Ben Carson Thinks Black People Will Vote for Him If There's More Rap in His Campaign

Remember that time Mitt Romney insisted on singing “Who Let the Dogs Out” for no discernible reason, other than he was standing near some black kids?

Continuing the Republican party’s rich history of condescending to black voters and assuming rap is the only language African-Americans speak or understand, Ben Carson unveiled a new hip-hop radio ad today. And it is just as unhip, patronizing and irrelevant as you might expect! Check chickity-check it out for yourself, hippity-hoppin’ homies!

The ad (which is called “Freedom” because really, why get creative now?) will run in Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Detroit, Birmingham, Alabama, Jackson, Mississippi, Memphis, Tennessee and Little Rock, Arkansas, for two weeks. Carson’s campaign spokesman, Doug Watts, accidentally said exactly what he meant in discussing the ad with press, telling ABC News that the new commercial is “reaching out and talking to them [Ed. note: he means young black people] in a language that they prefer and in a language that, and in a cultural format that they appreciate.”   

Got it. So when you’re speaking to African-American voters, definitely avoid addressing issues of importance to the black community, like the racial wealth gap, or discrimination, or criminal injustice, or the school-to-prison pipeline, or even #BlackLivesMatter. Instead, just have someone write and record a rap that embarrasses us all—one that actually rhymes “Carson” with “awesome.” Then overdub that rap with rhetoric that combines historical revisionism with respectability politics. (“America became a great nation early on not because it was flooded with politicians but because it was flooded with people who understood the value of personal responsibility, hard work, innovation and that’s what will get us on the right track now.”) Et voila.

Watts went on to add that young African Americans are a “group that we feel pretty strongly is ready and prepared to start working for Ben Carson.”

Good luck with that, Team Carson! You’re going to need it.