Is this ad racist?

Feb 07

Is this ad racist?

American politician Pete Hoekstra comes under fire for a TV commercial depicting a Chinese woman.

Screenshot from YouTube

Republican Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra from the US State of Michigan sparked controversy on Sunday after airing a campaign ad attacking his political opponent Debbie Stabenow. The ad features an Asian woman thanking Stabenow for sending American jobs overseas and increasing US borrowing from China. It was aired right before the Superbowl, America's biggest sporting event.

View the story "Is this ad racist?" on Storify

Is this ad racist?

American politician Pete Hoekstra comes under fire for a TV commercial depicting a Chinese woman.

The ad is accompanied by a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.debbiespenditnow.com/#">site</a> which claims that Stabenow is a "reckless spender" who contributes to American debt to China.

"Debbie Spenditnow"

On Twitter, many criticized the ad as racist.

Can't believe ads like the #Hoekstra one exist in 2012. Depicting china as a girl who speaks broken English what a #fail
— ShereenFDZ Tue, Feb 07 2012 09:52:02

@BlackCanseco @PeteHoekstra Pete Hoekstra is a racist and exactly whats wrong with the US. Prime reason why GOP is going nowhere fast.
— exaltedroots Wed, Feb 01 2012 17:24:42

Some suggested that Hoekstra knew the ad would be received as offensive.

GOP Hoekstra understands well effect of his racist ad & power of MSM replaying over & over while decrying it.STOP replaying it adnauseum!
— Dr.Rick Dominique (DrGianRico) Tue, Feb 07 2012 05:45:47

While others claimed that landscape depicted doesn't look like China.

Hoekstra ad is stupid. This is a Southeast Asian (SEA) landscape and a SEA woman. I am aware of no country in SEA that owns US debt.
— DanMax888 Tue, Feb 07 2012 10:25:18

It's obvious to me that the Hoekstra ad uses Vietnamese stereotypes because Americans are more familiar with those through the war.
— Jonathan Daniels (JonAshDaniels) Tue, Feb 07 2012 08:15:59

@DavidCornDC What's more is the entire scene, hat included, conjures up Vietnam not China. But to racists like Hoekstra theres no diff.
— exaltedroots Mon, Feb 06 2012 18:01:12

A few Twitter users went further to criticize the ad's actress for taking the role.

Pete Hoekstra gets the bird. No apologies. And come on girl, I know Asian parts are hard to come by but please...
— zentronix Wed, Feb 01 2012 17:24:42

@annekejong yes, pete hoekstra is lame, but not surprising. but what was the actress thinking??
— stevejang Tue, Feb 07 2012 04:22:01

Amid all the negative reactions, there was also some support for Hoekstra's campaign.

@RepublycanParty Hoekstra needs to stand tough,the add really didn't go far enough.We owe 15 TRILLION$ to China because the libs say"racist"
— sjh2222 Tue, Feb 07 2012 11:07:32

I don't see anything wrong whatsoever with the Pete Hoekstra political ad. If $ is going to China why is this ad so racially offensive?
— clintonsanford Wed, Feb 01 2012 17:24:42

THANK YOU #Pete Hoekstra!!! Your ad is spot on. "racism" r ppl desperate 2 keep govt $ flowing & enslaving us 2 debt/China. Sendn u donation
— RoseDarrell Tue, Feb 07 2012 08:56:19

@Dagny_Galt @patriotupdate I liked the Hoekstra ad. It was the truth but sometimes the truth hurts. Obama is selling us off to China.
— Gale Grainger (GaleGrainger) Tue, Feb 07 2012 07:27:06

Others felt that the ad was a poor choice, particularly given a famous hate crime that took place in Michigan. In 1983, Chinese-American Vincent Chin was <a target="_blank" href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0206/Hoekstra-Super-Bowl-ad-a-slippery-slope-toward-Asian-bashing">beaten to death</a> by two unemployed autoworkers angry about competition from Japan.

PIC: #AAJA folks take an impromptu trip to see the new Vincent Chin memorial marker http://t.co/4gWmX3O

I'm sure Mr. Hoekstra is familiar with Vincent Chin's murder, which happened in his state. Why would he fan those same flames of hate?
— amydcubbage Wed, Feb 01 2012 17:24:42

Still can't put Asians on TV or movies without us breaking into mock pidgin English accents. 2012 #SuperBowl #Hoekstra RIP Vincent Chin
— teahousemusic Tue, Feb 07 2012 00:16:07

.@demonatemu Michigan is known for a few things: crime, cars and #VincentChin, you know the Chinese guy beaten to death by some white dudes.
— Chiaki747 Tue, Feb 07 2012 02:03:28

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Is this ad racist?

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