Oklahoma: GOP Welfare Ad Raises Ire Of Blacks, Indians, Hispanics

Ad shows images of Hispanics and Dark Hands Receiving Welfare Payments. Paid for by the National Republican Senatorial Committee

Blacks, Hispanics and American Indians are accusing Republicans of race-baiting in Oklahoma's Senate race. They were referring to a television ad that shows images of Hispanics and dark hands receiving welfare payments. The ad attacks Democratic candidate Brad Carson's voting record on immigration. In a news conference today, the minority group members called on Carson's Republican opponent, Tom Coburn, to disavow the ad. The ad was paid for by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and a spokesman for Coburn said he could not disavow the ad because he was not responsible for it. State Rep. Opio Toure, D-Oklahoma City, said the ad "injects the element of race-baiting into this most important election." Toure, who is black, said Coburn should demand that the ad be pulled. "I believe that political campaigns ought to be honest and they ought to be geared toward productive political discourse," [more