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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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At least all republicians are not that way, I don't think. There has't to be a good republician out there somewhere... Where are the sensible republicians in America? Please do not respond if you are a radical, ridiculous, racist, or teapisser.
No, not all Repubs are racist, in fact most are not.
I think the ad could have sent the same message with the person not speaking in broken english. In my opinion, that is where it crossed the line and became racist. As one who normally votes Repub, I have to say I fell this ad is in poor taste, is not representative of all or even most Repubs, and Hoekstra has definitely crossed the line with it.
I have to say I fell this ad is in poor taste, is not representative of all or even most Repubs
Wrong, these ARE your representatives/candidates. That is what you fail to realize. So yes, they do represent you and other republicans.
Sally is soo right. Just like Obama saying his grandmother is a "typical white person" and Obama saying he is such a terrible bowler that "its like the special olympics or something." So, based on these comments, Obama is racist towards white people and he likes to make fun of handicapped people. So, THAT is the liberals' representative that represents Sally and other Democrats. YIKES. Thanks Sally!
I would just like to state that there is no such thing as "race". Genetics has told us this without doubt and much reading about europe roughly in the 5 to 6 hundred yr ago era tells you exactly how the belief of "race" came about. "Race" was no more than europeans trying to rationalize slavery. I realize that this statement is probably going to anger some of you very much but it is fact. So lets have it tear me apart.
Pete Hoekstra? ---- He's another fine example of what is "Wrong With Government"
While on the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Hoekstra leaked more classified information to the media that directly impacted our troops than WikiLeaks Julian Assange ever did
What's funny is the actress in the ad is a UNION MEMBER
Another conservative miscalculation. Can we really afford to have these people running anything.
yeap thats american racism at its best. but, dat was funny... the said part is thats its true. they train people over here and go bac to their country only to take a thousand jobs with them when they build their own impire
What did you say? What are you talking about?
It was simply dumb & wasn't even produced in China ---- That rice farm is in the United States
This election, I'm voting for one from column A, and one from column B... :)
Funny-the first few posts had to slam the Tea Party yet there was no mention of them in the article. Still bothered by a group that wants lower taxes, controlled government spending and a balanced budget? If they can't be a target, make one up-seems to work for both parties. The only ones left getting screwed are the American public.
Tea baggers are a bunch of ridiculous dishonorable assclowns,,,, Not one lick of actual patriotism in any of them
If it talks like a teabagger, smells like a teabagger....hmmm.....it must be a teabagger.
It's painfully obvious from the congressional actions of the last year that the teabaggers know nothing about economics. They seem to think they know a lot about morality and how our personal lives should be controlled - but nothing about money. They are nothing more than the "moral minority" that has been trying to usurp the United States for decades.
I can understand your anger, afvet lots-of-numbers...but it's not our fault you were duped.
Duped? Is that like voting in a Saul Alinsky community organizer with ZERO experience running ANYTHING?? LOL. What a douche.
Newt?? Is that you??? It's time for some talking points that actually make sense, Newt. I do understand that mentioning Saul Alinsky makes you appear smart to low information voters incapable of doing a minimal amount of research...but can you, at least, try to appear relevant to those of us who know you are dumber than a stump? Please, Newt?
I love how you dont deny that Obama studied the Saul Alinsky method of community organizing!! LOVE IT. That's my point, all along. We are witnessing community organization at its finest! I guess, as an ignorant fool, you dont know what you are talking about (or what I am talking about, which is normal for libs). Hey, at least some of us have opened a history book or two over the years and know what we're talking about. You go on being a pseudo-intellectual liberal mouthpiece who can't really argue anything substantive...just make attempts at witty sarcasm. And dont you have a park to be pooping in, cops to assault, drugs to ingest, tents to live in, women to rape, and drums to beat on, all the while making incoherent demands about what you dont have? Get to it!
Hmmm...attempting to take the intellectual high ground by posting tired little talking points in a discussion regarding Mr. Hoekstra's offensive TV ad. Your inability to be relevant does give the impression of some mental imbalance.
Your fascination with the delusional fantasy of me pooping in the park and raping women is creepy - and also irrelevant. Thank you for exposing yourself for what you really are. Thoughtless and shallow...a perfect minion for the lunatic fringe of the right wing.
Nope,
just pointing out the fact that you refuse to debate on any substantive points, just demonize and name-call, which is typical of you pseudo-intellectual liberals who are spoon fed by the leftwing media.
And I have no fascination of you pooping in a park. The base of your party is the OWS movement, right? Even Obama backs the movement (while taking money from Wall Street)--LOL. Such hypocrisy. No, in the end, YOU liberals have made it a point to run around parks living in tents and pooping in the streets when you dont get your own way!! Its radical liberalism at it's best! You seem to have some kind of disconnect to all the bathroom issues, drugs, and raping of women that happens at OWS movements. I realize the leftwing media does not print such material, so you probably have never bothered to go find all the liberals pooping in the streets while holding their anti-semitic signs and blaming wall street for their problems. It just shows how you liberals truly are: pathetic parasites who would rather bitch and moan and go to the bathroom in parks while doing drugs and comitting crimes instead of getting a job (that your liberal president still can't create). LOL!! Cheers, douchebag!
Oh, and feel free to label everything I just said as irrelevant, which is another liberal tactic. Its either call the opposition racist or characterize their argument as irrelevant. Seen it all before, and you are a classic pathetic example.
Love those Republicans. Always finding creative ways to alienate every significant voting group. I guess in the Republican mind, small as it is, there are only older, white, Christian and financially comfortable people that vote in this country.
Hey! Just like the New England Patriots, cheatin' Teabag Repuglicans never win!!
factcheckero
Yawn. The substance of the ad is true, and actual Chinese don't seem least bit offended. It must be exhausting to live in a perpetual state of outrage over political correctness
Hey Feisty, here's one more for your survey on how dumb righties are. This one can't even read. The subject matter clearly reads...
'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."
"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'.
Pathetic just pathetic how blinded some righties can be!!!
While we're on the subject of selective literacy, why don't you quote my entire post?
Bev, Have you ever been to China or any other Asian country? From your post I would say no. I have been in many of the Asian countries and I will tell you that 99% of those that speak English do so in broken English. Maybe you should go down to where there are a large population of Asians in American cities and see how many who came to this country still speak in broken English or no English at all.
China is the biggest buyer of our national debt, and we are the biggest consumers of Chinese made goods so I see nothing wrong with what the ad said. According to the left if an ad includes a person of color it is racist.
sfcret While i don't doubt you that in china broken english is spoken and that some here in america speak broken english. But I lived in a asian community here in america and most spoke better english than I do.
yes i realize I have the grammer skills of a 3 yr old so no need to point it out to me.
Neko, During my 20 years of military service, 8 of them spent in Korea, Vietnam and Japan, I can attest that most of the Asian people speak broken English. Which, BTW, I see nothing wrong with that. At least they speak English, most Americans can't speak any other language. This girl was suppose to be in China, I assume, therefore one would expect her to speak broken English.
Most Asians who were born in the United States speak very good English and have one of the highest education levels in the U.S. (And most speak their native language).
No surprise here. Racism is just one of the reasons that, as an Independent Voter, I'm voting Democrat for the foreseeable future until the GOP understands that our representatives are elected to represent the American people, not just the rich white ones.
In a word YES!!! Obama 2012
Well, they are conservatives. They are racists. They can't help it. I mean, jeeze........you expected better??
Well I have to say it is not in good taste but it is very true.
People, you cannot fault the man for his stupidity. It comes natural to him. If he wants to be racist then let him be himself. If he thinks being stupid is cool then let him spend all his money being stupid. That doesn't mean all the voters of his state have to be stupid right along with him and vote for him.
Being stupid is a priviledge many Republicans (Tea Baggers) wear as a "Badge of Honor".
A racist Republican? Say it ain't so!!! At least they used to have some shame, and tried to hide it. Not anymore...
I wouldn't call this race baiting but this was absolutely a "wink wink" to the racist thoughts of many conservatives. The idea that we are not responsible for any of our own problems and it is always the fault of "those people." Those people can be any number of people, whether it's the Chinese for being in control of our debts or illegal immigrants for taking all the jobs from hard-working Americans. You know, because I know so many Americans who would line up tomorrow to wait in the parking lot at Home Depot to possibly get to work 16 hour days for crap pay.
Either way, there is definitely a subtle hint of racism in this and a great deal of the rhetoric spewed by the TP folks. It preys on the fears and prejudices of many of the conservative base that everyone and anyone but them is responsible for their bad situation. And simply scoffing at the idea that calling President Obama "the food stamp president" is racist does not make the comment non-racist. It may not be racist on the surface but it is absolutely designed to anger and incite racists who may be listening. I'm not saying that all conservatives are racist, but most racists are definitely conservative. And they vote.
GOPocrisy - Nothing new about that!
Accurate ad in every way. No problem here... move on.
Republican's racists from Newt all down to Santorum. That includes James Perry and Klansman Ron Paul. Yes i said Klansman. YES look it up information is there. I bet i get into trouble saying Klansman. If i do Newsvine better do research first before they nail me on it.
LOL, another neo-con self-immobilates. Now I await to see if Americans are dumb enough to vote in more Tea Party'ers in November or will realize what radicals they are and how they have helped destroy America's credit rating and thus vote them all out. However, I don't hold a lot of hope for the latter, given how Bush II was in power when 9-11 occurred and he had even been warned of this possibility, AND they re-elected him!
hoekstra is one of the guys who made it easy to move to china!
what a dope! it was so stupid and degrading to asian americans and internationally embarrassing!
mr hoekstra please crawl back in your hole!
you are disgusting!!!
kr,,,, You are totally correct. Hoekstra supported every right wing policy that outsourced our jobs & industries
Bye Bye obama. Back to the ghetto for you and the fat wife.
B from e-----LOL---iknow you are being facetious-----no one could be so stupid and hating to mean your post.
Your comment is racist and totally uncalled for. I hope First Read bans you for the foreseeable future.
How hapless an endeavor to try toreason with the right-wing posters on here. Of course, they know racism when they see it. But they have gone so far down the road of corrupting the values our civilization was built upon, that they brazenly endorese racism now. They were hypocritical about it, but no more. Folks, this country is finished. You cannot go as far as we have gone down the road of indecencya nd totally materialistic thinking and turn that juggernaut around. Even Christianity has been turned into a monstrosity in service to materialism, hatred, incivility, and superstition. I'm afraid it's over.
Like we really needed any further confirmation of how teapublicans really feel about most minority groups.
At least now they're throwing it straight at people.
So many on both sides are sooooo lame.
The defense of Obama by blaming Bush is old. Get over it. No one is defending anyone one who spends more than the government takes in. Bush did it, Obama does it at an even a much greater rate. Both were/are wrong. If you are so clueless as to see we have to stop deficit spending, shut your yap. You cannot spend your way to prosperity. Won't happen. The problem is that both sides will spend us to oblivion. The problem with the add was that China should be scared about all of the American debt they hold. At this pace, they are not going to get their money back! But take away the stereotypical portrayal of a Chinese woman in this add and the message it correct. It would be nice if everyone could get that on both sides.
Now, go back and look at Rep. Hokestra's voting record with regards to trade with China, debt ceiling increases, "pork barrel projects" for his district, Iraq/Afghanistan war funding votes, and then come back here and tell us why he should be elected to the Senate?
As for the "defense of Obama by blaming Bush is old." line you and the rest of the Republicans want to spout, consider this; NO ONE IS BLAMING BUSH. WE ARE HOWEVER REFUSING TO LET YOU ALL ACT AS THOUGH EVERYTHING WAS FINE IN AMERICA BEFORE PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS SWORN IN. Now, take that any which way you want to but the fact is that Independents and Democrats will not forget which president and which party set America on the path to depression, just as we won't forget which party has consistently from DAY ONE said NO to anything that President Obama has proposed, even when he proposed ideas that Republicans have historically supported!
As to the Hokestra ad, if you cannot see the racism in this ad then you are part of the problem with racism. Hokestra's team could have done the same ad without the stereotypical images and words which are a part of the republican "dog-whistle" politics of 2012. I would hope they cut it out, but sadly I don't think they will because they are just that desperate and devoid of ideas!
It will take years to dig out of the financial hole (canyon) that was dug in 2008, and the years preceding. Not blaming any one party, but it's a fact. There is no quick fix.