Hey Charly (Schumer), what the hell were you thinking???

[DeSwiss]

I thought the point was to win converts so that Democrats could win elections this fall, not alienate people from the party.
:shrug:

Republican Hispanics Blast Democrats' Ad

By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer Tue Aug 15, 7:54 PM ET

WASHINGTON - A Democratic political ad is under fire from Hispanics who say it unfairly compares Latino immigrants to terrorists. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sponsored a 35-second ad on its Web site that shows footage of two people scaling a border fence mixed with images of Osama Bin Laden and North Korea President Kim Jong Il.

<snip>

Houston City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado, a Democrat, sent a letter to DSCC Chairman Sen. Charles Schumer of New York asking that the ad be pulled. She said it could alienate Latino voters. "To liken Latino immigrants to bazooka-toting terrorists not only undermines the positive relationship our party has with this community, but also lowers us to a despicable level as breeders of unfounded fear and hatred," Alvarado wrote.

The ad opens with the words "Security Under Bush and GOP?" It features scenes of a masked man with a bazooka, scenes from terrorist attacks and police inspecting a subway train. It also shows Osama bin Laden Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and a docked ship as it claims "4 times as many terrorist attacks in 2005."

Then comes footage of a person climbing over a corrugated metal border fence and another preparing to climb it as the words "millions more illegal immigrants" form on-screen. In the following scene, viewers see the words "North Korea has quadrupled its nuclear arsenal" with footage of a tank and North Korea President Kim Jong Il.

The ad ends with the words, "Feel safer? Vote for change." :dunce:

Full story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060815/ap_on_el_se/democratic_ad_hispanics
===============================================================

Yeah, we've got immigration problems and border security problems too, but I don't think we should be using this method to underscore the point. Who are you trying to appeal to with this message? Its too complex an issue to reduce it to jingoistic slogans like this. That's what the Repugs do. And Senator Schumer, let's leave all the racists in the Repug party so we'll know we'll know where they are. You need to pull this ad and apologize. Blame an intern or a volunteer if you have to (that's what usually happens anyway). Will you guys PLEASE get your damned act together!!! Jeez.

:puke:

[CGrantt57]

1. Before you jump on the bandwagon...

you should go look at the ad.

I'm sure it does NOTHING that the Republicans say it does.

These guys would fuck their own mothers to win an election.

Do not trust them, or their "judgement" about Democratic ads.

[DeSwiss]

4. CGrantt57, I saw the ad...

...and I still say that segment should be excised. And it wasn't just Repugs complaining, but also Houston City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado, who is a Democrat, and who sent a letter to DSCC Chairman Sen. Charles Schumer asking that the ad be pulled. She said likening Lation immigrants:

"to bazooka-toting terrorists not only undermines the positive relationship our party has with this community, but also lowers us to a despicable level as breeders of unfounded fear and hatred."

And I agree.

The ad itself is principally about the misconduct of the war and our response to terrorism citing increases in terrorism, and involving basic issues of security. While I agree that porous borders should be included under the heading of security, illegal immigrants risking their lives to come to the US should not be portrayed along side of, nor the same as those who have vowed our destruction like Osama bin Laden. Nor those who seek to intimidate through the development or use of nuclear weapons. Its just not the same issue.

And Hispanics who are Americans that vote can help ALL Democrats in a number of races to accomplish just what the DSCC ad seeks. However, I think it is less likely they'll be predisposed to do so if they think that Democrats view this issue as no different than the threat that Osama, Mahmoud and Kim pose.

That's my

[MH1]

6. Zell Miller calls himself a "Democrat" too

As does the mayor of the town down the street from me, who is part of the Swift Liar cabal. I know nothing about Carol Alvarado, but just registering and calling oneself a "Democrat" means nothing.

[sgxnk]

10. doublespeak 101

note:

"A Democratic political ad is under fire from Hispanics who say it unfairly compares Latino immigrants "

lol

"latino immigrants."

they were climbing the fence and illegally entering the usa.

they were not "immigrants"

they were "illegal immigrants"

huge difference.

[saltpoint]

2. I'd need to see the ad before slamming Schumer.

It's possible a bad one slipped by, and possible the reports are inaccurate.

In a year when we're hoping for increased Hispanic support, it just doesn't sound like the sort of ad we'd run.

[wakeme2008]

11. ad herer

http://www.dscc.org/news/multimedia/20060813_secure/

[saltpoint]

13. (thank you...)

[wakeme2008]

3. Here is the Ad I do not see anything wrong with it myself

It just tells the truth about Bush

http://www.dscc.org/news/multimedia/20060813_secure/

[welshTerrier2]

5. this is bullshit!! (here's a link to the ad)

the ad does NOT link hispanics to Osama bin Laden ... it does suggest that "millions of more illegal immigrants" are making the country less safe ...

to suggest the ad ties hispanics to terrorists is a bit of a stretch to say the least ... what the ad does show is people jumping over a fence coming into the US illegally ... it does not say they are hispanics or any other "kind" of person ... the racism is NOT inherent in the ad; the racism is inherent in whoever "assumed" the fence-jumpers were hispanic ...

watch it for yourself: http://www.dscc.org/news/multimedia/20060813_secure/

[progdonkey]

7. I agree with you, but...

I think it wouldn't hurt to remove the one or two seconds of the ad that mention "millions more illegal immigrants," since it could be construed as racist and isn't really the core point of the ad--especially because it focuses on illegal immigrants and not porous borders.

Bin Laden on the loose, Iran, North Korea, little scanning of containers, more terrorist attacks, cuts in security funding, etc. That's more than enough to condemn the GOP without also throwing in illegal immigrants.

[welshTerrier2]

8. and i with you ...

i also don't like "border fences" and thought that was a bit more than necessary ... it sort of is just more of the xenophobia message, whether those fence-jumpers were hispanics or not ...

it's appropriate to talk about "illegal" immigration but not in this context ...

and so, i agree with you as well ...

[flpoljunkie]

12. Saw the ad and agree with the criticism. Schumer ought to know better.

[Cocoa]

9. let's not jump at every phony "controversy"

let's not make it too easy for them.