Politics have always been a dirty game, but recent tactics have taken us to what would’ve been seen in a Chappelle skit.
Republican Rep. French Hill has condemned a radio ad by a political action committee’s that suggests Democrats will lynch black Americans if they win the upcoming midterms elections. TIME reports the radio ad was heard in markets Thursday (Oct. 18) gearing towards African-Americans in Little Rock in support of Hill, who is hoping to keep his seat in Congress. The ad was run on behalf of Hil by super PAC Black Americans for the President’s Agenda.
The ad heard above depicts two black women warning people not to vote Democrat or it will lead to lynchings towards men of color. There’s also dangerous stereotypes thrown around while victim-shaming rape survivors.
Woman #1: “What do you think about what’s happening in Washington?
Woman #2: “Our congressman French Hill and the Republicans know that it’s dangerous to change the presumption of innocence to a presumption of guilt. Especially for black men. If the Democrats can do that to a white justice of the supreme court with no evidence, no corroboration, and all of her witnesses including her best friend say it didn’t happen? What will happen to our husbands, our fathers, or our sons when a white girl lies on them?
Woman #1: “Girl, white Democrats will be lynchin’ black folk again”
Woman #2: “Honey I’ve always told my son, don’t be messing around with that. If you get caught, she will cry rape.”
Woman #1: “I’m voting to keep Congressman French Hill and the Republicans because we have to protect our men and boys. We can’t afford to let white Democrats take us back to bad old days of race verdicts, life sentences and lynchins’ when a white girl screams rape.”
Le sigh. Black Americans for the President’s Agenda was co-founded by Vernon Robinson, a former U.S. House candidate who worked with Ben Carson for his failed presidential run. After the ad landed on social media, Robinson told the Associated Press the group spent $50,000 on the ad buy. In addition to their support of Hill, the ad was heard in Missouri to support Josh Hawley.
Hill released a statement to CBS News Friday (Oct. 19), condemning the ad. “I condemn this outrageous ad in the strongest terms. There’s no place in Arkansas for this nonsense,” Hill said.
Hill’s opponent Rep. Clarke Tucker also shared his thoughts on the very hot mess. “Rep. Hill & his allies will have to live with the kind of campaign they’re running,” he tweeted. “This radio ad is disgraceful & has no place in our society. We won’t let these shameful tactics distract us from our fight to stand up for the people in #AR02 on the critical issues in our lives.”
The ad from Black Americans for the President’s Agenda includes many wealthy white donators like billionaire Charles Johnson (owner of the San Francisco Giants) and Trish Duggan, the wife of pharmaceutical billionaire Robert Duggan.
Many have assumed black Trump supporters Diamond and Silk lent their voices to the ad, but the two haven’t commented on it.
READ MORE: Maxine Waters Mocked On ‘Halloween’ Billboard By Conservative Street Artist