Watch out for the evil American Indian identity thieves!
by Carmen Van Kerckhove
Yet another race-baiting political ad. This one from Jeff Johnson, who’s running for Attorney General in Minnesota. Notice how the American Indian sitting in his dark apartment is juxtaposed with images of Johnson’s smiling white family, sitting in the great outdoors, flooded with sunlight. (Thanks to Rob at Newspaper Rock for the tip!)
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
dawn wrote:
I wish I was in Minnesota so I could vote against that guy. Then again, I’m in Ohio so there are lots of rotten people to vote against so I guess I’m good.
Posted 06 Nov 2006 at 12:54 pm ¶
Adrianna wrote:
Nothing surprises me from these people anymore.
Posted 06 Nov 2006 at 4:27 pm ¶
Meg wrote:
sorry, but how do you know it was an american indian? i would’ve thought some hippie biker guy except you clouded my view b4 i saw it. but oh well i hope you all don’t respond to this cos you’re out voting!
Posted 06 Nov 2006 at 7:19 pm ¶
Y. Carrington wrote:
Meg…the image of the “identity thief” is what sociologists call a “meme.” Whether the actor is actually Native or not, he’s dressed up so that the (white) viewer will see the image of a criminal-minded Native man out to steal good (white) peoples’ identities, and then vote accordingly.
But for the life of me, why is Johnson dogging Native folk? They’re not the ones framing “innocent” lacrosse players and “taking our jobs!” Why can’t he just stick to demonizing Blacks and Latinos like a normal politician?
Posted 07 Nov 2006 at 3:30 am ¶
Meg wrote:
thanks for the explanation – i still don’t “see” it but i get what they were trying to do.
Posted 08 Nov 2006 at 1:23 am ¶