SF Giants Owner Donated to Super PAC Running Racist Political Ad in Arkansas

A Congressional political ad condemned as racist by both Republicans and Democrats was funded by a super PAC that counts the majority owner of the San Francisco Giants as one of its major donors. The radio ad, which imagines a conversation between two women with stereotypical black speech patterns, touts Arkansas Republican House Rep. French Hill. The women in the ad claim that “white Democrats” during the Kavanaugh hearings threatened the principle of innocent until proven guilty and may start “lynching” black men again based on false claims by “white women.”

Both Hill and his Democratic opponent have strongly condemned the ad.

The progressive news site Think Progress has reported that Charles Johnson, majority owner of the Giants, had given the super PAC behind the ad—Black Republicans for the President’s Agenda—one of its largest donations this cycle, $1,000. This super PAC, led by an African-American former Naval officer and failed House candidate, Vernon Robinson, reportedly spent $50,000 on the ad supporting Hill.

News of the ad exploded after one political observer posted it on Twitter, alluding to its obviously racist nature. The tweet subsequently went viral, accumulating more than 12,000 retweets and 21,000 likes so far, and was covered by the Washington Post.

This is a real radio ad currently running in Arkansas in support of Republican Congressman French Hill on radio stations targeted to the African American community. I don’t even have words to describe it. pic.twitter.com/vpzt1nGPlc

— (((Ben Tribbett))) (@notlarrysabato) October 18, 2018

The team issued a statement this weekend, distancing itself from Johnson and the ad: “The Giants’ reputation as one of the most inclusive and socially engaged professional sports teams in the nation speaks for itself. We are unaware of Mr. Johnson’s political donations because they are entirely separate from his stake in the Giants ownership group. In no way do the Giants condone this disturbing and divisive political activity.”

For his part, Johnson denied any knowledge that his donations would fund the ad and he also disavowed it. “I had absolutely no knowledge that this donation would be used in this manner and I, like the Giants organization, strongly condemn any form of racism and in no way condone the advertisement that was created by this entity.”