Slog: News & Arts

RSS icon Comments on Harold Ford Response Ad

1

It would also be pedophile-baiting, but actually honestish, since Foley was tolerated for so long.

Posted by Noink | October 25, 2006 2:54 PM
2

Exactly.

Posted by Dan Savage | October 25, 2006 2:55 PM
3

Corker's also playing a sleazy radio ad featuring the sound of jungle drums along with talk about Harold Ford:

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

Posted by david | October 25, 2006 3:03 PM
4

I think it should go further....

(cut to "terrorist") "I want the GOP in power because it gives me more recuits!

(cut to "criminal on the street)"I'm so glad there are assult rifles around to steal so that I can kill police officers"

(cut to "woman") "I am so glad that the congress can tell me what to do about my body, I mean they know best!"

(cut to "little boy") "I am glad that the GOP doesnt mind child molestation, because that means I'll get more presents"

(cut to Osama Bin Laden look alike) "With the republicans in power, I'll be safe forever!

(cut to "old couple") "I am glad to pay more for perscription drugs, and have less money from social security. The companies and government need it more than me"

Etc, Etc, Etc. No need for gay-baiting!

Posted by Monique | October 25, 2006 3:18 PM
5

Tim Meadows as SNL's The Lady's Man should do that ad filmed in a candle lit room next to a fire over a snifter of Cavassier.

Posted by monkey | October 25, 2006 3:34 PM
6

Monique's ad sounds like every crappy ad I'm already ignoring. This gay is all about Dan's surefire gay-baiting ad. What an ass kicker that would be.

Posted by sniggles | October 25, 2006 3:54 PM
7

You should film it and put it on YouTube, Dan.

With shots of a playground.

Use scary shark music to end it.

Posted by Will in Seattle | October 25, 2006 4:56 PM
8

He's on the right track, according to this NYT article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/26/us/politics/26tennessee.html?hp&ex=1161921600&en=00b9655c05cd202b&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Mr. Ford told his audience here, and elsewhere in recent days, that the attacks were simply a sign of desperation, a sign the Republicans have nothing else to say. He added, “You know your opponent is scared when his main opposition against you is, ‘My opponent likes girls.’ ” The audience erupted in laughter.

Posted by John Tynes | October 26, 2006 12:06 AM
9

Gotta love this quote from Mehlman:

Even so, Mr. Mehlman said he did not see a racial subtext to the ad. “I will tell you that when I looked at the ad, that was not my reaction,” he said. “I hear and respect people who had a different reaction, and I hope they respect me, too.”
'Cause it's all about respect.

Posted by Gabriel | October 26, 2006 8:52 AM
10

A u tube ad of osama saying 'vote for the repubs, they can't catch me, they always look in the wrong places ha ha ha'

Posted by joel mael | October 26, 2006 8:57 AM
11

Mark Foley is acceptable to "confirmed bachelor" Ken Mehlman’s GOP. Heterosexual men, it seems, are not.

There, that's better

Posted by klyde | October 26, 2006 8:58 AM
12

Maybe the background music should be something like the Village People's "YMCA" with the words changed to something like "Meet the GOP at YMCA,"....
Another terrific ad would be: "Are ALL Republicans child molesters?"

Posted by spamonwry | October 26, 2006 8:58 AM
13

Well, Dan, you got your wish, but not exactly in the way you were expecting.

"I do not support the decision today reached by the New Jersey Supreme Court regarding gay marriage. I oppose gay marriage, and have voted twice in Congress to amend the United States Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. This November there's a referendum on the Tennessee ballot to ban same-sex marriage - I am voting for it."

So he's gay baiting, but not in self-defense, just because he can.

Posted by picaresque | October 26, 2006 9:02 AM
14

Incidentally, they've pulled the race-baiting Harold Ford ad, and are trying to figure out how to outdo themselves.

Posted by Gabriel | October 26, 2006 9:07 AM
15

You rule, dude.

Posted by melior | October 26, 2006 9:12 AM
16

Were this not a case of being able to flag Republicans as racist, I think most progressives would be trying to distance themselves from the right wing homophobic Ford.

Posted by MonkeyBoy | October 26, 2006 9:21 AM
17

I thought that Ford should mock the "bimbo ad." They could riff off that famous Blazing Saddles scene where Sheriff Bart and the Waco Kid bait the Klansmen into attacking them. The racial appeals work for the GOP because they allow their racist base to delude themselves into thinking that the issue is one of morality and not race. An ad where Ford mocks that racist appeal directly, shows it to be anachronistic and "uncool" would be quite effective.

Posted by rk | October 26, 2006 9:30 AM
18

Dan, you happen to see Harold Ford's statement on the New Jersey court decision? Yeah... he's gay baiting, just not in the way you probably hoped he would.

Posted by sfluke | October 26, 2006 9:40 AM
19

Yes, I did see Ford on NJ. And it blows—but the US Senate is greater than the sum of its parts. Electing Ford and creating a Dem majority in the Senate will empower Senate Dems who disagree with Ford on this issue—Dems who will also have more seniority, chairmanshipts, etc.

So, yeah, he sucks on this issue, an issue that touches me personally. But let's keep our eye on the prize here: Dem control of congress.

Posted by Dan Savage | October 26, 2006 9:58 AM
20

Yes, I did see Ford on NJ. And it blows—but the US Senate is greater than the sum of its parts. Electing Ford and creating a Dem majority in the Senate will empower Senate Dems who disagree with Ford on this issue—Dems who will also have more seniority, chairmanshipts, etc.

So, yeah, he sucks on this issue, an issue that touches me personally. But let's keep our eye on the prize here: Dem control of congress.

Posted by Dan Savage | October 26, 2006 10:00 AM
21

Noink:
I'm not trying to be the language police, but can we please not call Foley a pedophile. There were no pre-pubescent children involved. Many in the GOP like to link homosexuality to pedophilia, but there is no connection. Foley is a predator who happens to be gay.

The success of Dan's proposed ad would depend on gay-baiting being as or more effective than race-baiting. I'm not sure that's true in Tennessee.

Posted by Court Jester | October 26, 2006 10:02 AM
22

Will @ #7- you just made me laugh out loud in class, and we've been talking about murder for the last 45 minutes. Shark music, *snerk*

- I'm so busted X-D

Posted by smiley | October 26, 2006 10:02 AM
23

Eyes on the prize? Maybe - but Harold Ford's comments about NJ civil unions indicate that discrimination is just fine by him. Not surprising, I guess, for a guy who broadcasts his "old-fashioned" values by standing in a church pew. Gays probably aren't welcome in that sanctuary either.

Piss poor values for a guy who's been shouting about racism all week.

I'm with Kos on this one: Ford's no prize.

Posted by jim | October 26, 2006 10:31 AM
24

Court Jester, I don't think I buy your definition of pedophile. See this:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pedophile

There are three good definitions there, and two of them use just the word "children," not "young children."

I would think that anyone under the legal age consent would be considered a child, in the eyes of both the law and the public. Mark Foley was a pedophile.

Posted by Chachi | October 26, 2006 10:36 AM
25

A big resounding "f*** this blog."

This "fag" doesn't appreciate being thrown under the bus for the Democrats to win. Next, let's just demonize illegal immigrants and middle easterners so we can win.

The ends don't justify the means. Christ.

Posted by Hollerback | October 26, 2006 10:40 AM
26

Oddly enough Chachi, Foley's victims were above age of legal consent (16 in DC according to the news), they just weren't old enough to talk about it on the internet because of Foley's pet law. He abused his position and theirs, and he's a dirty old man, but not a pedophile.

Posted by aleks | October 26, 2006 10:44 AM
27

Is it just me, or does that blonde "girl" in the anti-Ford ad look like a guy? I honestly think they got a boy to play a girl for that part -- which would be in keeping with GOP tactics.

Posted by Wondering | October 26, 2006 11:22 AM
28

Ford has an ad with Corker saying "Stay the course..".
I'd forget all the distractions and run that ad 1000 times.

To paraphrase BC, "It's Iraq stupid".

Posted by In Tennessee | October 26, 2006 11:48 AM
29

Monique's suggestion is excellent (Go back up and read it again).

Wish Ford would run that one!

Posted by Bizby | October 26, 2006 12:05 PM
30

Monique's got the right idea. I love Ford's new ad on Corker with the "stay the course," and "flip-flopper" message. It's brilliant. And, you're right, it should be played 1,000 times.

Posted by Tennessean | October 26, 2006 12:10 PM
31

The ad I would like to see is the famous clip of Bush looking for Bin Laden under chairs in the oval office. Makes him look like the fool he is, and is the perfect antidote to the "ticking clock" ad

Posted by Ponds | October 26, 2006 12:20 PM
32

That's beautiful, but I would avoid using the word "heterosexual" in Tennesee, I think a lot of Republicans probably think it means "gay" or some other sexual deviance. I'm not kidding.

Posted by vanya | October 26, 2006 1:16 PM
33

Actually, aleks, the age of consent in DC is 16 only if there is a three year (or possibly four) or less age difference between the parties. So, a 16 year old can legally sleep with a 19/20 year old, not someone vastly older than they are. It's to keep irate parents from prosecuting their daughters' boyfriends. Ack. As a former rape crisis educator in DC, I really really hate that the media didn't look into this.

Posted by Sydney | October 26, 2006 4:39 PM
34

Eyes on the prize, part 2:

I agree with Hollerback (25 above) - Dan's advice on this one is really really dumb. Gay-baiting + supporting a discriminatory Democrat.

Check out the always incendiary Paglia on Salon:
"It was gargantuan overkill, and I felt the Democrats were shooting themselves in the foot. I was especially repulsed by the manipulative use of a gay issue for political purposes by my own party. I think it was not only poor judgment but positively evil. Whatever short-term political gain there is, it can only have a negative impact on gay men. When a moralistic, buttoned-up Republican like Foley is revealed to have a secret, seamy gay life, it simply casts all gay men under a shadow and makes people distrust them. Why don't the Democratic strategists see this? These tactics are extremely foolish. Gay men through history have always been more vulnerable to public hysteria than are lesbians, who -- unless they're out there parading around in all-leather bull-dyke drag -- simply fit more easily into the cultural landscape than do gay men, who generally lead a more adventurous, pickup-oriented sex life."

Posted by jim | October 26, 2006 11:01 PM
35


Court Jester at #21...

You are absolutely correct that Mister Foley should not be referred to as a pedophile. In light of the facts that are so far currently known, there were no pre-pubescent children involved. Although there seems to be little doubt that Foley's attraction to post-pubescent adolescents places him in the category of that of an ephebophile.

I have been pointing out the following over and over and over to those with this misunderstanding:

The sexuality of a person has no bearing on a person who is either a pedophile, which is an attraction to pre-pubescent or pubescent children, or an individual who is a ephebophile, an attraction to post-pubescent adolescents. Pedophiles and Ephebophiles swing from all branches of the human sexuality tree.

And from what can be deduced from the known actions of Mister Foley he seems to have had an attraction with adolescents, although with no information of actual love relations or sexual activity with the subject individual(s). Ephebophilia is not regarded by psychologists as inherently pathological, only when it interferes with other relationships, becomes an obsession adversely affecting other areas of life, or causes distress to the subject of the attraction.

The term was originally coined by John Money, Ph.D, a psychologist and sexologist well-known for his specialized research in sexual identity. And although he found great difficulty in the medical community due to his "cover up" of the infamous David Reimer case, John Money was quite adamant in his critique of the differences found with pedophilia and that of ephebophilia.

I hope this helps enlighten folks...

Posted by Live and Let Live | October 26, 2006 11:24 PM
36

No better example of a re-schvartze-can who checks his self-respect at the door than Michael Steele, Maryland's sitting vice-governor & present US Senate Republican Party candidate.
On the record for acknowledging that it's distasteful being a Republican, he is silent on issues about Corker & Felix George "macaca" Allen.
Then again he knows that if elected he'll be primed as the Republican's answer to Obama.
HIS eyes are on the prize.

Posted by Hadassah Weinreb | October 27, 2006 12:35 AM
37

If we want to go negative, I like Dan's approach.

However, I'm hoping this is the year that the GOP's desperate shrillness finally alienates voters, and negative adds yield negative results.

(I've already seen this in my phoning.)

Posted by Greg Walz-Chojnacki | October 27, 2006 10:39 AM
38

i love that ad! :-) it helps republicans. everyone hates it when a black person yells rasicm. thus it helped the republicans hahahahaahaha. yeah corker is up 10 percentage points in the polls now!!! hahahahaah in your face nastycrats.

Posted by dan webber | November 6, 2006 6:11 PM
39

Pop trio Atomic Kitten will reform to play a concert in support of jailed Liverpool football fan Michael Shields...

Posted by Reed Eaves | November 12, 2006 6:50 AM
40

Social networking site MySpace is to block users from uploading copyrighted music to its pages...

Posted by Amari Friend | November 12, 2006 6:27 PM

Comments Closed

In order to combat spam, we are no longer accepting comments on this post (or any post more than 45 days old).