Snow: With Black Candidates, ‘There Is Always An Attempt…To Attribute Something To The Race Card’

A recent ad by the Republican National Committee targeting Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN) was criticized by various parties, including former Republican senator William Cohen, as a “very serious appeal to a racist sentiment.”

As Nitpicker noted, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow was asked on Tuesday if he thought the ad was racist. Snow said no, then claimed:

I mean, maybe I’m just quaint in this day and age. But no, I think there is always an attempt when you have got an African-American candidate to try to attribute something to the race card.

Watch it:

The ad is still being shown. The Tennessean reported yesterday that the ad “will continue airing in the Chattanooga area, despite the head of the Republican National Committee’s statement today that the ad was off the air.”

Digg It!

Full transcript:

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Harold, call me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEWS: Harold, call me. There’s a cute–I would say sexy, most people would say that–white woman, naked–naked–on the screen setting up a date with Harold Ford who is an African-American. In American society–you went to school in North Carolina. So did I for a year. Do you think in any part of the country that is not playing on racial sensitivities?

SNOW: I don’t think so. I mean, maybe I’m just quaint in this day and age. But no, I think there is always an attempt when you have got an African-American candidate to try to attribute something to the race card. But no, I don’t.