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GOP Ad in Broken English Sparks Charge of Racism

Pete Hoekstra commercial attacks incumbent Debbie Stabenow

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 6, 2012 6:23 PM CST

(Newser) – A US Senate candidate sounded upbeat today after his Chinese-themed ad in broken English triggered accusations of racism, the Huffington Post reports. "I’m excited," Michigan GOP contender Pete Hoekstra told Politico. "It has jump-started the debate.” The ad shows a Chinese woman biking through rice fields and thanking Hoekstra's rival—Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow—for borrowing excessive amounts of money from China.

"Your economy get very weak," she says. "Ours get very good. We take your jobs. Thank you, Debbie 'Spend-it-Now.'" Hoekstra's campaign also launched a website that includes Chinese writing and Stabenow's face on a Chinese fan. Even a GOP consultant lashed out in response, saying "shame on Pete Hoekstra for that appalling new advertisement," and a non-partisan Asian group accused him of trying to "encourage anti-Asian sentiment." As for Democrats, they set up a website accusing Hoekstra of hypocrisy.

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A woman speaks in broken English in an ad by Republican Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra. (YouTube)

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Pete Hoekstra's controversial ad. (YouTube)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 91 comments

joshsmart

Feb 9, 2012 3:28 AM CST

Racist?! A Chinese AMERICAN plays the role of a Chinese woman with "broken English" is racist? Considering this woman in the ad is supposed to be a Chinese, I think her English is actually pretty good. The liberal media host like MSNBC's Mr. Ed could not even tell the difference between the Chinese American and Chinese in China is the saddest and racist thing I have ever seen. It was this kind of mis-identification that sent Japanese Americans to the concentration campus during WWII. Mr. Ed, shame on you!

America_Firster

Feb 8, 2012 12:49 AM CST

Let's face the facts, Stabenow had four years to do something for "her state" and she hasn't done a damned thing for "her state". Time for her to leave or quit.

Fatquah

Feb 7, 2012 6:28 PM CST

So now it's OMG!!! TEH RACISWMMM!!!! to say that there are Asian people in China?

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GOP Ad in Broken English Sparks Charge of Racism

Pete Hoekstra commercial attacks incumbent Debbie Stabenow

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Michigan • Pete Hoekstra • Super Bowl ads • Debbie Stabenow

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