I wrote last week about a political attack ad airing in Arkansas (link contains video), criticizing senatorial hopeful Bill Halter who is running against incumbent Senator Blanche Lincoln in this year’s Democratic primary. The ad, created and paid for by Americans for Job Security, picks up on one of the Lincoln campaign’s talking points and uses stereotypical caricatures of Asian Indians to accuse Bill Halter of supporting outsourcing to India.
Turns out that Lincoln’s campaign couldn’t handle the heat drawn by the ad. Over the weekend, Lincoln’s campaign joined Halter in denouncing the ad as “offensive”. Here’s the full story:
Halter, Lincoln condemn outside group’s TV ad
Associated Press – May 1, 2010 4:04 PM ET
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, her chief rival for the Democratic nomination, are condemning an advertisement that uses Indian actors and images to raise claims that Halter outsourced jobs.
Lincoln and Halter both criticized the ad, reportedly made by a Virginia-based group called Americans for Job Security. A telephone message left at the group’s office was not immediately returned Saturday.
The ad began appearing online on Friday, and has been condemned as featuring stereotypes of Indians. Halter’s campaign said the group has purchased more than $780,000 worth of airtime in the state starting Monday.
Lincoln called the ad offensive, and Halter’s campaign said it should never air.
Lincoln has raised the outsourcing claims against Halter over a company where he once served on the board of directors. Although the company said it saved costs by opening a Bangalore office, there is no evidence that it cut American jobs to do so.
Act Now! If you think this was pretty racist, I’m sure the Halter campaign would love to hear about your disdain in the form of a $5 donation.
