`Outrageous’
By ddepledge
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye expressed outrage on Tuesday over a campaign advertisement by a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate that included an Asian woman speaking broken English to make a point about competition with China.
Pete Hoekstra, a former congressman, is running for Senate against U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. His campaign has described the ad that ran during the Super Bowl as “satirical.”
The ad mocks Stabenow as “Debbie Spenditnow.”
Others, however, do not see the satire and have condemned the ad as racist.
From the Hawaii Democrat:
Pete Hoekstra’s advertisement is outrageous. America should expect much more from a candidate for a high federal position. His racist thoughts are not welcome in the United States Senate.
*Update: Chuck Freedman, a spokesman for the Democratic Party of Hawaii, called on former Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican candidate for Senate in Hawaii, to follow Inouye’s lead and denounce the ad.
For many years former Governor Lingle has been a loyal soldier for national Republicans, giving the nominating speech for Sarah Palin at the Republican convention, campaigning with George Bush’s political hitman Karl Rove, and attacking President Obama, Hawaii’s native son. She needs to remind her own Party that there is no place for racially insensitive messages in today’s politics.
Retired Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, Lingle’s campaign manager, responded by calling Freedman’s criticism “political gamesmanship.”
Governor Linda Lingle’s long-standing record is clear and well documented. She has always honored and celebrated diversity in our state and across the nation.
Governor Lingle believes that any advertisement which denigrates any ethnic group is both offensive and doesn’t reflect Hawaii values.
I am very surprised that Dante Carpenter, who knows Gov. Lingle very well, would allow Chuck Freedman to release a Democrat Party statement that is false, and is nothing more than political gamesmanship. Their statement serves only as a distraction from the important issues facing the people of Hawaii and our country.
Try as they might, the Democrat Party is attempting to cover up the inadequacies of their candidates by trying to color pages in a book that have faded long ago.
Political Radar
February 7th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Like some transplant trying to speak pidgin to sound local when they have a Texas accent.
Seems that Asian woman was a “Sick Woman of Asia” and not an Asian American.
February 7th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
This is a typical politically motivated redirect. If you can’t refute the real message of the commercial (job loss to China), muddle the conversation with an emotionally pandering, red herring. I just saw that commercial for the first time and the accusations of “racist” insensitivity” are simply over-the-top. The “mocking dialect” didn’t seem all that contrived or “deliberately denigrating” to me because I hear accented english every day.
The candidate who first trumps up the charge of “racism,” is usually the one who is actually exploiting it.
February 7th, 2012 at 2:26 pm
The actress should have been forced to speak perfect English by Republicans. Then the resulting ad would have been confusing to viewers who would have been scratching their heads wondering why an American sounding woman likes the idea of money and jobs flowing to China. An ineffective, confusing commercial from Republicans would have made Democrats happy, rather than the one which was broadcast and made its point and caused such righteous indignation . . . because nobody in the world, not even in Hawaii, speaks broken English.
February 7th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Democrats laugh at Frank Dellima when he playfully imitates various ethnicities; so is their “outrage” selective, opportunistic and politically motivated? You bet it is.
February 7th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
Keith, part of DeLima’s genius is his ability to walk that fine line.
February 7th, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Rollman, you really don’t get it, do you. Your lack of understanding of local culture and attitudes serves to provide your detractors an unlimited number of hits against the people you try to promote. With “friends” like you, a politician doesn’t need any skeletons in their closets.
My suggestion, buy all the local comedy videos you can lay your hands on, like Rap’s Hawaii, Bumatai’s All in the Ohana, Delima’s and Augie T’s numerous DVDs, sit down and watch them for a week and may be you will understand local culture. Otherwise, you may be better off just buying a one way ticket to the mainland.
February 7th, 2012 at 7:01 pm
I never knew that Hawaii was racist. We made jokes of other nationalities till some missionary came along and says that we are. “There went the neighborhood”.
By the way Americans are told by the British, that they do not speak English but American.
Rosetta Stone language courses do teach American and English.
February 7th, 2012 at 7:46 pm
Inouye looks so racist for labeling a commerical with lady with an accent racist commerical. He is belittling people with an accent. Its “Outrageous”, how dare he look down on those who work hard to become bilingual and are not able to speak perfect English. If he expects everyone to speak perfect English then he denigrates all of the pidgin speaking population.of Hawaii. Auwe, Your race card invoking double speak comments for political posturing are not welcomed in the United States and are unbecoming of a US Senator.
As mentioned Inouye has no response to the main issue at hand which is the Chinese taking over our economy, in fact he welcomes in their money instead of standing up for America jobs and its economic concerns.
Follow the $ to China and all those illegal contributions to the Democrats. Remeber Al Gore got busted from all those Chinese Fundraisers. It continues till this day.and the Democrats have no shame in allowing it to happen..
February 7th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
All I’m saying is that when things get political normal tolerance goes out the window. If your political adversary says anything that can be twisted into an charge of racism, there is no holding back. It’s sad, especially here in Hawaii where we pride ourselves on being accepting and able to joke about our mulit-cultural mix.
February 7th, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Dunno the heck Hoekstra’s point was anyway. Like he can do anything about China owning our debt by simply “spending it not.” He better darn well check the media used to film his ad, not to mention the parts of the fireplace he got highlighted in the commercial. I wonder where they (not to mention probably 1/2 the stuff in his house) were made.
February 7th, 2012 at 11:55 pm
Manoa Fisherman – I hope you get the bug out of your ass. Excuse me…your okole.
February 8th, 2012 at 12:09 am
Admittedly political ads today stink- as in the barrage of ugly, negative ads in the GOP Presidential primary. For those who run for office drawing the line you do not cross tells much about your ethics, your sensitivity, and your understanding, and respect for diversity in a society. Reference has been made in one of the postings here about the multi-ethnic comedy here in Hawaii. While I fail to see the validity of comparing a comic’s performance with the ads run by someone running for the U.S. Senate, I will concede that Hoekstra is a comedian – and a bad one at that. Perhaps he could’ve been the very late nite act at the old club Hubba Hubba.
February 8th, 2012 at 12:36 am
Here’s what I’ve learned from Manoa Fisherman so far about his (or her) take on “local culture and attitudes.” If someone says something you disagree with, instead of responding on topic, you launch into a slew of unsubstantiated personal attacks from the safety of a fake name. Lecture them on local style humor, even though you seem to lack a functioning sense of humor yourself. Be sure to add in something bone-headed and racist like “get a one-way ticket back to the mainland.” After 45 years in Hawaii, I can”t identify anything about you and your silly bitterness as local.
PS: I liked Rap and Frank and Andy before they even invented CD’s.
February 8th, 2012 at 10:47 am
So many victims, so much outrage. What happens when everybody is a victim? Who will we all blame? Each other?
February 8th, 2012 at 10:57 am
The ad is clearly intended to provoke a racist hostility to the Chinese among voters. Yes, Americans are losing jobs to low wage places, like China, as a result of the “Free Trade” policies push through by the multi-national corporations. Rather than blame those policies or the corporations who surrendered American sovereignty to unelected groups like the World Trade Organization, Hoekstra wants to take advantage of an easier target, the funny talking Chinese. He says, in essence, “Why the heck is Stabenow helping these strange people anyways, instead of regular Americans?”
I seriously doubt many Chinese factory workers have the free time for a leisurely bike ride through the rice paddies of the country-side, especially one which looks more like Vietnam than China. But, hey, Vietnam, China what’s the diff? They all talk funny!
I guess the real test of the ad’s racism is whether it has caused offense in China and stimulated racist comments in support on rightwing websites. The answer appears to be, “Yes” and “Yes.”
The Lingle campaign refuses to say the ad itself is offensive. But these are the people Lingle now associates with, the national Republicans for whom racist appeals are a standard campaign device. A vote for Lingle will be a vote to put the irrational–and often racist–national Republicans in charge of the US Senate, where they can continue their one-trick pony strategy of obstructing everything Obama attempts to accomplish. If that happens, Senator Inouye will also lose his position as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Hawaii’s economy will really suffer. Then we, if not the Chinese, will have more time for leisurely bike rides in the country side.
Gov. Lingle, Moderation is as moderation does. If you plan on remaining silent as the extremists in your party engage in cheap, racist behavior for political gain, your “moderation” is an empty, marketing fraud. You should speak out against Hoekstra’s ad.
February 8th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Guido, That’s one of the unique things about Hawaii…we all get to be an offended minority.
February 8th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
1% became rich using “Sick Man of Asia”. Japan did the same thing with cheaper wages and began to crumble when employees wanted higher wages. I assume Japan became unionized.
Seems if a Caucasian is called a “Haole” the one calling them is a racist. Those who follow 2 cents seem to be racists. Call an Asian, a name and that person is a racist. Those who comment would never know what it was like before they transplanted as missionaries. I wonder if calling someone a missionary is racist? If they believe it is a racist remark then they must be guilty and on the defense.
February 8th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Rollman, considering the extent of your political resume, I guess we all have to fear Mufi Hannemann getting elected and putting you on his staff. And when Sen. Inouye leaves the political stage, you will be part of the political brain trust or kitchen cabinet that Mufi will be looking to for guidance on policies for Hawaii and political spinning when he attempts to become a US Senator. That alone is a frightening thought to many people, even those who supported Mufi at one time.
Your Republican roots show well when you are on the attack. The dark, vicious and dangerous nature of your kind of politics will make Hawaii just like the mainland. I guess your commitment to Hawaii is to make it just as bad as the national political environment where things are polarized and nothing gets done.
Unfortunately, you are not alone in being a political operative that creates such an environment. Every political faction has their problem children/operatives so I can’t condemn you alone. But folks like you sure don’t help the situation.
February 8th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
“Keith Rollman” and “Eric Ryan” both appear to be white men. Although it is not impossible for them to overcome the skewed perspective that gives them on this issue, they clearly and utterly have failed to do so here. While the language used by some in response to the Hoekstra ad may, indeed, by “over the top,” hyperbolic, etc., these two have showed themselves to be utterly blind to the premise and corrosive effect of racial/ethnic stereotyping displayed by the ad.
February 8th, 2012 at 6:25 pm
There is an equally “corrosive effect” for exploiting racial sensitivities to influence an election when used by either side. I am not so much defending Hoekstra’s commercial as I am criticizing the cynical “fanning of the coals” of mistrust and reviving of old racial animosities as an acceptable political rebuttal. You, for example chose to make my perceived ethic background a factor in this discussion. What makes you different from Hoekstra, other than your anonymity?
February 8th, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Manoa, You can sleep well at night knowing that I have to plans to go to Washington or take over the world. I’m just a resident of Hawaii who has an opinion. I am not working with Mufi in any way…I like him, thinks he’s smart and capable and will vote for him…that’s it. As far as”the dark vicious and dangerous nature of [my] kind of politics,”…do you have something specific we can discuss or is this just a sample of the “demonization” of your perceived enemies you folks need to get fired up? No really, if you have some evidence of unethical or immoral behavior throw it on the table….or are you shooting blanks?
February 8th, 2012 at 6:59 pm
That should read “NO PLANS” to go to Washington…none, zip, nada.
February 8th, 2012 at 7:20 pm
Gen. Lee claims the statement from Chuck Freeman is false. Can we get an impartial fact check on this? It is disappointing to see the general lower himself to become a partisan political operative willing to spread falsehoods of his own. I humbly request the general, or any other Lingle supporter, to point out which of Mr. Freeman’s statements about Governor Lingle are false.
Failing this , I urge the general retire from his political career while he retains a modicum of personal integrity.
February 8th, 2012 at 10:28 pm
Pot calling the Kettle Black.
Seems curly of the 3 stooges is calling Moe and Larry names. Talking big words shows the “whites” of their eyes. Using a Native Hawaiian trying to act like a Native. Hilarious. Like a Texan trying to talk pidgin. They still have an accent.
February 9th, 2012 at 11:45 am
What if the actress in the commercial really does speak english like that? Is that considered racist? To use someone with less than perfect english in a commercial?
February 9th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
The difference, Mr. Rollman, is quite obvious. How often has a white person’s ethnicity ever been used to advance a non-white person’s political campaign? Almost never and, in the few instances in which it was (I’m thinking of one or two inner city government camapigns), it has been roundly condemned, as it should in this instance.
February 9th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Ohia, Obvious? I had to read your comment several times, and I still not sure what you’re talking about. The casting of every political commercial in Hawaii could be criticized as a racial appeal, based on ethnicity unless they all had bags on their heads and voice scramblers? Where do you draw the line?
February 9th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Ohia, In the two cases I’m familiar with the “white” candidates played the race card by falsely charging their “non-white” opponent with doing it. My general rule of thumb is whichever one calls for a mindless PC stampede on on a bogus charge is the perp. You know the one’s…when the “condemnation” is all orchestrated and conveniently timed; and highly subjective analysis and conjecture pass for fact.
It’s the old “when did you stop beating your wife” set up.
February 10th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
I have never heard an Asian calling another Asian racist. I heard so many times from those who are “Missionaries” from the Mainland.