The communications director of the Democratic National Committee Mo Elleithee refused to denounce the frequent use of racial imagery by state Democratic parties this election cycle, even when pressed on the issue by skeptical MSNBC host Craig Melvin. (RELATED:Michelle Nunn Plays Ignorant Over ‘Prevent Another Ferguson’ Flier)
MELVIN: State party in Georgia, using the issue of race to drive African-American turnout there as you know. Georgia Democratic Party, they’ve distributed some flyers, warning if folks don’t vote there, here’s a flyer, if folks don’t vote, there will be another Ferguson. In Arkansas, voters also opening mailboxes to images of Ferguson. In North Carolina, Harry Reid’s Super PAC running this ad on black radio, accusing Tom Tillis of using an effort the gun law that, quote, “caused the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.” Is using the issue of race like that to drive turnout, is that appropriate?
ELLEITHEE: Look, I think our continued outreach in the African-American communities specifically, in the Hispanic community…
MELVIN: No no, are those specific efforts appropriate?
ELLEITHEE: Look, do I think it’s appropriate to constantly remind people how important it is to vote, how important it is to make your voice heard, how important it is to remain engaged? And how if you don’t, you lose your voice? Absolutely, I think that’s important…
MELVIN: Can you not do that without trotting out the images of dead black teenagers?
ELLEITHEE: Look, I think there are — there are a lot of important issues in the community that we are out there talking about. The DNC is running ads, radio ads around the country, reminding people of the need to get behind the economic agenda that we’ve been pushing. There are a lot of different mechanisms we’re using out there. But the fundamental point is that it is absolutely critical, that if you do not vote, you lose your voice.