Rove Protégé Behind Racy Tennessee Ad

Controversial RNC Ad Against Harold Ford Jr. Produced By Rove Consultant

(CBS/AP)  A protégé of White House political guru Karl Rove produced the controversial Republican National Committee ad targeting Tennessee Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Harold Ford Jr., that some have called racist, CBS News has learned.

The ad, in which a white woman with blonde hair and bare shoulders looks into the camera and whispers, "Harold, call me," and then winks, was produced by Scott Howell, the former political director for Rove's consulting firm in Texas.

The RNC ad doesn't mention that "Harold" is black, but the NAACP and others have complained the commercial makes an implicit appeal to deep-seated racial fears about black men and white women.

The race between Ford Jr. and Republican Bob Corker is among the most competitive and nasty U.S. Senate races in the nation. But it didn't just happen with a racially-charged ad from Republicans, reports CBS News national correspondent Byron Pitts.

The Democrats struck first weeks ago by playing the class card in an add which states that Corker's "personal income grew by 40 percent to $11 million."

Howell is no stranger to controversy. He was media consultant for Sen. Saxby Chambliss when his campaign ran an ad showing a picture of then-Democratic Sen. Max Cleland, who lost his legs in the Vietnam War, alongside Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.

He also produced an ad for Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn that accused Democrat Brad Carson of being soft on welfare while showing two black hands counting cash.

Howell also worked for Republican Jerry Kilgore in last year's Virginia gubernatorial race when Kilgore ran an ad saying that Gov. Tim Kaine wouldn't have used the death penalty against Hitler.

Race was always an element of the Tennessee contest as Ford seeks to become the first black man elected to the Senate from the South since Reconstruction. The issue slammed into the public consciousness this week with the latest ad.

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Watch RNC political ad attacking Harold Ford Jr.

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"I've not met any observer who didn't immediately say, 'Oh my gosh!' It was a race card," said Vanderbilt University professor John Geer, an expert on political attack ads.

The goal of the ad is to persuade people who don't like Ford — and who might have been thinking about sitting at home this election — to vote, reports CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger.

The RNC has taken the ad off the air after a five-day run. However it was still appearing on at least one TV station in Chattanooga — WRCB-TV — as of Wednesday. The station was still airing the ad because it did not want to run the GOP's replacement commercial. The new ad says Ford "voted to recognize gay marriage" and "wants to give the abortion pill to our schoolchildren," reports the Nashville Tennessean.

Hilary Shelton, director of Washington bureau of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said the ad plays off fears some people still have about interracial couples.

"In a Southern state like Tennessee, some stereotypes still exist," he said. "There's very clearly some racial subtext in an ad like that."

The RNC, which paid for the ad, denied that it had any racial subtext. Party chairman Ken Mehlman said it was produced by an independent organization, in accordance with campaign finance law, "without the knowledge, the participation, the advice, the approval or the involvement of either the national party or the campaign."

[bluestardad]

Thank Goodness Mr. Ford likes football and women at least the congressional pages will be safe.

[bluestardad]

What the Republicans are trying to say here is "aint no darkie going to see no white gurl in 10asee"! Stay the course and Vote for Me"!

[marybaa3]

It is a blessing that Mr.Ford is so far above all of the southern racist-bigots..He is exactly what our country and the south need in the Senate.

[perception5]

Who's bringing up the fact that the woman is even "white"? What does the color of ones skin have to do with the ad. DEMs and their pals in our liberal MSM ............. always bringing up the race issue........... in an effort to divide America......... sad and shameful

Leave it up to the GOP to put this on the air in the first place.

[djconklin]

perception5 it was the GOP that made the ad playing on the race card--they knew full well what they were doing. It is yet another sign of how desparate they are--they're pretty sure they are going to lose if they don't scare "conservative" voters to the poll. But, you are right about one thing: the effort to divide America is "sad and shameful."

[osidebear]

The ad is puerile, leering, badly acted, embarrassing. I just hope it's not also successful.

[ademeyer]

perception0

You know thats not true. Its pathetic you've stooped to defending a racist ad, just because it works in favor of the Republicans.

Can't win on a candidate's past record, future ideas, apparent abilities? Haul out the smear campaign, works for the Republicans every time.

[jn122736]

Would you pay for an anything you had no control over. It is never necessary to lie when the "truth" can be told in so o o many ways.

[ms38654ob]

I've seen this ad a dozen or more times. It was playing constantly on the local channels. At first, I thought it was funny and a bit weird as it is obviously a lot of bologna. After seeing it a number of times my reaction is that I'm a little annoyed at the Republican party for running such a shameful ad.

Come on! Have you no decency?

[xenalily]

Honestly when I saw the add on the news- because I don't live in Tenn.- I didn't put it together that she is white and he is black- I didn't think that they were playing on the sexual prowess idea of Black Man and White Woman- but then I am not a southern white republican male, and I didn't make the racist connection until the media said it was a racist connection. I'm not defending the ad here, just saying that I suppose it is open to interpretation depending on how open your mind is in the first place. To me it was just a stupid ad- and like osidebear said, badly acted.

[huskerarmy]

Preceptions,

There are also printed ads where Ford has been made to appear much darker than he really is. Then there's Bob Jones University appearahces, threateneing hispanic voters with arrest if papers aren't in order, special lines at air ports for "Arab looking" passangers,Willie Horton, and timely "slips of the tongue" that always seem to happen (mostly in the South) around election time: Makaka, tarbaby,et al. It is deliberate and your party's history of playing on racist emotion has worn very thin on the average American voter.

[frankly6]

The GOP will to ANYTHING to win and keep power.

Had enough? Vote for change.

I agree, huskerarmy. I'm from NC, which is in my opinion one of the least Southern states in the South, but the sentiment is still prevalent. Xenality, it is definitely open to interpretation. The RNC knew exactly how it would be interpreted in the state is was played. I just don't think they realized that people are overwhelmingly annoyed if not offended with it's practices. Coker is being praised for having the ad removed. He denounced it and demanded it be removed after the public outcry. Question: Do the people running for office have a chance to preview the ads that are being run by their national offices?

[bluestardad]

Stay the course now folks, no darkie is gonna git elected in theez partz of Make Yo Cousin Hallar 10asea. Rush Lindaw wot let dat happin.

Jesse Helms and Harvey Gantt was in NC...I'm so glad Jesse Helms is gone.

I also saw the new replacement ad on CNN last night. Whoa.

[sumrzz]

The GOP continues to seek to new lows while using really bad excuses why it's never their fault.
It just proves once again that in the hour of desperation for votes no matter who is in the way
whether they are white, red black or brown, everyone's a target at someone else's expense.
Shame on the GOP! What a sad day we live in.

Signed
A Former Republican as of this year.

[sumrzz]

The GOP continues to seek to new lows while using really bad excuses why it's never their fault.
It just proves once again that in the hour of desperation for votes no matter who is in the way
whether they are white, red black or brown, everyone's a target at someone else's expense.
Shame on the GOP! What a sad day we live in.

Signed
A Former Republican as of this year.

[sumrzz]

The GOP continues to seek to new lows while using really bad excuses why it's never their fault.
It just proves once again that in the hour of desperation for votes no matter who is in the way
whether they are white, red black or brown, everyone's a target at someone else's expense.
Shame on the GOP! What a sad day we live in.

Signed
A Former Republican as of this year.

[sumrzz]

Sorry for the multi posting. Computer issue

[agnim]

Who was it in denial the other day, posted in the forum that he was "tired of the race issue", and set out to blame the media for pointing out this centuries-old sickness of the nation in reference to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina? LOL

If the ever-deceptive white supremacists can make UNPROVOKED war on Iraq that killed over a half a million children, women, old people, etc, then playing the race card to their racist constituencies is only par for the course.

Glutton for power is the ONLY thing that drives the super power-drunk and wild bush people. And they don't care if the nation is drawn through the mud as long as they are the ones in power.

[atl_993]

it doesnt seem to matter whether its Republican or Democrat. Until our elected officials show more concern for the populus versus playing party politics there will always be smear campaigns. Why can we not find anyone to fill these positions. Why are more and more of our "leaders" being charged with various crimes? And it is on all levels of government(city, state and federal). Corruption runs rampent in our system and we as Americans need to rise up and reign in these power hungry, self serving public officials and get back to for the people by the people. I am tired of the direction our great country has gone. Even worse , we allowed it.

[laurieleemoo]

okay---admit it everyone---the ads are dirty on BOTH sides! This will ALWAYS be because everytime one or the other puts a dirty ad out---the other side has to come back with one of their own. I guess it would be political suicide if one did not respond to the other. I mean if you refuse to NOT run nasty political ads, basically, the other side would eat you alive with theirs. Unfortunately that is just the way it is. I see not possible end to it .

[laurieleemoo]

AGNIM---You just made a RACIST remark!

[laurieleemoo]

which does not suprise me after the CRUDE low-life remark you made about women the other day. Is there ANYONE out there you DON'T hate????????

[jswilliams451]

The end to this kind of thing is campaign finance reform (limiting what a candidate can spend) and term limits for congress.

Hell, throw them all out and we'll just phone it all in.

[alphaa10-2009]

Yo! Karl? Would you be out there, hiding in that trainload of garbage one GOP official promised would be delivered this election?

Leave it to the Karl Rove brigade to stoop to something like race-baiting in a tight Southern race. Remember, the GOP is the party of the Willie Horton ads, which ran on the same theme of fears and hate. Do GOP pols and boosters wonder why they smell of corruption?

Just how credulous (stupid) does the RNC believe Amerians are? Is it plausible for the RNC to pay for an ad "without the knowledge, the participation, the advice, the approval or the involvement of either the national party or the campaign"?

The GOP actively opposed most positive improvements in the South over the last 50 years, opposing desegregation, courting Jim Crow regimes and spawning the likes of Strom Thurmond and his ilk. The GOP and Bush played the race card as late as 2004 against Sen. McCain when he campaigned in SC, claiming his dark-skinned, adopted Asian daughter was black.

[diverinnl]

laurieleemoo makes a valid point about the ads being dirty on both sides. 50 years ago, it would have been scandalous to mention that we had a President in a wheelchair. Now, it is almost expected that candidates don't try to make themselves look good, they just need to make their opponent look worse than themselves. The lesser of two evils I suppose. I just hope the fine people of Tennessee see this for what it really is; self serving racism and hate in it's purest, most vile form and vote accordingly.

[alphaa10-2009]

laurieleemoo said, "okay---admit it everyone---the ads are dirty on BOTH sides!"
------

Your statement is as preposterous as the GOP ad, itself, considering the GOP this year continues front runner in filth and corruption, fear and hatred.

The GOP admits spending millions on this campaign's arsenal of attack ads, and according to party insiders it is a trainload of garbage that stop at nothing, not even race-baiting. Since the GOP admits proudly to this tactic, QED baby! Now, let's hear your evidence for the claim the Dems are also contributing race-baiting ads this campaign.

[houser123]

What really aggrevates me with all this negative campaigning on both sides is the fact that I donated my hard earned money to these people and they use it to buy air time, print and other forms of media to put out this garbage. I am speaking for both sides so dont paint me as either on this issue. What we really need to get to is campaign reform and term limits. PLEASE VOTE THIS ELECTION.

[diverinnl]

alphaa10, you are obviously the result of one of Americas fine liberal arts colleges. I say this because you are unable to detect the subject of a sentance after reading the sentance itself. laurieleemoo made no indication that the DEMs were race baiting, just that ads were dirty on both sides. Quit trying to pick childish fights and go call Berkely to get some of your Daddies wasted money back.

[hummerpoo2]

It's not the "race card", it's the "*** card".

[b4815]

Where is the story about Ford's father calling a politcal staffer of Bill Corker a cracker yesterday? When will we see Harold Ford come out and denounce this?

[ronniehm]

"Where is the story about Ford's father calling a politcal staffer of Bill Corker a cracker yesterday?"

He said tracker.

[bluestardad]

Stay focused, none of us win if we stay the status quo. unite and fight our immediate battle by voting these criminals out of office.

[meboard]

It matters not what the ads say...most political analysts will tell you they sway no one and end up at a wash in the end. But candidates have to advertise, and the more outlandish the ad the more we recall the candidate who sponsored it. You have to admit this one was so outlandish that its more entertainment then meaningful. I think smear ads reflect poorly on any candidate who resorts to them (and most do...). My rule of thumb: know the issues, know where you stand, find a candidate (no mater what the party) who supports your view, and vote for that person. It's that easy.

[b4815]

Start with ol "COLDCASH" William Jefferson of Louisiana bluestardad!

[huskerarmy]

"Remember the ad, if you elect Republicans, another black Church will burn."

Winstrv,

Actually, no... It was a flyer in Missouri that did not in fact state that "churches would burn," but rather that, that was how "they used to keep blacks from voting." The fact that the flyer used the words "used to..." seems to infer that it is no longer what "they" do. nevertheless, that is a good example of the kind of misrepresentation of truth the right has to resort to in order to justify the kind of carp that they're pulling on Ford.

While some here obviously don't see a difference between exploiting racism and exploiting fear of racism, I personally think that while neither is acceptable, the former is much worse.

[huskerarmy]

"They thru the Churchs have call on their members to only vote for Black candates..."

Fartknocker,

Got a link or anything else to back up that claim?

[jhindson1]

The GOP ad is outrageous !!
It is a sure sign of a loser when they cant win on the issues and have to resort to personal (and in this case racist) attacks.

[huskerarmy]

4815,

I know that you are distoring the truth again but for the sake of argument, I think anyone who would run an ad like this is correctly characterized as a "cracker."

[cathaleen]

Mr. Ford shouldn't get upset with this ad. He should just say, so what - what's wrong with talking with a beautiful girl. Everybody's making
such a big deal about this - playing right into the GOP's lap. The Republicans are just playing the democrat hysteria card - which is working by the way.

[angryliberal-2009]

Did anyone see the wildly deceptive and down right false ad that the democrats put out trying to politicize Alzheimer%u2019s by falsely saying that embryonic stem cells can cure Alzheimer%u2019s, in which Michael J. Fox is exploited and admitted he took %u201Cto much%u201D medication for that ad, so that his symptoms would be increased and for dramatic affect?

[crscts]

I can't believe that if Ken Mehlman, head of the RNC, and paying for the ad, wanted it pulled, it would be pulled. I guess he didn't want it pulled and then later said a few meaningless words.

[huskerarmy]

"Republicans are just playing the democrat hysteria card - which is working by the way."

Sorry Cathleen, I think this one will back fire on your good ole boys of the GOP.

[angryliberal-2009]

Is this Moveon.org? Oh wait its CBS, an agency that represents itself as...well a news agency.

[huskerarmy]

It seems that Angryliberal is definitely angry but definitely not liberal...

[b4815]

This is so funny to see the democrats so hysterical over this!!!!

[huskerarmy]

That's right angryliberal, racist campaign commercials in the South is not news. Fox would never cover such a story. Would they?