May 11, 2010
WARNING! Don’t be light brown around Dan Fanelli.
Assuming this isn’t a joke, I have 3 responses to this video.
1. It’s ironic and self-contradictory that the actors playing the terrorists in this skit are almost certainly not terrorists, yet the point of the ad is that they probably are, simply because of how they look and sound.
2.This is a political ad, but it’s not a political issue. It’s a matter of decency. Mr. Fanelli just happens to be using a political ad to show that he has none.
3. I wonder if my face is part terrorist since I’m freckly.
* * * * *
One of the most insensitive and racist ads I have ever seen. This guy needs to quit.
Looks like it’s real: http://www.electdan2010.com/
This is the South and he’s preying on fear. He has a good chance; there are a lot of scared, gullible morons around here.
Just like last time.
Making bigoted statements about immigrants: bad.
Making bigoted statements about the South: Totally kosher. Look how cool and edgy we all are.
Either way you’re a bigot.
I am Dan Fanelli and I approve being a racist.
I’m mortified.
What they SAY makes them terrorists.
Abraham, what is your response to the home security advertisements that ALWAYS show the perpetrator to be white?
It doesn’t make sense to single out Grandma at the airport for a security check on ignore a swarthy young man who paid cash today for his one way ticket.
Keep me safe. To heck with hurting the feelings of others.
I would love to see that last line in a speech bubble coming out of Jesus’ mouth.
Racial profiling doesn’t work statistically. It seems like a better idea than it really is (and to many of us, it doesn’t even seem like a good idea).
http://www.lamberthconsulting.com/about-racial-profiling/racial-profiling-doesnt-work.asp
http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/08/22/racial_profiling/
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/lawenforcementterrorism/tp/Against-Racial-Profiling.htm
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/05/iftikhar.profiling.does.not.work/index.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/21/AR2005082100974.html
Can this be serious? Along with the ad regarding Alabama speaking English, it sounds as though there are issues arising that are allowing many Americans to legitimate their currently subdued racist tendencies. This is a step in the wrong direction.
Gosh. Racist much?
Were the two actors playing terrorists simply mumbling “watermelon” in mock-Arabic? You would have to pay me a LOT of money to appear in such a misguided and frankly nonsensical attempt at fear-mongering.
Oh, and I think I’ve seen both the “terrorists” at the bar down the street. Let’s arrest average looking men and send them back where they came from.
One more thing. Alan Grayson’s response ad should be:
Hi, I’m Alan Grayson. Here is my opponent’s ad. Vote for me.
While this wasn’t the wisest handling of the issue, you do have to admit that statistics are in his favor on this one. The Lamberth article referenced above focused mainly on possession of contraband, not explosive devices designed for mass destruction. And, as a former Arizonan, I have to say that the large majority of illegal immigrants in that state are Hispanic (how’s that for understatement) who are already breaking the law. (Perhaps it’s different in upper New York state — maybe they are battling an influx of illegal Canadians) Isn’t it wise for law enforcement to focus their efforts on the known?
the large majority of illegal immigrants in that state are Hispanic
That’s true enough in my corner of SW MN, too. But I think the concern is that way too many people can’t tell the difference, emotionally anyway, between that statement of fact and a scary, *completely bogus* inverse like, The large majority of Hispanics are illegal immigrants.
Anyone–law enforcement officer, candidate for office, or fellow citizen–who operates at all from that second assumption, or plays on the fears of those who do, is not “focusing their efforts on the known.”
Oh NO!! My back and shoulders might be harboring weapons of mass-destruction!
I was born and raised here in Texas, and crap like this makes me sick. Way to continue the stereotype of the ignorant cross-burning sheet-wearing lynch-happy good-ol’-boy, you political Neanderthals!
best comment evar?
Exposing myths of Arizona “profiling”: http://video.foxnews.com/v/4188641/arizona-cops-get-special-training
Dan Fanelli’s campaign would’ve been better served if he had just said, “Look, we have some good laws and agencies in place to stop terrorism. Let’s enforce the laws and get the agencies working together. I’m your man to do this.” Instead, he tried to be cute and grab attention. Perhaps not the kind of attention he hoped for.
I really think this ad can be best described as a public service announcement for terrorist identification. There are so many terrorists that live by me that I should have called out earlier, and now that I have the foreknowledge to spot them, I think I may just point them out.
the agita has returned
Good word. I had to look that one up.
Then again, it comes from a foreign language, so it’s probably subliminally turning me into a terrorist.
CONFLICT!!!!
Before I decide whether or not I’m going to support this racist I have to figure out whether or not I’m a potential target for him based on his foolproof formula for identifying terrorists (found around 0:38 in the video):
Right now I…
am not old – Terrorist
have a pale complexion – Not a terrorist
have facial hair – Terrorist
wear glasses – Not a terrorist
am wearing a tee shirt – Terrorist; But the tee shirt is loose fitting – Not a terrorist
am also wearing a collared shirt – Not a terrorist
am not wearing a tie, though – Terrorist
definitely don’t have pens in my shirt pocket – Terrorist
do not have a steely stare – Draw
Final tally:
Terrorist: 5
Not a terrorist: 4
Uh oh.
Wha…?! Is this America? What decade? Good grief!
Though come to think of it, there are still Confederate flags rolling around on the back of pick ups trucks in places like Ohio. I suppose that demographic needs to have a candidate they can feel good about.
Yikes.
Abraham, I think the vast majority of your readers/commenters have drank a little too much of the “political correctness” kool-aid*.
*This comment does not justify the shockingly awful campaign ad that we’re discussing. I wouldn’t call it racist. I would call it poorly done.
Dave, what’s shocking about it if it’s not racist? Or awful, for that matter?
Racism is bad… but poorly done racism is appalling!
lol touche.
Moral lesson. The older brothers of the cast of Jersey Shore are terrorists.
I had to look up agita, too.
Anyone still missing the old-style twenty two words posts?
No one is discussing his comment “now if a good looking ripped guy without much hair was flying planes into the Twin Towers, I’d have no problem being pulled out of line in an airport”
First off it sounds like he’s just doing to Arab-looking people what he’d be happy to do to himself. But I’m English, I get sarcasm and irony, and he just doesn’t seem to be ironic at all with the ‘good looking ripped guy’ bit – especially given the statement afterwards about lack of hair, which undermines any joke he might be trying to make. So if an attractive, athletic guy with a fine head of hair caused a terror attack, and there was profiling against that, it’s a compliment and Dan here was making a funny with self-depreciating humour and irony. However it definitely comes across to me like this guy thinks he is good looking and ripped, or doesn’t get how to be ironic clearly and understandably.
I wondered about that line, too. Someone else must’ve written that into the script and Mr. Fanelli didn’t know it was a joke.