I presume most of you have heard about the racist, sexist ad trashing Janice Hahn, a Democratic candidate for the House. I almost offered a piece on this yesterday, but choose not to, because her Republican opponent was denying involvement and condemning it in no uncertain terms, so it appeared to be the work of an an unaffiliated wing-nut. I certainly have no no shortage of unethical/criminal Republican behavior from which to draw. But that was a day ago, and the circumstances have changed. It now appears likely that the Republican was behind the offensive ad.
Strippers, guns, gangsters? It may be the norm for Tony Soprano, but as political ads go, this one may just have gone too far.
Late Wednesday, Democratic congressional candidate Janice Hahn from California’s 36th District released a statement calling for an Federal Election Commission investigation into a possible link between her opponent’s campaign and an ad by the political action committee Turn Right USA [Racist pigs delinked] that blasts her, using a barrage of "gangsters," strippers and guns to try to portray her as soft on criminals and as someone who uses taxpayer dollars to put gang members back on the streets.
The Republican in the race, Craig Huey, was quick to distance himself from the video, which he says is not affiliated with his campaign.
The video mentions it was not authorized, and Huey released a statement saying as much: "The ad was not authorized and not affiliated with my campaign. The ad is blatantly racist, and sexist and neither racism nor sexism has any place in the public sphere."
Despite all the denials, Hahn’s campaign called for an FEC investigation, because the Turn Right USA PAC shares an address in a retail center with an independent consulting firm called CampaignLA, which was listed in Huey’s FEC filings. In addition, Hahn’s campaign alleges that the domain name used by Turn Right USA (…turnrightusa.org [Racist pigs delinked]) was purchased for them by CampaignLA… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <ABC>
On Wednesday night, Chris Hayes covered the matter and debunked the video, demonstrating that its content lacked even a grain of truth.
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I can assure you, due to the volunteer work I do, that former prisoners make the best change agents for convicts seeking to reform, because they command respect in a way that no “straight John” can. They understand what convicts are going though, because they have experienced it themselves.
Remember that the video precedes the information linking Huey to the video. If that probability bears out it will prove one thing about Craig Huey, that he is clearly a Republican.
22 Responses to “Was the GOP Behind the Janice Hahn Ad?”
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This has no other source than her opponent no matter how far he backs away from it. this is not the expression of some unaffiliated ideologue expressing their first amendment right to be an asshole. This is willie Horton all over again, even if they pull the ad it is already in the public consciousness and that is how the herd is turned in one direction to another.
She must shrug it off, let the FEC do their job (which they won’t because of the republican mouths in congress that will need the PAC money) and move on by showing the content of her own character. Personally if it were me I would take the ad and run it non stop with my self in front of it saying in effect “do you want the person who made this hate filled bit of racist garbage to represent you?” I would use his own gun to shoot him in the balls,
Mark I agree. Because the Republican was so fast to condemn the ad, my initial inclination was to give him the benefit of the doubt. My bad. This ad is so way over the top that I can’t see it hurting her, especially if the information to debunk it is as widespread. It makes the Willie Horton ad seem like softball.
The ad is so ludicrously over-the-top and amateurish (the blatant racism, childish rhetoric, trite use of sexuality, and the glowing red eyes) that at first I couldn’t believe it wasn’t some sort of parody. Perhaps it was deliberately made that way, so everyone would assume it must indeed be the work of someone other than political professionals?
If it’s really a Republican-created ad designed to let Huey deny any connection with it, they’ve blundered. In the internet age, tracks can’t be permanently covered.
Infidel, that was my original impression too, but the tracks became apparent.
….So, this is Republican family values. (false witness) 😈
It certainly expresses what the party caters to.
Pants on fire!
Yup
I’ve wondered about who’s really behind this despicable ad. Will link to this from my post.
Thanks Leslie. Your article is well worth the read,
Two potentially good things from the most vile, racist, sexist ad EVAH:
[1] Appears that the backlash to it has actually HELPED Janice Hahn
[2] The treasurer of Turn Right USA PAC, the ad’s producer, has threatened to resign because of the backlash
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/06/most_intentionally_offensive_ad_evah.php
I thought there would only be two people employed there – the 2 guys who thought up this disgusting video, made this an overly sexist and racist vid and posted it out there. Obviously the only one with any morals in this “company” or PAC or whatever it is, is the treasurer, who watched it and said that’s the most vile thing I’ve ever seen. Let’s see if he does it or not.
Nameless, I don’t know where or how you get these links but they are fantastic. You are the Nobel Prize winner of finding relevant posts to any article and I always read them before I post, because they are just that good.
The quote from TPM that Nameless put out there actually says that they are trying to pull them but now that the ads are out there, they’ve gone viral and now are working against the candidate who put them out there, the teabagger, Craig Huey. But they can’t, because once it’s out there on the intertubes, it doesn’t come back and it’s there forever. And this vid beats any stupid vid that Dems have ever put out by MILES. Even the stupid Michael Dukakis ad in the tank with that stupid helmet on, does not even COME CLOSE to this MAJOR SUPER STUPID FUCK UP! I don’t know what the fuck Huey was thinking about letting this thug do his commercial or maybe he didn’t review it or he did and said “Yeah that’s exactly what I want”, but either way, he is one dumb mother fucker, and I wouldn’t be surprised it his poll numbers are negative right now. If he gets 5 votes in this campaign, he’ll be lucky. His candidacy is over before it ever got started. Dumass. 🙄 😯
Lisa, because I try to use stories that are “fresh”, more information often comes out within the next few hours. The TPM article came several hours after mine. Nevertheless, Nameless has a stellar talent for finding links that are both valuable and obscure.
Thanks Nameless. I’m not holding my breath over #2.
This one is so outrageous it will have a reverse psychology effect.
I agree, Dave.
I like TWM ‘s idea—- lol– I saw this – thought it was some ugly , tasteless joke at first- —
At first, I did too.
I thought it was a joke too but if it is actually sponsored by the GOP then I agree, it will have a reverse effect and help Janice.
You’re right, Mimi.
If it smells like a republican, spewed shit like a republican, if it lies like a republican, if it is racist like a republican, if it is hateful like a republican, …
it probably is a republican!
LOL Jerry! Quite right.