenOldie]

19. So Just What is Wrong About this AD?????

This Ad would apply in any part of the Nation. I am a senior, lower middle class, white resident of Arizona, and the Republican Plan does not include me nor any of my family or friends.

The Pubs had no problem playing the race card with Sen John McCain when they claimed he had a "black child." I think the Con's doth protest to much.

[duvinnie]

51. BTW,

arent the repubs jumping to conclusions? why cant the ad pick
someone to represent the "common man" without them assuming
that his skin color is the most important factor in the
picture? I'd say their very objection is racist.

[UpInArms]

23. "UpInArms says Republicans offensive"

I am offended by the sheer hypocrisy that infests these morans.

Get real "Republicans" and look in the mirror. Quit calling a "spade" a "spoon" and think about your nasty, greedy, grasping, thieving, lying ways.

[Barkley]

25. Don't Blame Blacks We Voted for GORE (...I think) - bumper sticker

When I first saw this, I nearly had a crash.

The ad is actually wrong!
The Republicans do have a plan for blacks more prisons and fewer jobs!

[dubyaD40web]

39. RE: "Don't Blame Blacks We Voted for GORE (...I think) - bumper sticker"

But we all know that bush got the only black vote that mattered. Clarence Thomas.

[2Design]

26. One way to improve this billboard

show a family. Black man, white woman, elder people and a child

[Francine Frensky]

31. Love it.

[CO Liberal]

27. From the Referenced Article

“Even after they were rejected by one of the state's largest advertisers, Democrats continued to press forward with a campaign that targets African-Americans in a hateful and vile manner,” said Ann Wagner, chairwoman of the Missouri Republican Party.

It looks like it's actually the REPUBLICANS who "continued to press forward with a campaign that targets African-Americans in a hateful and vile manner"....

:kick:

[schultzee]

32. Thats a very honest advertisement! RePIGs have neglected anyone

who is not a religious crazy, or well off financially. And the majority are closet racists and homophobes.

[skypilot]

34. So, are these Republicans speaking...

...for Missouri's African-American citizens? If blacks in Missouri find the billboard offensive I'm sure they are capable of saying it for themselves.

[catmandu57]

35. It needs to be a revolving board

morphing into different faces, black, white, male, female, young, old, etc... I think I know where this board is, I may have to take a drive this weekend to see it.

[sandnsea]

42. yes it should

Great message, too bad they had to start it out with racial overtones. A much better message would have been to have pics of factory workers, single moms and classrooms; racially balanced. There's lots of folks who have lost their jobs who would love to vote Democratic. But these racially charged elections have gone on far too long in St. Louis, don't you think?

[damnraddem]

36. To Repugs, everything has to do with race.

Unless it's one of their own ads -- those are race neutral, of course.

Dear RNC: the FCC DOES NOT regulate billboards!

[Devil Dog Dem]

38. Well, if they didn't race bait . . .

Missouri Dems wouldn't have put up a billboard.

[sendero]

40. "offensive"?

... I think they mean "effective".

[Bluebear]

43. After all, 'some people' think "brown skins" can't be free

nt

[AspenRose]

44. Truth hurts, doesn't it Repugs

See my sig line

[Triana]

46. baawww - too close to the truth, innit? (n/t)

[Terran]

48. Considering the hatchet job MO repugs just tried to do

on the poor of our state (which they more less didn't get away with), it's pretty silly for them to deny the apparent message of this billboard.

[EV1Ltimm]

49. I love missouri.

i drove to kc about a month ago and the first thing i heard on the radio when i crossed the kansas/missouri border was a dj praising bushorchimp.com. i was flabbergasted.

[CO Liberal]

50. CO Liberal Says "RepubliKKKans Offensive"

On so many levels.....