Mehlman's Tennessee Ad: Looks a Lot Like Corker's Ads
Josh Marshall has been flooding the zone on the story of Ken Mehlman’s tortured response to the Republican National Committee’s racially coded ad against Harold Ford in Tennessee. Basically Mehlman’s response is that, although he is supposedly the chair of the RNC, he didn’t see the ad and can’t order it pulled because of campaign finance rules against coordination. Which means, basically, that the ad was run by someone who operates independently, and runs ads that are not coordinated with the campaigns or the party committee. That allows use of money from different sources, often in larger amounts. Though why the ad is attributed to the RNC is a little mysterious to me, and his statement that he gave money to an independent person seems backward. Usually with independent expenditures, the person with the money (say, Swift-Boat financier Bob Perry) brings the money and creates the ad.
The issue of coordination within a single political committee is arcane, and if I fully understood it, I could charge politicians $600 an hour. But the first rule of coordination is not that complicated: Independent ads on behalf of a federal candidate may not be coordinated with the candidate’s committee. That’s how we balance the First Amendment right to speak for yourself with the constitutionally legitimate restrictions on campaign contributions, intended to prevent corruption.
But look at the independent ad in question. Then look at Republican Bob Corker’s own ad, here.
The independent ad begins with an African-American woman saying, "Harold Ford looks nice. Isn’t that enough?" The Corker ad begins with an African-American man saying, "Whoo, he looks good on TV!" (Apparently that’s the basis on which black people decide who to vote for. I did not know that.) It ends with someone else saying, "but he looks good on TV."
In between, the two ads have a virtually identical rhythm and look -- very short, person-on-the-street clips, alternating white and black, men and women, in a staccato rhythm, all cheerful and direct. In between the "he looks good" openers and closers, the content is quite different. The independent ad uses sarcasm, hitting Ford on guns, taxes, implied miscegenation, being for "terrorists’ rights," being in the pocket of the porn industry, and being soft on North Korea. (None of these charges backed by facts or citations.) The official Corker ad hits him for "he grew up in DC, not Tennessee," and for not having a job other than politics. (Doesn’t sound too different from great Tennessee senators of the recent past!)
Together, though, these two ads sure look like a well-coordinated attempt to echo a single coherent message: He’s a pretty boy, he’s not from here, has weird values, ("He’s just not right," the independent ad concludes). The candidate delivers the softer version of the message, the independent spender the version that includes all the nasty insinuations that the candidate doesn’t want to be associated with. But because the ads look and sound the same, they are more memorable, and can be expected to be more memorable for the same number of "impressions" than two totally different ads would be.
There’s every reason to think these ads were prepared in coordination between the candidate and the RNC. Mehlman is hiding behind "coordination rules" to excuse an ad that not only is racist, but quite likely violated those rules.
The ads are essentially the same. They both are using overtly racist themes in order to push the white vote up in Tenn. so Corker can squeek out a victory. They are pulling out all the stops so they do not lose control of the Senate like they are going to with the House.
See more at my blog - Faithfully Liberal.
October 24, 2006 7:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I find this whole, "I don't have the authority to take it down or put it up", dance by Mehlman/RNC interesting. Are we going to see more of this Republican three step?
Seems it goes somethinig like this:
Hmmm... Seems to me everyone is insolated from the nasty add.
What a Croker of shit this is!
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“I, ..., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic..."
October 24, 2006 8:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now all that's necessary is a whistle-blower or internal documents.
October 24, 2006 10:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
And your point is?
I'm sure they teach this in Rove school: No candidate has ever lost a seat--after winning an election--for breaking a few rules here and there, so, as long as you can get away with it, do what you need to win.
Corker might pay a price in the next election and the RNC might get a slap on the wrist but from Corker's point of view it's totally worth it to cheat now and win. And having a coordinated, well-funded smear campaign dumped on your opponent at the last minute is, well, priceless.
Ford should have predicted this kind of crap outloud and then made sure his team was ready top pounce on Corker (and the press and the RNC) with a strong counterattack that made Corker pay. Unfortunately, in this case, playing up race at the last minute will have a real effect, even if on only a tiny percent of voters. It's dirty stuff but without near death penalty enforcement of election law, a pragmatic rational decision by the RNC and Corker.
October 25, 2006 1:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Seen the ad, read your assessment, where's the "racial code" you are talking about?
October 25, 2006 4:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am commenting because I am a Democrat who strongly believes in our party and in getting our message out.
This morning, I heard a real, live Democrat on the radio.
On the "Brad & Britt Show" (WZTK 101.1 FM out of Greensboro), North Carolinians discussed the Corker ad. A caller named "Robert" made one of the most passionate, clear, and convincing argument for the Democrats and for the real "values voters" I have ever heard on the radio. He cut through the Republican "talking points" BS, and shredded it. And he was just a regular guy who got angry. He doesn't come off as closed-minded or one-sided.
Republicans like to say the Democrats have no platform. I would be happy to play Robert’s call as a real example of the entire Democratic platform.
If there is any way you can get a tape of his call from the October 25th show, it is worth your time.
Robert called at around 8:50am or so.
October 25, 2006 6:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Re: pro-Corker ad : "Canada can take care of North Korea; they're not busy"
Canada isn't busy?!? Maybe Corker's hitmen need to dial-up the parents of these soldiers:
2 Canadian soldiers killed in Afghan ambush (Oct 15)
From the ad video... "Canada can take care of North Korea; they're not busy."
Could someone please point out to the voters of Tennessee that Corker has lost any right to lead this country on national security and the fight against global terrorism, since he and his handlers are sufficiently out-of-touch to either not realize that Canada is fighting on our behalf in Afghanistan, or that he values the alliance so little that he'll belittle Canada's sizable sacrifice?
October 25, 2006 8:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I beleive you have interpreted the 'looks good' slam incorrectly. It is not about how blacks vote but how racist whites vote. The statement is meant to scream that Ford has looks but no substance. The racial overtones is that when you have blacks saying this it feeds directly into the white persons racism of blacks having 'style without substance' and it also drives home why many whites assert blacks do not earn what they have but have been 'given' it underserving...whether that be due to affirmative action, welfare, or illegal means.
The remarks are similiar to Woody Harrelson's line to Wesley Snipes in the film White Men Can't Jump' where he dogs Wesley about being all style and dunking on the court, without having fundamentals...cause black folks think 'looking cool' is more important than being the best.
This same message is being delivered by blacks in Corkers ad to racist southerners.
October 25, 2006 8:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tony Snow and Ken Mehlman had the chance to step away from the Corker ad depicting the White "Playmate". Neither saw anything wrong with the ad. I think this disconnect, with an inability or unwillingness to see the true message being sent to the public is common in the GOP. As I posted in another blog by Greg Sargent on a similar topic, black GOP activists should be asked their opinions regarding the adas should Fox's African-American reporters. The results might be telling.
I think whiterosebuddy's comments reflect what most African-Americans would feel about the true message in the GOP ad. In the past, I had respect for Black GOP members like Burke, Fletcher, and Bunche. I wouldn't give a dime for the current crop of GOP Blacks including Rice and Colin Powell who bowed to GW and served as cheerleaders for a misguided war, or Michael Steele or Ken Blackwell who have their own interests at heart rather than the populace. Lynn Swann is just out of his element in politics and appears incompetent. Alan Keyes, the transplanted Md resident who opposed Obama in Illinois, is just plain "Crazy". Colin Powell's son helped media monopolies limit audio and video choices when he headed the FCC.
The ad reminds me of why I can't even vote for the GOP for dog-catcher
October 25, 2006 9:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
I've about gotten my fill of the negative advertising being aired and reported on by the CNN programs, the traditional networks and other Cable News programs. The Tennessee ad being run by Bob Corker is so bad that the children in my family can no longer watch TV because I and their parents don't know when one of the ads or a report on the ads will pop up. We have a goal in our family - to raise our children to believe that all men are created equal and to try to keep our children protected from smut as much as we can.
Mr. Mehlman says he can't take the ad down and Mr. Corker says he can't take the ad down. Doesn't say much about this Republican Party or the kind of representation we will receive if Mr. Corker should win. The Republican Party apparently doesn't adhere to Christian values, as they claim to, and Mr. Corker will put the interests of the Republican Party above the interests of his constituents. Whose Senator will he be? Mine or the Republican Party's.
As for the similarity of the two ads. They should be similar. They were both written by the same man - who just happens to be part of the Corker campaign. Corker may not have paid for the ad, but he certainly approved of it.
Both he and Mr. Mehlman are acting like ballet dancers, tip-toeing around the truth. Mr. Mehlman gives ridiculous excuses and Mr. Corker refused to answer Wolf Blitzer's direct question last night - Had he, Mr. Corker, spoken with Mr. Mehlman about the smut ad?
October 25, 2006 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Two points here. The broad one is that the Republicans are illustrating that they are weakest precisely where they boast the loudest: personal responability. The ad is on the air, and no one, just no one, is responsible for it. The ad says the RNC is responsible. But if they're responsible, they can take it down. What they should do is sue. Whoever put this ad up and said they were responsible is obviously lying, so they should sue that person for defamation and fraud. They won't, of course, because they really are responsible.
A bad aspect of Ford's response, though, is that he says he "won't speak ill of his family" Well, of course, he won't; who would expect him to? When someone says they "won't speak ill" of someone, it suggests there is some ill they could speak from which they are refraining. Ford should really change that statement. Does he have a white wife? Is that part of the subtext here?
October 25, 2006 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
That independent ad would increase my motivation to vote for Ford. As a utilitarian, I feel that I should be receptive to endorsements from girls who do their part to increase the general happiness -- especially if they expend their efforts in a race-blind way. I will reward and encourage their utility-increasing behavior by attending to their political endorsements.
Somehow, I'm guessing it doesn't play that way in most of Tennessee.
October 25, 2006 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
A bad aspect of Ford's response, though, is that he says he "won't speak ill of his family" Well, of course, he won't; who would expect him to? When someone says they "won't speak ill" of someone, it suggests there is some ill they could speak from which they are refraining. Ford should really change that statement. Does he have a white wife? Is that part of the subtext here?
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Ford isn't married. The "won't speak ill" line comes from the fact that there are lots of political scandals tied to his family. His father was in and out of court for years prosecuted for political pay-offs during the S&L melt-down. He was never convicted. Two of his uncles lost seats in the Tennessee legislature due to bribery scandals. His aunt recently won a special election to the Tennessee senate by 13 votes but the senate refused to seat her because there were so many irregularities in the election (ie dead people voting)
October 25, 2006 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
First, he denies that it is racist... I love that one... racism doesn't depend on whether or not the person offended believes it is racist or not... it depends on the person making the comment. So, all you have to say is, "I disagree." Isn't that cute.
Next, as is usual in the Repulican party... no one is ever responsible. Never. Nope. Ain't gonna happen. Not me, someone that looked like me.
Oh sure, we try to make sure everyone gets their birth certificate... not the cute one with baby feet but the offical one. Weren't born in this state? Well, find the office that has the certificates in the state that you were born in... order a copy (probably about $10 each) send away for it and then come back down. Wait? You don't have your SSAN card? Well, you need to go order that and get a copy. What? Need a drivers license to get the SSAN? Well, just show my your certified copy of your birth certificate...
Everyone knows that from the 1860's to the 1960's the Republican party was the party of the blacks... that is why we now claim MLK as our own. Oh sure, there were Dixiecrats that would never join the Republicans because of the "War of Succession" thing... but even though we have opposed enforcement of equal rights for the past 45 years... we are the party of the blacks.
Sure, we pander to the white supremisists with "state's rights", macacca and ads such as this... but we aren't responsible.
October 25, 2006 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
See a tongue-in-cheek visual that gives Mr. Mehlman a dose of his own "Innuendo" medicine...here:
www.thoughttheater.com
October 26, 2006 9:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
No, but he does date white women.
October 27, 2006 3:19 AM | Reply | Permalink