|
|
Post by zdunklee on Feb 7, 2012 9:54:14 GMT -5
Biff and everyone else for that matter...I'm interested to know your opinions on the ad Pete Hoekstra aired just before the Super Bowl. I personally find it offensive.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Biff Lebowski on Feb 7, 2012 9:59:14 GMT -5
I don't find it disparaging at all. The core message is that the American economy needs stimulating and current spending practices are benefiting China. Anything else is white noise IMO.
|
|
|
|
Post by zdunklee on Feb 7, 2012 10:14:11 GMT -5
I don't find it disparaging at all. The core message is that the American economy needs stimulating and current spending practices are benefiting China. Anything else is white noise IMO. I understand to core message, but this could have been presented in a much better way (I agree with his message, just not how he went about saying it). The blatant insensitivity to a minority can't possible help someone get elected, especially in Michigan. I mean riding through a rice paddy and speaking broken English...really? |
|
|
|
Post by The Biff Lebowski on Feb 7, 2012 10:29:47 GMT -5
How do they speak English in China? You've met my wife and you know how she talks.
If they wanted it to be more effective, they could have had her speaking Chinese and then used subtitles but I would imagine that someone would still find a way to be offended.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Biff Lebowski on Feb 7, 2012 13:26:30 GMT -5
It should be stated that I am the type of person who doesn't get offended by racial stereotypes so my opinion on this might be skewed.
I have always been of the opinion that people should celebrate diversity because it gives me more things to laugh at.
|
|
|
|
Post by zdunklee on Feb 7, 2012 13:52:18 GMT -5
How do they speak English in China? You've met my wife and you know how she talks. If they wanted it to be more effective, they could have had her speaking Chinese and then used subtitles but I would imagine that someone would still find a way to be offended. That's a good point, but I also know Chinese people who speak almost perfect English. I'm with you in that I enjoy laughing at racial stereotypes, it just offends me when it is used in what is supposed to be a serious ad by a candidate that is supposed to represent the very people he is stereotyping. IMO Chinese with subtitles would have offended a lot less people. |
|
|
|
Post by The Biff Lebowski on Feb 7, 2012 14:23:42 GMT -5
That's a good point, but I also know Chinese people who speak almost perfect English. In China? That is the setting of the commercial. That is not an Chinese person living in the US; it's a Chinese person living in China depicting how US financial policy is benefiting a Communist society. What would have been even more effective would be subtitles under a pudgy Chinese man in dictator clothes. |
|
|
|
Post by zdunklee on Feb 7, 2012 16:16:27 GMT -5
That's a good point, but I also know Chinese people who speak almost perfect English. In China? That is the setting of the commercial. That is not an Chinese person living in the US; it's a Chinese person living in China depicting how US financial policy is benefiting a Communist society. What would have been even more effective would be subtitles under a pudgy Chinese man in dictator clothes. Yes, but aimed at citizens of the US, a lot of which get offended by that type of commercial? This is really true of the minority voters that you must have on your side to win a Senate election in Michigan. It is especially bad when you dress them in American style clothing and have them speaking English. I'm highly doubting their commercials have English being spoken on a regular basis and if someone actually from China was saying this I doubt they would say it in English either. And to answer your question, yes there are students in my classes that came over from China for school and speak nearly perfect English. |
|
|
|
Post by potthole on Feb 7, 2012 17:38:52 GMT -5
I just find the commercial sort of dumb. Think making fun of the incumbent's name is just a lame way to take a jab at her policies-- nothing better than other smear tactics.
Although I'm not a supporter of Debbie Stabenow, I'm really not that big on Hoekstra either.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rebel on Feb 7, 2012 19:13:06 GMT -5
I feel the need to point out that the woman in the commercial is NOT a minority...at least, not in the country in which the "story" takes place.
But, as much as I dislike the absurd spending habits of Congress, I'm not sure it follows that they are what are driving American jobs to China. What's offensive about this ad is that it's a nonsequitur.
|
|
|
|
Post by Queenie on Feb 8, 2012 9:35:34 GMT -5
I just find the commercial sort of dumb. Think making fun of the incumbent's name is just a lame way to take a jab at her policies-- nothing better than other smear tactics. Although I'm not a supporter of Debbie Stabenow, I'm really not that big on Hoekstra either. I didn't think you jumped in on political discussions . . .  |
|
|
|
Post by zdunklee on Feb 8, 2012 9:40:16 GMT -5
I just find the commercial sort of dumb. Think making fun of the incumbent's name is just a lame way to take a jab at her policies-- nothing better than other smear tactics. Although I'm not a supporter of Debbie Stabenow, I'm really not that big on Hoekstra either. That pretty much sums up my thinking really...for someone trying to win an election this seems like a stupid way to kick off your campaign by using smear tactics and racial stereotypes. I would hope our elected leaders could do much better than this. |
|
|
|
Post by potthole on Feb 8, 2012 17:29:15 GMT -5
I didn't think you jumped in on political discussions . . . Over on MTS. Those guys are animals. I'll dabble in it here, because everybody seems relatively grounded. |
|
|
|
Post by Rebel on Feb 9, 2012 20:54:17 GMT -5
It should be stated that I am the type of person who doesn't get offended by racial stereotypes so my opinion on this might be skewed. I have always been of the opinion that people should celebrate diversity because it gives me more things to laugh at. Likewise. Eric Cartman saying "Herro, prease!" is brilliant comedy to me. I am a bad person, so my opinion probably shouldn't count. |
|
