Did GOP Ad Darken Skin-Color Of Indian-American Dem Candidate?

The National Republican Congressional Committee is running an ad in Minnesota that local officials suggest distorts the skin color of the Democratic candidate for the seat, Ashwin Madia. Basic visual evidence seems to back them up.

Madia, a son of East Indian immigrants and a marine veteran, is pictured in the spot with a darker face and long shadows cast upon it. The ad accuses him of wanted to raise taxes, but the superficial aspects are the ones that have jumped out to observers.

"I'm not saying that I know that the people who made the ads knew that this would happen," Clay Steinman, of Macalester College, told a local news station. "But I think they knew that darkening him, and de-saturating the color, making him look a lot less lively, would have negative connotations."

Indeed, a side-by-side shot of the advertisement and a website photo of Madia -- who is running for the third district seat of Erik Paulson -- suggests that the NRCC deliberately made his cheeks and even the lines under his hairline darker shades.

Such a move would, obviously, carry with it deep racial connotations. But it should be noted that similar charges of image-distortion were leveled against Hillary Clinton's campaign for an ad it put out against Barack Obama during the Democratic primary -- charges that were revealed to be false.

In this case, Madia's own campaign is crying foul. "I have seen negative campaigns but nothing as deplorable, or as disgusting as this advertisement or as the national Republicans have done," said campaign manager Stu Rosenber, in that same local report.

And the Minnesota GOP has already been accused and questioned for attempting to cast Madia as a poor fit for the district's population.

"It is a very sharp contrast," Ron Carey, the state's GOP Chairman, said recently in a press conference. "Erik Paulson fits the district very well. People have to draw their own conclusions but Erik Paulson is a very good fit from a philosophical standpoint and a lifestyle standpoint for the third district."

The NRCC did not immediately return a request for comment.

Comments

[bongogirl]

Typical Republicans. They remain to be the scum of the earth and DESPARATE.

[totallynext]

they also darken Obama's on the other "scary" ad....

Sick and tired - at this point - the people they are trying to scare are already freaked out so much that this is not going to change anything.

Idiots!

[timberdoodle]

It isn't conceivable that the Republican Party will remain a plausible political party after these elections are over. They have forever cast themselves as liars, cheats, racists and bigots.

No wonder sensible Republicans have jumped ship and left McCain and his mistress out in the cold.

[JackAbug]

Wow what great party for women rights the democraps are, you dont like Satah Palin so you say she is haveing and affair with John McCain? They cheat on her husband and his wife? Like all your smears against them its a LIE. He picked her as his RUNNING mate not TO mate you sicko. Its Democraps like Clinten-Bill and Edward that do adultery NOT good Christans like Sarah Palin and John McCain!

[whit4brains]

Proof of another "low-information" voter for the McCain/ Palin ticket -

Yo dipshite - McCain c.heated on his first wife and left her for his new wife Cindy. It's a known fact by all who read. And if you are trying to say there aren't R.epub.lic­ans that c.heat on their wives I suggest you use "the google" and educated yourself.

John McCain is not a GOOD Christian, he only claims to be to f.ool people like you who don't have the ability to think for yourself.

[Yarrr]

It amazes me anyone supports the GOP anymore. I don't mean racist bible thumpers, but decent working and middle class people. wtf have the republicans done for them?

[FormerLutheranChick]

I don't think anyone cared about the color of Mr. Madia's skin when he was serving our country in Iraq. BTW who can better help us figure out a way to safely withdraw from Iraq than congresspersons who have served there?

As a Minnesotan, I hope that Ashwin Madia is elected to serve in the US House of Representatives with our distinguished congresspersons:

First District: Tim Walz (D) 24- year veteran of the Army National Guard who most recently served as support in Italy for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan

Second District: John Kline (R) Marine veteran, works well w/ the other side of the aisle

Fourth District: Betty McCollum (D) Only the second woman since 1858 to be elected to US House of Representatives by Minnesota

Fifth District: Keith Ellison (D) First African-American elected to Congress from Minnesota and first Muslim to be elected to US Congress. That's right! He's Muslim, there's been no jihad, and he's doing an excellent job!

Sixth District: Elwyn Tinklenberg (D) Challenger to incumbent Michele Bachmann. A conservative Democrat; he is also pro-life. There's more to Tink than he is NOT religious right wingnut Bachmann. (Funny how the religious extremist in MN's congressional delegation turned out to be the caucasian Lutheran female rather than the African-American Muslim gentleman.­)

Seventh District: Collin Peterson (D) Vietnam era veteran (North Dakota Army National Guard), founder of the blue dog coalition of fiscally conservative Democrats.

[akena]

But what does "look Indian" mean when talking about one in a billion? Surely there must be great diversity of phenotypes among such a people?

[jimme]

And they have the nerve to run on Country First. BS!

They could care less about the country. All they think about are themselves and will stoop to ANY level to get what they want,which is power/money. Greedy SOBs

[4Ply]

To Mr. Carey: check your facts. Ten + years ago the 3rd district was very red but was represented by a moderate repub. As a fellow caucus member told me last fall, '"'They' would have just as soon run us down [with their cars] as we put up our candidates' signs." Not so much in 2008. The tide has changed. Per our caucus, registered dems outnumber registered repubs now. My vote will be for Madia.

[princessk]

I agree, the tide has changed, and not in Paulsen's favor. His ad smacks of desperation.

[wakeup804]

This is what happens when you don't try to be inclusive. You have to demonize that which is not like you. I feel sorry for the republicans, obviously they are not aware most thinking Americans have moved beyond this foolishness. But if we look at their rallys, their conventions, obviously there are alot of people that still think this way. Maybe if they had bothered to court some of the people they try so hard to demonize, they would not be on a sinking ship this election. Do they not understand we are educated together now, we work together now, and we have friends that are of different races, beliefs and walks of life. And the truly pathectic thing is, most people that fall for this "scary black man" stuff, have not been served by the party they hold on to. What has the republican party really done for the low information voter, other than to stoke their delusional fears. How many have been lifted from poverty in the last eight years, had a better path to education for their kids, been able to hold on to their homes, had a good paying job to go to? Most thinking folks would be afraid of the people that keep selling them BS election after election. When you keep doing the same thing over and over, and you look for different result, that is the true meaning of insanity.

[GrainneKathleen]

He doesn't look Indian, he looks like he comes from the Middle East - the most distrusted people in America thanks to a lot of unfair and uncondoned innuendo. As Colin Powell said it best on MTP, there is no reason in this country thata Muslim child cannot be president. And there is no reason why Madia, who has served his country honorably, whether he is Hindu, Muslim, or Christian or not religious, should be villified for the color of his skin. I am so glad for the internet and the net roots org's, that there are so many waychdogs in this country. Good luck Madia!!!

[marmn]

Minnesota Republicans have done quite the job of attracting national coverage. Michelle Bachmann never ceases to amaze me with what she will say, the GOP pulling clips from Frankin speaking with passion at Paul Wellstone's funeral and trying to portray him as out of control and angry , and then the 'comic book' attacks, now Paulsen is darkening Madia's skin tone?? Clearly a desperate move in a long ugly campaign between these two.

[novowel4me]

Who do you think owns the GOP? It's the same Southern bible thumpers who pioneered voter suppression and race politics for a hundred years in Dixie.

[ProfessorDuh]

Need you ask? This is the Republican Party. Lying, in all possible ways, means and forms, is what they do.

[lunchlady]

You betcha! This is one of their last ditch efforts to win elections lately. "Stop the non-white trend in politcs! OMG!"

[bob8788]

The GOP is such a racist party I am really confused how blacks or black americans can be a part of that, it's so clear in the tactics they use, that you would have to be blind or just dumb to not truely what game their playing

http://www.barackobamacans.blogspot.com/

[munki]

I come to agree with you after this election..­.
they put minorities on show case...
but you know, when economy is good, greed...
let people (regardless of races) to go to GOP because, if you are top 5% you pay less tax...