You Don't Have to Drink the Kool-Aid
Those of you who are following the Mass. gubernatorial race closely (or at all) are probably aware of Kerry Healey's latest bombdrop of an ad, a dark, fear-inducing ad attacking Patrick's support of convicted rapist Ben LaGuer.
It depicts a woman walking alone through a dark, deserted parking garage at night, with ominous music and horror-film green lighting. The exact sort of situation that makes most women a little frightened. The type of situation where I'd grab my pepper spray - back when i used to own it - or, these days, hold my key in between my fingers like I was taught in self-defense classes. In other word, the type of situation where any smart woman is on her guard against a possible unexpected assailant.
The Transcript:
Voiceover: Here’s a question. If a teacher at your kid’s school, or a friend, or a co-worker, if anyone you knew actually praised a convicted rapist, what would you think?
Voiceover: Deval Patrick did. Here’s what he said about brutal rapist Ben LaGuer.Deval Patrick: He is eloquent, and he is thoughtful, there’s no doubt about that. (Fox 25 Morning News, 10/6/06)
Voiceover: Here’s another question, have you ever heard a woman compliment a rapist?
Voiceover: Deval Patrick, he should be ashamed…not governor.
As has been remarked upon in other forums and in numerous papers, the ad pretty blantantly promotes the mesage that if Deval Patrick is elected Governor, women should be more afraid of rape.
It's worse than that, though. As many sexual assault victims' advocacy groups have pointed out, the ad plays up incorrect assumptions that most rapes are perpetrated by a guy hiding with a knife in the bushes (they aren't; most rapists know their victims).
Perhaps worst of all, of course the ad plays on racist cultural stereotypes of black men raping white women. Elect a black man to be governor? Prepare to be raped, ladies.
I'm horrified and deeply disturbed that Healey would run such an ad...though not surprised. But what has disturbed me and surprised me and even angered me more, however, has been the reaction within the liberal community to the ad, and the way in which sexual assualt is being discussed.
The reaction was instant anger at Healey (understandable), instant denouciation of such extremely negative attacks (no suprise there), and, of course, the fact checking. Turns out, some women did defend LaGuer, which skewers Healey's line about having never heard a woman praise a rapist.
Then there was the ridicule. Postings on the liberal blogs calling for "Write Your Own Kerry Healey Ad" contests, inviting bloggers to come up with the most awful, offensive ads they could to mock Healey's efforts.
And oh did they. All sorts of ads involving Patrick fucking dogs, or pictures of black men raping women, or all sorts of other ludicrous and awful things.
Here's the thing that bothers me about all of this: I haven't seen a single person acknowledge that it is disturbing that Patrick praised a rapist after it was very, very clear that the man was guilty. (There was some question on that issue for years, and some clear evidence that the man did not get a fair trial...but in the end, DNA tests conclusively proved his guilt.)
It's disturbing. Why can't we all say this and admit it? It is disturbing. I say this as someone who supports Patrick 110%. Who wouldn't think twice of voting for anyone else. Who finds Patrick to be incredibly inspiring, the type of person who is going to change politics, change government for the better. Who is so excited by the opportunity to vote for a different sort of politician.
And yet I am troubled. I am bothered. I am upset. Frankly, I'd like to know what the hell he was thinking. I want to know why he said those things. I want to know how he ever thought it was a good idea to go on camera and say nice things about a man who brutally raped an elderly woman.
Healey's ad is awful...but it's not ineffective, folks.
I know Patrick was trying to justify his years of letter correspondence with LaGuer (before his guilt was clear). I'm sure that LaGuer really is thoughtful and eloquent. Whatever. I DON'T CARE. You're running for Governor. You don't go around talking up a rapist. I don't care if there were women who also praised LaGuer. I disagree with them for doing so, too.
I know all the liberal blogger types were trying to rally the troops. I know that if we want Patrick to win, that's what we have to do. We circle 'round our leader, warts and all, and defend him to the death.
But the character of the discourse around this issue is embarrassing. It's offensive. It's not worthy of the progressive community. Those discussing this issue seem to ignore entirely the fact that sexual assault is a serious issue that affects many, many women. They seem to think that mocking an ad that raises a real issue (albeit in an inappropriate and borderline racist way) makes us better.
It doesn't. It makes us no better than Kerry Healey, and that isn't saying much these days.
It depicts a woman walking alone through a dark, deserted parking garage at night, with ominous music and horror-film green lighting. The exact sort of situation that makes most women a little frightened. The type of situation where I'd grab my pepper spray - back when i used to own it - or, these days, hold my key in between my fingers like I was taught in self-defense classes. In other word, the type of situation where any smart woman is on her guard against a possible unexpected assailant.
The Transcript:
Voiceover: Here’s a question. If a teacher at your kid’s school, or a friend, or a co-worker, if anyone you knew actually praised a convicted rapist, what would you think?
Voiceover: Deval Patrick did. Here’s what he said about brutal rapist Ben LaGuer.Deval Patrick: He is eloquent, and he is thoughtful, there’s no doubt about that. (Fox 25 Morning News, 10/6/06)
Voiceover: Here’s another question, have you ever heard a woman compliment a rapist?
Voiceover: Deval Patrick, he should be ashamed…not governor.
As has been remarked upon in other forums and in numerous papers, the ad pretty blantantly promotes the mesage that if Deval Patrick is elected Governor, women should be more afraid of rape.
It's worse than that, though. As many sexual assault victims' advocacy groups have pointed out, the ad plays up incorrect assumptions that most rapes are perpetrated by a guy hiding with a knife in the bushes (they aren't; most rapists know their victims).
Perhaps worst of all, of course the ad plays on racist cultural stereotypes of black men raping white women. Elect a black man to be governor? Prepare to be raped, ladies.
I'm horrified and deeply disturbed that Healey would run such an ad...though not surprised. But what has disturbed me and surprised me and even angered me more, however, has been the reaction within the liberal community to the ad, and the way in which sexual assualt is being discussed.
The reaction was instant anger at Healey (understandable), instant denouciation of such extremely negative attacks (no suprise there), and, of course, the fact checking. Turns out, some women did defend LaGuer, which skewers Healey's line about having never heard a woman praise a rapist.
Then there was the ridicule. Postings on the liberal blogs calling for "Write Your Own Kerry Healey Ad" contests, inviting bloggers to come up with the most awful, offensive ads they could to mock Healey's efforts.
And oh did they. All sorts of ads involving Patrick fucking dogs, or pictures of black men raping women, or all sorts of other ludicrous and awful things.
Here's the thing that bothers me about all of this: I haven't seen a single person acknowledge that it is disturbing that Patrick praised a rapist after it was very, very clear that the man was guilty. (There was some question on that issue for years, and some clear evidence that the man did not get a fair trial...but in the end, DNA tests conclusively proved his guilt.)
It's disturbing. Why can't we all say this and admit it? It is disturbing. I say this as someone who supports Patrick 110%. Who wouldn't think twice of voting for anyone else. Who finds Patrick to be incredibly inspiring, the type of person who is going to change politics, change government for the better. Who is so excited by the opportunity to vote for a different sort of politician.
And yet I am troubled. I am bothered. I am upset. Frankly, I'd like to know what the hell he was thinking. I want to know why he said those things. I want to know how he ever thought it was a good idea to go on camera and say nice things about a man who brutally raped an elderly woman.
Healey's ad is awful...but it's not ineffective, folks.
I know Patrick was trying to justify his years of letter correspondence with LaGuer (before his guilt was clear). I'm sure that LaGuer really is thoughtful and eloquent. Whatever. I DON'T CARE. You're running for Governor. You don't go around talking up a rapist. I don't care if there were women who also praised LaGuer. I disagree with them for doing so, too.
I know all the liberal blogger types were trying to rally the troops. I know that if we want Patrick to win, that's what we have to do. We circle 'round our leader, warts and all, and defend him to the death.
But the character of the discourse around this issue is embarrassing. It's offensive. It's not worthy of the progressive community. Those discussing this issue seem to ignore entirely the fact that sexual assault is a serious issue that affects many, many women. They seem to think that mocking an ad that raises a real issue (albeit in an inappropriate and borderline racist way) makes us better.
It doesn't. It makes us no better than Kerry Healey, and that isn't saying much these days.
posted by Melissa at 4:29 PM
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