Fancy Lies

Certain liberal bloggers are all atwitter over the "racism" displayed in a web site put forth by the National Republican Senatorial Committee called FancyFord.com that targets Tennessee Democrat Harold Ford, Jr.

Jesse Berney runs the screamer, Elizabeth Dole is a racist, and calls FancyFord.com, "a racist attack site" that in Jesse's bleary eyes, has but one goal:

What's the message behind this site? The line of white women on the front page, the fact that it highlights his attendance at NBA All Star events featuring Biz Markie, the emphasis on opulence all combine to portray Ford as a pimp. The site tries to be subtle in its racism, but it fails.

Pam's House Blend agrees:

The Fancy Ford web site is something to behold and cherish. It tells you all that you need to know about where the great minds of the GOP are when it comes to campaigning -- it's still all about playing on race, racial history and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways of invoking the uppity Negro in Southern politics.

Dave Johnson at Seeing the Forest senses the theme:

A black man is runing[sic] for Senator in Tennessee. How does the Republican Party campaign? With blatant racism, what else? Basketball, white women, portraying him as a pimp... There's probably something about driving a Cadillac, but I got sick of looking at the site.

And last but not least is Steve Gilliard, who puts up a picture of hip-hop star 50 Cent (a George W. Bush fan) and says, "When you see Harold Ford, the NRSC wants you to see him."

It seems that among these liberals at least, there is pretty close to unanimous agreement that FancyFord.com is a vile, racist site set up with the goal of portraying Tennessee Democratic Congressional Representative Harold Ford, Jr as a pimp.

As a southern white racist RepubliKKKan (if you don't believe that I am, just ask any of those named above), I took off my hood, put down my copy of Lynching for Dummies, and eagerly clicked over to FancyFord.com to see what all the hubbub was about.

Boy, were the Kleagle and I disappointed.

Try as I might to find some good, old-fashioned references to plantations, Sambo, the master-slave relationship, and the inability of black folks to swim, I just couldn't find it. (Well I could, but it was here, instead). Nor could I find any modern-day references to gangs, homies, or gats (though I did find two mentions of a Playboy Superbowl Party at Hef's that is close enough for "ho's," I suppose).

Imagine my disappointment when the site seemed not to be about race, but a Congessman living the high life off his campaign money!

Jesse, you got my hopes up, just to let me down.

You didn't mention that the "NBA All Star events featuring Biz Markie" was a political fundraiser featuring such notables as Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Congressman Al Green and Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis. Granted, I'm sure something was being sold for all that cash, but I think it was influence, not honeys. That isn't racist. It's Congress.

Pam got me going with all her talk about, "the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways of invoking the uppity Negro in Southern politics," But all I found was several pages showing sourced material that puts him in the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, or passing out expensive Davidoff cigars to those hosting his fundraising receptions. Now, being a dumb old racist redneck, I'm not sure how exclusive Hollywood hotels, imported cigars, and Armani suits play into "the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways of invoking the uppity Negro," but if it actually does that, can he be uppity at my place, please?

And Dave, I tried, but I couldn't find any references to "pimped out" Caddy either, no matter how hard I tried.

You know, I'm starting to think y'all were just putting me on…