Media

How To Tell Which Ads Are ‘Racist’: Newspaper Pens Unbelievable Litmus Test

Notwithstanding the claims advanced by many liberals (and initially believed by a few conservatives) that a Barack Obama presidency would be the first instance of “post-racial” governance in American history, President Obama’s term in office has proved the opposite to be true. Not only is this White House not post-racial, but its supporters have been singularly race-obsessed since before President Obama took office, describing everything from accusations of “socialism” to campaign ads showing Obama next to Paris Hilton as closeted racism.

So in some sense, it’s a relief that NYU professors Charlton McIlwain and Stephen Caliendo decided to finally release a five point litmus test that they believe allows a hypothetical ad watcher to determine whether a pro-Romney ad (pro-Obama ads are excluded for unclear reasons) is racist. So for those of you who are curious as to how one can tell whether an attack on President Obama is racist, according to those who claim to know, read on.

Apparently, the litmus test boils down to asking the following set of five questions about any given ad:

1. Does the ad reference racial stereotypes?[...]

2. Does the ad show Obama’s image alongside a racial stereotype?[...]

3. Are all the people surrounding Romney white?[...]

4. Does the ad create an ‘us’ vs ‘them’ racial contrast?[...]

5. Is the audience where the ad runs mostly white?

Now, tempting though it may be to demonstrate every single logical issue with these prongs, it is unnecessary, given that the two authors actually self-refute while explaining their fifth prong. Indeed, astute readers probably noticed a problem with that standard right out the gate – namely, that an ad can be racist in one place, but not in another. McIlwain and Caliendo openly admit this, but in the process of explaining how this isn’t absurd, they include a post-script that will strike many as deliciously ironic (emphasis added):

Determining the audience for an ad run in presidential contests can be complicated (we rarely know where an ad is being run). But were the ad mentioned earlier (“we good and decent Americas”) aired in a place like Iowa, “us” in the ad could likely be interpreted by viewers – consciously or not – as “whites” in a racial context, given that the vast majority of the population there is white.[...]

Thus, while airing an ad for a majority white audience does not guarantee voters will be seduced by a potentially racist message, their being white makes that more likely.

So let’s review: An ad against President Obama is racist if, according to the first prong, it “references racial stereotypes.” So what exactly is an article that explicitly claims whites are more likely to be racist – that argument itself being a racial stereotype? Caliendo and McIlwain may want to consider a change of scenery if they want to throw stones – glass houses are poor real estate for that variety of behavior.

Comments (73)

1 2
  • robinriordan
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 4:39am

    As always, the communists seek to control us through language. They really got into high gear with the introduction of political correctness. Just look at the words…… political correctness. Are my thoughts and expressions in keeping with what is defined as correct by the political powers? Stalin had a political correctness squad. The political power (the communists) define what is correct (in keeping with their political agenda). Am I a good little Nazi? Am I a good little Communist? Once we accept the premise that we must seek to be correct we need a standard against which to measure our correctness. That would be defined by the liberals. Personally, I use the standard given to us by Jesus. Am I correct with respect to God’s law.? That is the only question I need answer. This is why the commies need to eliminate faith and religion. With God removed, they become god. I don’t care how they define racism or bigotry. I don’t care what NBC says. I don’t care what the liberal blogger says. I refuse to be defined by them.

    Report Post » robinriordan  
    • HumbleMan
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 7:35am

      Thank you. This is insightful,

      Report Post » HumbleMan  
    • listeninginVT
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 8:42am

      Amen.

      Report Post »  
    • Free2speakRN
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 8:53am

      GK Chesterton (b. 1871?? d. 1936 ) spoke much of the industrial revolution. His common sense way of things is impeccable. Just one of the things he said was that, Socialism or Communism would come forth in the ‘Wordsmithing’ of language. They‘d make up or change the meaning of ’words’ in very subtle and incomprehensible ways. Read him.

      Report Post »  
    • jujubeebee
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:31am

      Thank you. In the last 3 1/2 years there has been alot of special wording or changing of words to sell political ideas to the public. This apparently is yet another example of the movement toward socialism/marxist/communism by our leader. The democrats can deny what Obama is but the evidence is all there and it is substantial.

      Report Post »  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 12:46pm

      Control the language, you control the conversation. Control the conversation, you control the country.

      Report Post » The_Cabrito_Goat  
    • cyril
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 2:56pm

      I for one resent being defined by those with whim I disagree. The very thing they resent so strenuo0usly is what they do to me. How many times has the left objected that our position in one of judging them? If I am being a racist because I disagree, disagreeing is an intellectual position and is not a character issue. However, to call one a racist is to know their character. it is a judgment! They are judging me a racist,a kind of person who “hates.” They know me so well because I disagree with them. They are able to define what goes on deep within me and call me evil. I wonder where they get such insight. Oh, it is because I disagree. There is nothing more arrogant than to claim to know the heart of another!

      Report Post »  
    • smokeysmoke
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 12:13pm

      the funny think is that OBAMA IS THE RACIST… … you know how to tell someone is a racist… the BLAME THE TEA PARTY AND CONSERVATISIM FOR EVERY PROBLEM IN THE NATION, AND SAY THAT NO MATTER WHAT ROMNEY WANTS TO DO. HE IS JUST REHASHING GEORGE BUSHES AGENDA…. THAT IS RACISM… PURE HATRED OF THOSE WHO THINK AND WANT DIFFERENT THINGS THAN YOU…. OBAMA YOU ARE SO RACIST YOU CANNOT EVEN STATE YOUR OPPONENTS POLITICAL OPINION IN FACTUAL TERMS, AND CONSISTANTLY HIDE AND LIE ABOUT WHAT YOU BELIEVE…. DONT YOU THINK YOUR HATEFUL RETORHIC IS RACIST OBAMA?

      Report Post » smokeysmoke  
  • Dick Blitskreig
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 12:38am

    I recently just excepted the Moniker of racist and I really do feel so much free er.
    I highly suggest you do the same, very liberating.

    Report Post » Dick Blitskreig  
    • Rickfromillinois
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 7:59am

      Let me make it simple for people.

      Rule 1. If you disagree with or do not fully support someone from a race whose members on the average are darker then yours, you are a racist.

      Rule 2. If you disagree with or do not fully support someone from a race who members on the average are darker then yours, BUT you are a Liberal and they are a Conservative, then THEY are sellouts and are racists against their own race.

      Any questions?

      Report Post » Rickfromillinois  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:05am

      Why would you accept any “moniker”? I don’t accept the charge of racist, since I am not nor have I ever been racist, and I qualify the intelligence of the person making the charge as thusly lowered by several notches, if not entirely. When somebody screams racist at me then, I make the judgement that this person is somebody who doesn’t think very well, who is incapable of understanding language, and who is easily led by the paper thin reasonings of his betters. At that point, it’s no water off my back what he or she calls me, big deal. In the end, the constant use of the charge has robbed the word of any power it once had. Racist schmasit.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 3:09pm

      Personally, I’m pro Human race, myself.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • Mizurax
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 7:10pm

      Taquoshi is pro human.

      I’m with Jerry & Elaine:

      “Ugh, I hate people.” – Elaine
      “They’re the worst.” – Seinfeld

      funny stuff

      Report Post »  
  • oldduffer
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 12:27am

    Same school that Commie Noam Chomsky was a indoctrinating professor. No one shoud be surprised at what comes out of these colleges anymore. Think Mao had it right when he took the actors, actresses, and school teachers from their professions and put them into the fields to find out what real work was. Of course he took it too far, but he did have the concept right, in my opinion.

    Report Post »  
  • Lone Ranger
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 11:54pm

    Which is more racist, to hate someone who is not white or to assume someone is racist because he is white?

    Report Post » Lone Ranger  
    • pap pap
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:53am

      Great post Lone Ranger.

      Report Post »  
    • Yakov-Yurovsky
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 4:24pm

      In America, all citizens should be in the majority, while all non-citizens should be in the minority! But that is not how a liberal democracy works.

      Our Crusade against race, starts with abolishing “minority status” for citizens! Thats when we will have true equality in America! Until then, race is just a socialist trick for advancing their agenda in America.

      Since the changing of our immigration laws in 65, 96% of the new immigrants and their descendants, qualify for minority status. Bla, bla, bla…! And no, whites wont qualify for minority status until the federal reserve is in the hands of the new majority!

      Report Post » Yakov-Yurovsky  
    • TonyRUS
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 6:36pm

      Along that same line of thought, if someone thinks that certain races have certain characteristics in their genes, whether “good” or “bad” characteristics, then by definition, that person is a racist. I do not believe this. There is nature vs nurture. But what is disastrous is, if you think a certain race is ignorant, has low IQ or other “bad” built in, and you strive to give those people money and jobs and opportunities to compensate them for these (false) traits, then you are championed by them. They are willing to ignore rascism as long as you are giving them stuff. In affect, they are agreeing with you.

      Report Post » TonyRUS  
  • arthursforge
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 11:25pm

    Any thing I say here is probably racist.

    Report Post » arthursforge  
  • TheBurningTruth
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 11:23pm

    Here’s the REAL litmus test for racism. You’re a racist if any of the following apply:

    1) You‘re fiscally conservative and reject spending our grandkid’s future
    2) You believe in earning what you get, and NOT in getting what you didn’t earn
    3) You don’t expect to “start at the top” and accept earning your way up the ladder over the years
    4) You believe everyone actually IS equal and that quotas and set-asides for “protected groups”
    are wrong
    5) You reject being responsible for what other people (especially 150 years ago) did
    6) You reject BIG government as the solution to everything, and you especially dislike paying for
    all the pork barrel and waste in govt
    7) You condemn looting and riots, especially when “the hungry poor” are carting off color TVs and
    stealing cars. What kind of ant-acid do you take for “electronic indigestion” anyway?

    Report Post » TheBurningTruth  
    • Bill Rowland
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 6:23am

      Truth – based on your criteria I am a proud racist. I qualify on all counts.

      OMG Nov 6,2012

      Report Post »  
    • doubletap
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 6:36am

      OMG! I’m a racist, Sure hope my wife (who’s black) doesn’t find out. Oh wait, it‘s ok she’s a racist too if you go by this list.

      Report Post » doubletap  
  • YourVoiceMatters
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 11:11pm

    the reverse racism started immediately after obama won the election
    you saw things change immediately…the race card was played over and over and over
    trying to vilify everything white. i don’t hate blacks never have
    we were raised to not even look at color but to look at what kind of person they were
    if they were good hearted kind and helped others
    that is how we were raised…and we were to try to get along with everyone…
    even the bullies which was next to impossible. no excuses!
    Watchin how this potus uses blacks yet
    they have the highest unemployment levels
    for the length of his presidency…
    doing very little until this new edict conderning education
    just in time for the election does not impress me as helping them
    so much as trying to buy their vote at the last minute
    I wish somehow they would take off the blinders and
    see the truth: obama is not their friend and never has been or
    he would have done much more by now for them!
    Seems to try to plow a wedge in the fabric of America! between the races…
    If the truth be known we value the black community more than they value themselves
    They are a people of great strength, creativity, talent and ideas but they sell themselves too short and buy into liberal traps and thinking, settling far below their potential! They buy the progressive crap and fall prey to living less well off because of it.

    Report Post »  
    • TheBurningTruth
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 11:18pm

      Reverse racism has been around a long time. Blx have for years believed that they simply can NOT be racists and that only whitie is. What changed after President Marxist was elected was that it is now the official policy of the govt to enact / enforce racism. Before, it was just individual officials that pushed the idea but now the racist Eric Holder in the Department of Social Justice under the direction of President Marxist is actually enforcing it.

      Report Post » TheBurningTruth  
    • castuslonginus
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:29am

      Respectfully,sirs, there is no such thing as reverse racism. Discrimination against white people because they’re white is the same thing as discrimination against black people. They call it “gettin‘ even with ’em”.

      Report Post »  
  • Cosmos102
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 10:41pm

    I think it shows that Liberals are running scared if the only bullets they have left are by playing the race card. I think they jumped the shark a while back anyway. Nobody is buying the racism charge anymore. When I hear it come out of a Liberal’s mouth, all I see are a pair of lips moving and the distant sound of “yada, yada, yada…” coming out.

    Report Post » Cosmos102  
  • TheEDGE
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 10:38pm

    Ah, come on! We know the drill. Why stop at ads? Just make the litmus test for all Americans. It would consist of one question………… Who Are you voting for?
    It’s Obama vs. the racists PERIOD

    Report Post » TheEDGE  
  • mhojai
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 10:29pm

    I find it amusing that “racist” implies “incorrect.”
    If someone from the klan says “2+2=4,” it’s still true.
    Even if the black panthers say 3+3=7, it’s still wrong.
    Progressives have so distorted the communications that whether something is a “fact” is irrelevant. It’s only important or acceptable speech when you conform to the established, permissible stereotypes of the progressive agenda.
    The best answer to the “racist” charge is, “So what? Is what I said factual, or not?”
    Remember when any school kid knew better about “name calling?” — “names will never hurt me!”

    Report Post »  
  • Silversmith
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 10:15pm

    Anyone buying this crap?

    Silversmith

    Report Post » Silversmith  
  • marcus_arealius
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 10:15pm

    I hate you media rats and everything you stand for. Your rotten parents, your rotten children, your rotten pets and fish. Even the grass in your yard is rotten. I have black friends who now bring up ‘white’ in every conversation, ‘… some white sob turned me down for this or that’.. and I’m white! I have to take this and just go on with the conversation as if it doesn’t bother me. Well it does. I can’t say much as perhaps they are right in the specific instance.. Be that as it is in the past my black friends would almost never mention race and if they did it was for a laugh. Now it’s for real and real contempt.

    So you rotten bastard media maggots can rot in hell along with that ‘Post racial Joker’ in the Whitehouse.

    Report Post »  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 10:27pm

      well put,but it is only going to get worse and if obama does not get reelected the left will call for their all out race war, i hope ever one is prepared to have really hard times and and we will all lose a lot of friends,co workers and neighbors just because of the color of our skin what a shame and those who are calling for the war should be hung and gutted over a ant bed and let them and the buzzards have their nasty stinking asses, but as bad as they are i don’t think a buzzard would even go near them.

      Report Post »  
  • commonsenseguy
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 10:06pm

    man,these idiots are talking out their butts, you can tell who the race baiters are just by what they say,according to them all whites are racist,but no where did they mention that blacks and hispanics and a lot more ethnic groups can be racist,funny how the media just see’s one side. so if me being white makes me a racist then so be it.but i still will not vote for mao obama.

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:02am

      I can simplify the liberal racial litmus test for you Common. If the ad is for Obama…not racist. If the ad is for Romney, it is of course racist. Any questions?

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • dmerwin
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 10:06pm

    Regarding number 5. Whites are the majority across the nation therefore by the reasoning of these numbskulls ALL Romney ad are racist. I say show Obama surrounded by pictures of great black, white, hispanic, native american and asian leaders and then show an Obama gaffe for each of the other peoples leadership moment. And end with “Obama supporters would like you to believe that he matches up. What do you think?“ Include the Nobel Prize and say ”exactly what did he do to earn this, other than his skin tone?

    Report Post » dmerwin  
    • castuslonginus
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:42am

      No.4 gets me “an us vs them” attitude.0bama does that every spitch.

      Report Post »  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 10:05pm

    If your ad has God, country, and apple pie, You Might be a Racist

    If your ad has food stamps, Obama, and Gold Teeth/Big Booty women, You aren’t a racist.

    If you find either statement racist, go get drunk or get laid, you are too uptight.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • lamarlamar
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 9:58pm

    Wounded narcissist is the term for these people. They were not liked a children. They have been compensating with idiotic attempts to make themselves feel good with controling/stupid rules and they cannot face the fact that no one really loves them! When we cannot get something to love us, we turn to controlling that something!

    Report Post »  
  • drphil69
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 9:58pm

    duh… everyone knows there is only question to determine if an ad is racist…

    Does the ad support a republican or show a demoncrat in a bad light?

    If so, RACIST…

    Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 9:54pm

    and these people get PAYED for tripe like this

    Report Post » Psychosis  
  • bikerdogred1
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 9:52pm

    I’am voting for Romney,because he is white.Now how is that.

    Report Post »  
    • historyguy48
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 10:04pm

      Comrade, I’d vote for Romney if he was a martian, we can’t possibly do worse then Dear Leader.

      Report Post » historyguy48  
    • scuba13
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 11:02pm

      I would vote for Casper the Ghost only because he’s white.

      Report Post » scuba13  
  • Individualism
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 9:49pm

    who cares if they are, freedom of speech, let them suffer the consequence for it.

    Report Post » Individualism  
  • SCREW-WINDOWS
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 9:48pm

    Well if people would stop watching BET they might become civilized with the rest of the country and lose the racist attitude.

    Report Post » SCREW-WINDOWS  
  • historyguy48
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 9:48pm

    Comrade Personally I like #2, so if an ad doesn’t show Dear Leader in his native medicine man garb with a bone through his nose, or next to a chimpanzee, then it’s okay, right?

    Report Post » historyguy48  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 9:46pm

    Well, obviously, if an ad features a white person or mentions AMERICA or Mitt Romney, it is “RACIST”!

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • FloridaFarmGirl
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 9:41pm

    You can’t make this stuff up!!! So now we are so stupid that these “ educated ” idiots have to tell us how to even think??? These people are as dumb as a bag of hammers. We, the American people, are not stupid and we know exactly what is going on here. If you are white and especially if you are from the South, you are a racist-according to these people. Time for the South to rise again and the true American’s to take our country back. Enough is enough!!!

    Report Post »  
  • cookcountypatriot
    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 9:34pm

    shoot i dont have my progressive code book…..

    Report Post » cookcountypatriot  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:23am

      @ Cook – let me help you out. I used to carry the code book around until I realized all I really needed was to remember antonyms….whatever they say – the opposite it true, whatever it sounds like they might be saying, the opposite is true, whatever you think they might be trying to say the opposite it true.

      I will admit, this is not 100% effective but it beats the heck out of the wheelbarrow I needed to carry around the book

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love