Racially Insensitive Campaign Ad of the Day: Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) has come under fire for a “racially charged” Super Bowl campaign ad that relies on a variety of stereotypes to depicts Chinese people, including gong noises, a conical straw hat, and a Charlie Chan-ish command of the English language.
The ad is part of Hoekstra’s campaign for Democratic Michigander Debbie Stabenow’s seat in the Senate.
Asked to explain the ad, Hoekstra spokesperson Paul Ciaramitaro called it “satirical,” and rejected its characterization as “racial.”
“I think that China is our global competitor and the facts are what they are,” said Ciaramitaro. “They hold $1.1 trillion of our debt, their economy is booming, ours is not. It’s not a racial overtone to compare yourself to competitors on the global stage. I think the viewer of an ad is going to recognize satire.”
[politico / thanks alex!]
Fuck you, Rep. Hoekstra
