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Subscribe to RSSU.S. Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra has been accused of racism for a campaign ad against Michigan's incumbent senator, Debbie Stabenow. The ad features a young Asian woman riding a bicycle through a rice paddy – speaking broken English – and mocking Stabenow. Politico's Maggie Haberman reports.
Michigan Republican Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra's campaign came under scrutiny Monday for a controversial Super Bowl ad targeting Democratic opponent Sen. Debbie Stabenow.
Hoekstra's campaign aired an ad on Sunday depicting an Asian woman speaking in broken English, facetiously thanking Stabenow for encouraging federal spending.
Hold Debbie Stabenow accountable for her reckless spending.
"Thank you Michigan Sen. Debbie Spend-it-now. Debbie spends so much American money -- you borrow more and more from us. Your economy get very weak; ours get very good. We take your jobs," the woman says in the ad.
The backdrop is meant to evoke China. In a statement announcing the ad, Hoekstra decried "our reliance on foreign countries like China," a top buyer of American debt.
Hoekstra, a former Republican congressman who unsuccessfully pursued his party's gubernatorial nomination in 2010, appears at the end of the ad to tout his own fiscal hawkishness. The ad additionally directs viewers to a website featuring a variety of generic Asian imagery in connection to Stabenow.
The website includes Chinese script -- "Xianzai Daibi Hua" -- that roughly translates into "Now Debbie Spend."
RELATED: Chinese shrug at Super Bowl ad
Hoekstra's campaign paid $75,000 to air the ad in markets throughout Michigan during the Super Bowl, according to an Associated Press report on Sunday. It is his first ad in the Senate race.
The Michigan chapter of Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote said in a statement that the ad "plays on harmful stereotypes of Asians speaking broken English and has stereotypical Chinese music playing in the background."
An Asian woman is speaking in Pete Hoekstra's campaign ad that aired on Super Bowl Sunday, facetiously thanking Stabenow for encouraging federal spending.
"It is very disturbing that Mr. Hoekstra’s campaign chose to use harmful and negative stereotypes that intrinsically encourage anti-Asian sentiment," the group said Sunday.
The ad faced additional criticism from both Democrats and Republicans alike.
"Pete Hoekstra had a wardrobe malfunction this Super Bowl weekend and it was not pretty," said Shripal Shah, a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman.
Republican consultant Mike Murphy, meanwhile, wrote on Twitter: "Pete Hoekstra Superbowl TV ad in MI Senate race really, really dumb. I mean really."
A primary challenger's of Hoekstra also called the ad "disappointing," accusing Hoekstra's record of undermining the message of the ad.
"The team is describing it as satire, but there’s absolutely no way this doesn’t just fan the flames and come off as racist," wrote Jazz Shaw on the prominent conservative blog Hot Air.
Comments on the YouTube page for the ad have been disabled in the meanwhile. Spokespeople for Hoekstra didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
NBC's John Bailey contributed.
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My hope is that if there are any republicans left who haven't gone to the far side, start a new party because the tea people have forever tarnished the republican party! It will be decades before they ever hold a majority in any branch of government again.
Lois20721921
Is the Leadership of the Republican Party from the Tea Party,in House, or Senate? What brings you to the conclusion the Republican's are NOT using the Tea Party as scapegoats for their (Rep Leaders) ultra Right Wing and Corporate Monies Agenda??? Is it the T. P. who proclaimed, even at the USA detriment, President Obama (Elected by WE the PEOPLE), would be a one time President... NO! NO! NO! That Prime goal came straight from Republican "Leadership"....
LarBear-3944057
I'll admit you present an angle I had not considered, however I don't remember the republicans being the party of No until the TP's came on board. Not saying they are the cause of it, but you must admit it is a nice coincidence.
The republicans created the TP out of thin air. They needed a way to escape being the 21% after the disaster that was GW Bush. Dick Armey and corporate America created the TP out of thin air. Their claim to have been around before is partly true, they are what's left of the Bircher's and the radical religious right. it was so effective because this group went hysterical when a black man was elected president. They played to their bigotry and it worked like a charm. Problem, they created a monster who thinks they run things. Now they can't control them. Hense the reason Boehner can't even get his own bills passed through congress. Now we are witnessing the imploding of the republicans.
The real tradegy isn't that the ad is racist, it is that people are so stupid they missed what the ad was saying and why the girl was asian in the first place.
It was a BS ad & should never have been part of the Super Bowel,,,, No facts at all in it ----- Very typical of Hoekstra
Wow Steve, you mean that girl was "Asian in the first place" so you could be told a story in pictures? And I thought she was just born that way.
It is becoming clear that Republicans represent - Racist tones and tendencies, Spreading hatred, Generate fear, Do not care for POOR, Are against family values, (denying help to kids), Empty talk full of lies and are Clueless. Just look at the record of Bush's 8 years during 2000 - 2008. They talk of being fiscally responsible - my foot - those 8 years of reckless policies brought America biggest deficit. Now 2 years of Republican Congress - ZERO progress on jobs and lowest approval by citizens. Be afraid, be very afraid of these idiotic Republicans in 2012. Throw the bums out. Amen brother.
China poses no serious threat to the United States.... they are our friend. They do not consider the US their biggest threat to their own capabilities and future. I guess we should over-look the obvious and hope for the best. I am sure back in the 1920s when military commanders and analysts in the US viewed Japan as a potential threat, that someone being "PC" was running around assuring them that you are banging the "war drum" and creating a fictious enemy. "They mean us no harm. They are merely trade partners and nothing else. Forget about their recent military modernization and overlook that part. That is merely for self-defense purposes, not for force projection."
Those crazy republicans, when are you going to accept the fact that only members of the DNC know and understand who the "bad guys" are. It's not the Occupy Wall Street crew it is only the Tea Party that is filled with evil, bad, mean people... wait I forgot also racist.
If he would have had the young girl speaking Chinese with English subtitles, would there been as much outrage and shock?
Ah Yes....Can't win the debate of ideas? Accuse your opponent of racism (no matter how far fetched) and you will be victorious! Remember the 14 Words, and we will be strong once more !!
A few days ago my middle schooler told me that he had learned of a study in school that showed that in China school graduates speak better English than school graduates in the U.S.. Using things such as racial stereotypes to appeal to people's prejudices is what demagogues do.
If you believe in racial stereotypes, science is not on your side. Check out www.themythofrace.org a website created by a Mayo Clinic Professor, or "The Seven Daughters of Eve" or "Journey of Man" a PBS video by the Stanford geneticist, Dr. Spencer Wells or "The Human Family Tree" a video by National Geographic. Then welcome to the 21st century Mr. Hoekstra and recognize that we all have tha same ancestors. You may have issues with the financial policies of China and the United States but "race" should not be an issue.
China, The Netherlands, or any other country in the world that also speaks English, does so better than American's.
That's because we speak American English and not British English! American English of course has slang and accents peculiar to the different regions of the US. Their English is learned in a sterile environment! I encountered the owner of a German Gast Haus (bar) and his English was immaculate! I am sure his German though was true to his region! When you learn a foreign language you learn to speak it as precisely as possible!
That's because we speak American English and not British English! American English of course has slang and accents peculiar to the different regions of the US. Their English is learned in a sterile environment! I encountered the owner of a German Gast Haus (bar) and his English was immaculate! I am sure his German though was true to his region! When you learn a foreign language you learn to speak it as precisely as possible!
Why should this be a surprise? Almost nothing is below a Republican politician. What's alarming is how surprised everyone is that this is something new or shocking.
Since many Republicans have nothing to say, they rely on fiction, lies and hate. Where are "conservatives with conscience"?
Huh???
The truth is she is telling the truth wake up you stupid americans
this is just one of GE great moves 115-year-old X-ray business from Waukesha, Wisconsin to Beijing, China. General Electric's Chief Executive, Jeffrey Immelt, is one of President Obama's advisers on… ready? U.S. job creation!
i wil be happy when we have a president that will stand up to china !!!!!
We are being too soft on the Republicans. In any other country, when one party openly declares their primary goal, and reason for existence, is to overthrow an existing government, it would be called a coup.
I thought the ad was of a Chinese person speaking English, and not of a Chinese American. A Chinese person speaking broken English is actually something to be proud of. I'm an American and sure can't even speak broken Chinese, so I'd say that shows a well-educated Chinawoman. This is a stretch to say it's "racist". The point was obviously to show that many of our politicians are selling us out to our biggest creditor, which is CHINA. So, to have a "Chinese" person speaking about the situation makes total sense. If she spoke in perfect English, it wouldn't have the same effect, now would it? You wouldn't think that she was Chinese. . . which is the whole point.
Our own Federal Reserve is our biggest creditor, not China. And anyone who would use the term, "Chinawoman" clearly doesn't get the racism in this ad.
Is anyone surprised that a Republican is racist?
And I'll bet he won't be a liberal democrat. :)
I guess the asian girl herself is a racist. Since she participated in the filming of the ad.
Don't mention that it might be too hard for the liberals to understand! They only understand screaming out racist, bigot, KKK, redneck, trailer park and Nazi!
Huh???
The thing about a racist Bob is that they don't they are, everyone else knows, they are usually the last one to know. Like a cool jerk, he thinks he is cool, but everyone know he a jerk.
I think I'm finally getting a handle on this racism thing.
Whites and republicans are racist
Nobody else is a racist.
Got it.
The GOP created over half of our current debt. If you add in what Bush's incompetence caused in the form of spending to stall a impending depression, and convert it to a recession, the GOP is up to about 11 Trillion of that total Debt.
Strange, when Bush was in office, the debt did not matter, suddenly it is the end all to curing all our woes, caused by, of course, Bush and the GOP Lemmings which rubber stamped whatever he wanted, GOP= Party of No Solutions, just words, whatever it takes to get elected.
There's nothing wrong with Hoekstra's message. I think "open season" was declared long ago by both parties. Recall the Democrat message of throwing granny off the cliff when Rep. Ryan delivered the counter to Obamacare. As it turns out, Ryan offerred the best alternative. I'm certain that everyone is not yet aware that Obamacare has a 3.8% tax on home sales after 2012. Now let's go back to rep. Pelosi's remarks "you have to pass the bill to find out what's in it." Now that we're starting to find out what was in this POS bill, how do you libs like it?
The new tax is 3.8% of “net investment income.” When a homestead is sold, the capital gain exemption is applied. Any single person selling a homestead receives up to $250,000 in gain without having to pay capital gain tax. A married couple exempts up to $500,000 in capital gain. When an exposed taxpayer sells a homestead and has investment income smaller than the capital gain exemption, the “net” investment income is zero and the new tax does not apply.
As it turns out, JTG, you don't appear to know what you are talking about.
And that is surprising how Rick? lol
If only the ad stated that all Chinese cling to thier guns and religion, that would be would Democrats call tolerance.
ok how about this - if there is anybody out there who hasn't gotten the memo that republicans are {for the most part} racists who hate not only minorities but handicapped and the poor, please raise your hand so we can address you and not act surprised when ever one of them does something racist.
Why is anyone surprised by this? Teabaggers will do whatever they can to win, that is a proven fact.
How is this racist? It's depicting a woman from China thanking us for jobs, etc. Sounds very realistic to me as both Republicans and Democrats have allowed jobs to go overseas and our national debt to rise.
It does demonstrate how using one nationality in a political campaign against another can easily & correctly be deemed "Racism", or if you will "Racism Lite"
Hoekstra has quite a long record of these types of ads --- They appeal to the ignorant
Dunce!
Zanzibar, are you really that dense? If Hoekstra has an overseas jobs problem, why not use a white woman/man? Since the jobs are being sent to China by us and not the other way around. This ad was clearly intended to be racial.