When I saw the commercial last night, I really was shocked. Shocked that a Black celebrity would make public an affiliation with a Conservative view, or heaven forbid Fox News. I was also proud to see someone take a stand and remind everyone (Black people too) that African Americans are not cookie cutters, and some of us don't agree with Rev. Sharpton, President Obama, Democrats, and Liberals that just want to take care of us since we can't do it ourselves.
But that didn't last long. It seems that the inclusion of LL Cool J is inaccurate. The interview clip shown was from 2008, though I think Smith would like to still be considered a person who has overcome adversity - just not a Conservative or Republican one. So the commercial is being ammended to not include LL Cool J.
It's not the first time that any network has done such cut and paste work for a promotional commercial. It's been done over the years by EVERY news and media organization except possibly C-SPAN. But when a Black person is shown as a Republican, or Conservative, well that's just blasphemy. Because the universe would end if it were to happen.
"Popular conservative blogger Allahpundit tweaked liberals who accuse Tea Party supporters of racist sympathies, saying they'll be "shocked to find the alleged Grand Dragon of the tea-party movement making chitchat with a hip-hop legend."
Is this really such a big deal? It really shouldn't be. Is race really that important to what is supposed to be a show about real ordinary Americans doing the extraordinary? But it is. Because LL Cool J is Black, and therefore cannot be seen as a Conservative. It would end his career.
But the outrage, from a few seconds of positive imagery (as inaccurate as it was), seems to be a telling commentary. What it is saying will undoubtedly alter depending on the politics of the viewer, but if you step back and look objectively the message seems to be rather bleak - and it's not about the media comopany.
4 comments:
Huh? This issue isn't about a black man being afraid of acknowledging his political affiliation. This is about poor segment producing by FOX! Both LL Cool J and Tim McGraw complained that the show's promos were misleading to the viewer, making people believe that Ms. Palin interviewed these celebrities, when she did not. Even more offensive is the fact that rather than apologize for the misrepresentation, FOX decided to attack LL Cool J by wishing him the 'best' in his "fledgling acting career." Sorry, but FOX was being disappointingly tacky and did a disservice to Ms. Palin!
Erik,
I missed Tim McGraw in the commercial, and his response. Thank you for bringing that up.
I agree that this was a bad idea, using images of people not involved in the program. I agree that it tarnishes what Sarah Palin is trying to do.
At the same time I see a bigger issue. The issue many bloggers jumped on solely because LL Cool J is Black. It raises the question of why can't an African American be a Conservative and/or Republican - or at least publicly state as much? That was the core of what I was trying to get to.
Still you make valid points as well. And insulting Smith for pointing out the failure at FOX is wrong.
Thank you for your input.
Interesting post. I think that your point about black people not being able to say they are conservatives is a good one. I think it has to do with the way that the Democratic party treats black people (like things to be controlled and herded, told what to think, how to vote, who to like, etc.), and when a black person DOES say they're conservative, they just get called horrible names ("race traitor," "Uncle Tom," "porch monkey," and even worse).
Look at how Kenneth Gladney was beaten for being a black TEA Party member; and all the while they beat him, they called him "n*gger," too. Only leftists can get away with that kind of thing, and it's appalling. Everyone says that conservatives are racist, but it's funny how the TEA Party and other conservatives love love love black CONSERVATIVES. It's not about race, it's about ideology and what you believe in for the country and our future as one nation, not a bunch of stupid "communities" that are all separate and kept that way by democrat policies and rhetoric.
Anyway, I'm sure you don't want to hear me go on and on, I just was looking for a list of conservative celebrities and saw LL Cool J's name, so I followed some links and ended up here. Bummer that he's not a conservative (but unlike leftists, I can still him even though he doesn't share my ideology. Think about that one.).
There are plenty of Black conservatives out there that I admire (I am "Caucasian"). Anyone out there who is willing to test their views look up Dr. Thomas Sowell, Dr. Walter E. Williams. Read their economic books. They are some of the brightest minds to enter the economic realm. Dr. Sowell was a former Socialist/Communist in high school and his early years in college until he met the late great Dr. Friedman ( nobel prize winner). I promise you will have enriched your intellect a 1000 times over by reading their works. Be blessed and may God bless us in these troubling times.
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