Politics

Casting Call for ‘Hicky’ Type in West Virginia GOP Ad Draws Fire

An NRSC official is saying that their request for actors in a campaign commercial in the West Virginia Senate race went out this way:

“So here’s what we need for casting.. 2 featured characters that will be talking to each other at a diner, conversation back and forth. … One male- Age about 55.- Looking for someone to represent the middle of the country… Ohio, Pittsburgh, West Virginia area- Middle class … One male- Age about 45- Middle class- Again, should represent the Ohio, Pittsburgh, West Virginia area of the country.”

But Politico is reporting that the eventual casting request had more pointed wording:

“We are going for a ‘Hicky’ Blue Collar look,” read the casting call for the ad, being aired by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “These characters are from West Virginia so think coal miner/trucker looks.”

“Clothing Suggestions” included jeans, work boots, flannel shirt, denim shirt, “Dickie’s type jacket with t-shirt underneath,” down-filled vest, “John Deer [sic] hats (not brand new, preferably beat up),” “trucker hats (not brand new, preferably beat up).”

Hotline says Joe Manchin, who is the current Governor of West Virginia, is calling for an apology:
“John Raese and his special interest friends have insulted the people of West Virginia and need to immediately apologize,” Manchin said in a statement to Hotline On Call.
“Not only have they been spending millions to try and buy this election with lies and distortions, we can now see once and for all what he and his friends really think of West Virginia and our people,” Manchin went on. “It’s offensive and it only proves that John Raese has spent too much time in the state of Florida, living in his Palm Beach mansion and doesn’t know, understand or respect the great people of this state, and what we stand for.”
This is not the first time a Pennsylvania casting call of this kind has caused tension with neighboring West Virgnians.  A few years ago a movie production in Pittsburgh ran into a public relations disaster with a similar casting request:
A movie about to be filmed in Pittsburgh is casting Gothic characters — including an albino-like girl and deformed people — to depict West Virginia mountain people.
“‘Regular-looking” children need not apply.

That’s the gist of an open casting call for paid extras for “Shelter,” a horror film starring Julianne Moore that will begin shooting in Pittsburgh in March.

The casting call scheduled for Sunday invites “men and women of all races, 18 or older,” to try out as extras, according to the announcement from Downtown-based Donna Belajac Casting. But the extras wanted for the West Virginia scenes evoke images of “Deliverance” and “The Hills Have Eyes.”

“It’s the way it was described in the script,” Belajac said Monday. “Some of these ‘holler’ people — because they are insular and clannish, and they don’t leave their area — there is literally inbreeding, and the people there often have a different kind of look. That‘s what we’re trying to get.”

Here’s the trailer for the movie.  The GOP should not look to this for inspiration.

Comments (59)

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  • EqualJustice
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 3:57pm

    The entire story comes down to the one paragraph. The one following this: “Hotline says Joe Manchin, who is the current Governor of West Virginia, is calling for an apology:……..”
    Democrat wants apology from BAD Republican. Wow, are they digging DEEP or what?

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • Prestonian
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 3:50pm

    I too am a West Virginian, and these stereotype things simply cause me to roll my eyes and think a little less of the intelligence of those using said stereotypes. This is simply a case of Manchin’s campaign showing desperation. There is NO WAY this should even be a contest, yet it is. In any other year, Manchin would have had no trouble winning this congressional seat. This year, in this election, people are not voting for Raese, but they are voting against anyone that has any connection to Obama and his socialist agenda. I know many would say that West Virginians are racist. We are not. For the most part, we are hard workers who want our earnings to be ours, and not our government’s. We oppose the big government nanny state.

    Report Post »  
  • Windsong
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 3:17pm

    Personally, the fact that the Democratic party ‘gave’ this info to Politico is a red flag for me.

    The Conservatives been subjected to name-calling, false accusations, provable outright lies and now, ‘naked’ kids mooning for health care.

    Mr. Manchin is very popular there, so the fact that he is behind in the polls can mean only one thing. His POLICIES are very unpopular. Frankly, after what the American people have seen over this past few months, I find I can‘t take the ’Democrat/progressives’ at their word.

    If this actually happened, then both parties should nominate another individual to run in this race, and the Republican should apologize immediately. If the ‘Democrat/progressive’ set the Republican candidate up, then Mr. Manchin owes his state both an apoplogy and a resignation.

    Sorry, but my research tells me this whole thing is suspect. Sadly, after all the lies from the current administration, it is very difficult to accept the claim of any Democrat/progressive as truth…well, except for Doug Schoen and Pat Gadell, either of whom I’d vote for tomorrow.

    To both parties. Stop. If you can’t run on merit and have factual, issue-based ads, then you shouldn’t be representing anyone. Grow up, people! The American people have.

    Report Post »  
  • PerazziRay
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 3:07pm

    The lefts worst nightmare, hicks that vote!!

    Report Post »  
  • BoilitDown
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 2:58pm

    Open Tread:
    You might be a redneck hater if…………

    Report Post »  
    • BoilitDown
      Posted on October 7, 2010 at 3:36pm

      You guys knew I meant “thread”, right? I am a terrible typist.

      Report Post »  
  • lazybones
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 2:42pm

    I’m a “hicky” blue collar redneck type too. The Red White and Blue stands for Redneck, Whitetrash and Blue collar don’t it? Only I got a Peterbilt hat. Hehehe. I think this was a “non” story. They were going for an “every day workin man” look. How else would you discribe it? Chill out.

    Report Post »  
  • Conservative Democrat
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 2:41pm

    I am a West Virginian, I refused to work in a plant or a coal mine like my gradfather did and died of Black lung. So I moved to another state. I am so “hicky” that I went to college, got a degree all while working as a Deputy Sheriff, I retired as a Captain and moved back TO west Virginia in 2002, I had offers for COP (chief of police) in several states and cities, So I guess since I live here I am all of a sudden “hicky” But thats alright, Because I know the character of Manchin (just like his dad) I will never ever vote for him…ever! I will support Raese simply because he is an opponent of “The Marxist” and Manchin is a yes man for “the Marxist”.

    Report Post » Conservative Democrat  
  • Autonomous_System
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 2:16pm

    I am a “hicky type”. I would like to see myself represented in a political commercial.

    Report Post »  
  • jimikimble
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 2:10pm

    I’m from WV. It’s the stereotyping that is offensive. There is a huge problem with getting business to grow in WV due to outside perceptions of this kind as well as decades of Democratic dominance in state legislature. You would think the state was the armpit of America the way it is portrayed on TV and the movies. It‘s a sore point and it won’t do Raese any good. Right now I don‘t know who I’m going to vote for. I’ve never been excited about a Senatorial candidate from WV. Or a gubenatorial candidate for that matter.

    Report Post »  
    • firstHat
      Posted on October 7, 2010 at 4:38pm

      which is exactly why the lefty casting company put the call out that way and probably alerted the Dems that they did so. Take it out on the folks that did it.

      Report Post »  
  • Marylou7
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 2:00pm

    This is just plain silly. I‘m a country girl and we are called hicks all the time so what’s the big deal? They were putting out a casting call for goodness sakes. What should they have said please don’t send us any people who spend hours applying makeup and combing their hair. I personally like being a hick – it means I‘m just plain folk and that’s the way I like it….no Botox here. :D

    Report Post » Marylou7  
  • truthncharity
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 1:50pm

    Well I’ve never been more prouder of having family roots in West-by God-Virginny…and being the “hicky” type….he he he whar’s ma rocker and ma shotgun? LOL

    Report Post » truthncharity  
  • Mary the Writer
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 1:48pm

    How DARE they?!?!?! These ******** have no idea what it’s like to work the way a coal miner does. They have no idea what it is to work the way a trucker does. They have never had to lift much more than a damned champagne glass most of their lives. They have no idea what life is truly like in the Appalachian mountains, and I am sick and damned tired of our people being insulted by these ignorant, foolish, snobbish bastards.

    People like this give other retards like them the idea that everyone is like the people in the HOLLYWOOD MOVIE- Deliverance. They like to either portray us like that, or like the Beverly Hillbillies, or The Hills Have Eyes, and other horrible things. . We are either impossibly noble, impossibly backward, or impossibly dumb, inbred and evil. We are smarter than almost all of them, and we have the decency to take care of our own, and do our jobs. When there is a crisis, we don’t go on another vacation, nor do we go play some stupid ballgame. We get through the crisis, we handle our own business, and we leave other people to handle theirs. Governor Manchin is right- these jerks DO owe us an apology. They need to be educated in the ways of human decency and common sense, as well. These people make my damned eyes bleed!

    Report Post »  
    • bobmontgomery
      Posted on October 7, 2010 at 2:01pm

      Just so you understand, this is the DNC nd Politico trying to smearRaese and the Republicans. The ad agency in Pennsylvania is where the descrptions came from. If Manchin is calling for an apology from the ad agency in Pennsylvania, fine. He also needs to call for an apology from the DNC and from Obama for his “clinging to their religion and their guns” comments. The people ..in the DNC and Politico are from the Jesse Jackson School of class warfare. They are trying to save a Senat seat.

      Report Post »  
    • Cincinnatus Dogood
      Posted on October 7, 2010 at 8:58pm

      This whole thing is a set up. No West Virginia would ask for an apology like this. This is a political play.

      Report Post »  
    • nnewton
      Posted on October 8, 2010 at 11:33am

      Preach it, Girlfriend!

      Report Post » nnewton  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 1:36pm

    we need to know what was really sent and by whom

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
    • bobmontgomery
      Posted on October 7, 2010 at 1:48pm

      It was the casting agency. This is an attempt by the DNC and Politico to smear the Republicans. Politico admits in the rticle that the Democrats supplid them with the casting agency’s wording. This is a non-story, but Politico took it and gleefully ran with it. See also: the JournOlist, teTalking Points memos, the morning conference calls with Rahm, etc. etc.

      Report Post »  
  • honestreporting
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 1:31pm

    Perhaps some of us “hicky” people may just have to take up a rocker on the front porch of the White House! At least WV folk LIKE to stay at home and mind the store.

    Report Post »  
  • firstHat
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:59pm

    But my guess is that the actual casting call folks are finding offensive came NOT from the repubs but from the casting agency which is probably made up of a bunch of left coast types. They could even have worded it that way so that it would come back and smack the repubs.

    Report Post »  
  • HippoNips
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:55pm

    This is a silly controversy.
    I’m a hick and I know what I look like.
    The Democrats act as if the way I look is a bad thing

    Report Post »  
  • Rhoadrash
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:39pm

    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I’m happy not to look like pop culture ideal. Long live the hairbacked 250lb men.

    Report Post »  
  • biggreenboo
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:37pm

    I go, every year, to Davis WV up to Canaan Valley… I know what Hicky is… I’ve seen them… They are good people, the true backbone of America… let me rephase that… They are the true 11th finger of America.
    See you guys in January.

    Report Post »  
  • wingedwolf
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:36pm

    One who looks, acts and speaks like a hick? Right’cher in this here computer desk seat thingy!

    Report Post » wingedwolf  
  • nannyanny
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:35pm

    Hey, I wear all of the above and I am not in any way, shape or form offended by what the GOP did. Like the person before me said, get over yourself and keep your mind on the prize.
    Vote November 2nd
    Take a neighbor, take a friend, take whomever may need a ride! Gotta vote these liberal’s out of office!

    Report Post »  
  • Libertyhight
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:25pm

    So now casting calls are under fire? I didn’t realize the Democrats situation was so precarious. Guess it aint good to be them.

    Report Post »  
  • WVRob
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:20pm

    Awwww, I missed it :( I wanted to be one of them there “movie stars”!!!!

    Big story over nothing, “hicky looking” trucker/miner does indeed perfectly explain the “type” they were looking for. People need to get over themselves.

    Report Post » WVRob  
  • DimmuBorgir
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:19pm

    so Hicky means someone who works hard for a living???

    Report Post » DimmuBorgir  
  • charles48
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:18pm

    and we wonder why the american people are tired of people in both parties there still is decent people in politics its just they are very few and very far between

    Report Post »  
    • firstHat
      Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:56pm

      I think we need to find out if the casting call was worded that way by the Repubs or by the casting agency. The Repubs have produced their version, so my guess is that this is a problem with the Hollywood-type casting agency (probably a bunch of left coast types).

      I have no love for the inside the beltway repubs, but I do think we need to find out who was ultimately responsible.

      Report Post »  
    • bobmontgomery
      Posted on October 7, 2010 at 1:51pm

      It was the casting agency. Politico admits in the article that the Democrats gave ..them the story.

      Report Post »  
  • FreedomOfSpeech
    Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:06pm

    Awesome. Did they advertise here? Ha.

    Report Post » FreedomOfSpeech  
    • FreedomOfSpeech
      Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:09pm

      Wake up Jasper…there’s money in moonshine!
      Now get out the trailer so Jimmy can take a dump.

      By the way, the “No More Secrets” Obama is burning books now.
      Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT0qgjxJyRA
      This is what America is turning into. Government book burning. Unreal.

      Report Post » FreedomOfSpeech  
    • MrButcher
      Posted on October 7, 2010 at 1:25pm

      are you knocking moonshine?—-haha

      Report Post » MrButcher  
    • jzs
      Posted on October 7, 2010 at 10:53pm

      John Raese, in contention for a Senate seat in West Virginia, is our kind of guy and I’m sure meant no disrespect to blue collar workers there. Yes, he did in his words “make my money the old fashioned way, I inherited it.” And yes, he lives full time in Florida in a 7000 square foot mansion with a pink marble driveway and owns 15 cars, boats and motorcycles and a private jet according to Politico(http://www.politico.com/blogs/maggiehaberman/0910/Raeses_riches_in_West_Virginia_Florida_.html?showall).

      And sure his positions include eliminating inheritance tax (well, duh) and relaxing the ridiculous burden of safety and environmental regulations on coal miners. But he can relate to us in the lower and middle class and he’s in West Virginia sometimes. He supports the average West Virginian for sure! He’s not lying!

      Report Post » jzs  
    • StonyBurk
      Posted on October 9, 2010 at 9:07am

      When I hear this story– I remember I asked my wife if she noticed at least two of our local mere politicians seem to have hired an ad agency from New York City. They have gone in big for the
      Western look. John Salazar on horseback looking like a brokeback cowboy. And John Hick
      poking fun at it all by putting on Midnight cowboy costume and talking about being told he had to
      ride a horse to campaign for Governor.Anybody got the Pace Picante?

      Report Post »  
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