I'm putting below the fleur-de-kos the amazingly sexist and racist video that members of the troglodyte wing of the Republican Party put out today to elect Craig Huey in CA-36. I think that the video speaks for itself. I won't describe it and I caution people who have untreated high blood pressure or low "I want to kill someone over this" thresholds not to watch it.
Some people have suggested that we just ignore it. Nope. Janice Hahn already put out a fundraising appeal this morning.
I thought I'd seen extreme, offensive campaign ads before, but then I saw the latest video posted by Craig Huey supporters. If you haven't watched it, don't. But know that its degrading to women in the worst way, and any reasonable candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives would demand that his supporters apologize and take down the video.
(Personal note to whoever wrote this for Janet Hahn: it's sexist and racist, and if you don't see that or decided not to emphasize it given the "color" of your district, you should hand over the reins to someone with more than an eyedropper full of common sense.)
But that's not the issue right now. We've been give a sword: I want to start swinging it. It's time to ask Republicans to condemn it, and to say why they are condemning it, and to keep track of who will and who won't.
Remember "Petraeus, don't betray us?" Let's just say that there's precedent for doing this with an ad approximately one million and eight times less offensive.
To the joint GOP Presidential front-runners* of Romney and Bachmann, I and the hordes of people responding to this diary and posting it on Facebook (or making their own page and posting the link here) demand that you not only (1) condemn this terrible ad, but also (2) explain WHY you are condemning it.
*OK, maybe Bachmann isn't really "joint front-runner" quite yet. I just love saying it, in the hope that someone will read it out loud to Fredo "I'm not dumb, I'm smart!" Pawlenty and make him cry.
We're trying to help you out here, folks. This is a gimme, to help you take your party back from crazed racists -- if you're so inclined. We don't want the Republican Party to become Neo-Nazis, because someday you will inevitably win back the Presidency -- not in 2012, but someday -- and we don't want you to be insane next time you govern. So, come on -- take the opportunity to distinguish yourself from the worst fringe elements of your party. Speak out, condemn this! Show some leadership and say what you think is wrong with it!
Fellow Kosters, if you agree with me that all Republicans -- from candidate Craig Huey to all Presidential "contenders" to Boehner, McConnell, both Presidents Bush, Karl Rove Rush Limbaugh and Roger Ailes himself -- should be called upon to CONDEMN THIS , then make our voice demanding condemnation loud and widely heard.
Show some leadership, Republicans! This is your chance to look good -- and to show some bravery, in case this ad really is the voice of your party base!
I'll look forward to hearing from you.
1:20 PM PT: Thanks to Uwaine for the tip below that the Huey campaign has condemned the ad and even given a half-hearted reason why. The state party has condemned it: not clear to me on what basis, and we should follow up on that. This should make it much easier for national Republicans to condemn it -- and to reject the racism and sexism behind it loudly and clearly.
Democratic leaders -- you can call for them to do this too, you know.