LL Cool J - the elusive Black Republican?
Could you imagine that? Well obviously someone at Fox News media department did. Because he included an image of James Todd Smith, along with Jack Welch, and a Congressional Medal of Honor winner, in a promotional ad for an upcoming Sarah Palin special. How did they not see a problem coming?
When I saw the commercial last night, I really was shocked. Shocked that a Black celebrity would make public an affiliation with a Conservative view, or heaven forbid Fox News. I was also proud to see someone take a stand and remind everyone (Black people too) that African Americans are not cookie cutters, and some of us don't agree with Rev. Sharpton, President Obama, Democrats, and Liberals that just want to take care of us since we can't do it ourselves.
But that didn't last long. It seems that the inclusion of LL Cool J is inaccurate. The interview clip shown was from 2008, though I think Smith would like to still be considered a person who has overcome adversity - just not a Conservative or Republican one. So the commercial is being ammended to not include LL Cool J.
It's not the first time that any network has done such cut and paste work for a promotional commercial. It's been done over the years by EVERY news and media organization except possibly C-SPAN. But when a Black person is shown as a Republican, or Conservative, well that's just blasphemy. Because the universe would end if it were to happen.
Is this really such a big deal? It really shouldn't be. Is race really that important to what is supposed to be a show about real ordinary Americans doing the extraordinary? But it is. Because LL Cool J is Black, and therefore cannot be seen as a Conservative. It would end his career.
But the outrage, from a few seconds of positive imagery (as inaccurate as it was), seems to be a telling commentary. What it is saying will undoubtedly alter depending on the politics of the viewer, but if you step back and look objectively the message seems to be rather bleak - and it's not about the media comopany.
When I saw the commercial last night, I really was shocked. Shocked that a Black celebrity would make public an affiliation with a Conservative view, or heaven forbid Fox News. I was also proud to see someone take a stand and remind everyone (Black people too) that African Americans are not cookie cutters, and some of us don't agree with Rev. Sharpton, President Obama, Democrats, and Liberals that just want to take care of us since we can't do it ourselves.
But that didn't last long. It seems that the inclusion of LL Cool J is inaccurate. The interview clip shown was from 2008, though I think Smith would like to still be considered a person who has overcome adversity - just not a Conservative or Republican one. So the commercial is being ammended to not include LL Cool J.
It's not the first time that any network has done such cut and paste work for a promotional commercial. It's been done over the years by EVERY news and media organization except possibly C-SPAN. But when a Black person is shown as a Republican, or Conservative, well that's just blasphemy. Because the universe would end if it were to happen.
"Popular conservative blogger Allahpundit tweaked liberals who accuse Tea Party supporters of racist sympathies, saying they'll be "shocked to find the alleged Grand Dragon of the tea-party movement making chitchat with a hip-hop legend."
Is this really such a big deal? It really shouldn't be. Is race really that important to what is supposed to be a show about real ordinary Americans doing the extraordinary? But it is. Because LL Cool J is Black, and therefore cannot be seen as a Conservative. It would end his career.
But the outrage, from a few seconds of positive imagery (as inaccurate as it was), seems to be a telling commentary. What it is saying will undoubtedly alter depending on the politics of the viewer, but if you step back and look objectively the message seems to be rather bleak - and it's not about the media comopany.
Labels: celebrity news, Fox News, LL Cool J, Sarah Palin, television commercial
posted by M. Vass | 3:10 PM
2 Comments:
Huh? This issue isn't about a black man being afraid of acknowledging his political affiliation. This is about poor segment producing by FOX! Both LL Cool J and Tim McGraw complained that the show's promos were misleading to the viewer, making people believe that Ms. Palin interviewed these celebrities, when she did not. Even more offensive is the fact that rather than apologize for the misrepresentation, FOX decided to attack LL Cool J by wishing him the 'best' in his "fledgling acting career." Sorry, but FOX was being disappointingly tacky and did a disservice to Ms. Palin!
Erik,
I missed Tim McGraw in the commercial, and his response. Thank you for bringing that up.
I agree that this was a bad idea, using images of people not involved in the program. I agree that it tarnishes what Sarah Palin is trying to do.
At the same time I see a bigger issue. The issue many bloggers jumped on solely because LL Cool J is Black. It raises the question of why can't an African American be a Conservative and/or Republican - or at least publicly state as much? That was the core of what I was trying to get to.
Still you make valid points as well. And insulting Smith for pointing out the failure at FOX is wrong.
Thank you for your input.
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