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By Anjeanette Damon (contact) 
Published Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 | 3:01 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 | 5:04 p.m.
Steven Horsford
Sun coverage
Democratic Sen. Steven Horsford is accusing his political foes of launching racially charged attacks against him in his congressional run against Republican Danny Tarkanian.
Horsford, the first African-American state senate majority leader, called on Tarkanian to condemn a blog post by conservative operative Chuck Muth that mocks a tweet Horsford sent about the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.
“Steven Horsford continues to play the race card (he’s black) with this mindless, irrelevant re-tweet of a White House tweet on Saturday,” Muth wrote on his blog of Horsford’s tweet about the Emancipation Proclamation. “Sounds like somebody’s scared by last week’s poll showing him losing the urban vote to his white-bread Republican opponent, Danny Tarkanian.”
In his blog post, Muth also chides Horsford for using “two black kids” playing basketball in one of his television ads. Horsford has criticized Tarkanian for implying he can win the black vote because of his work with black youth through his non-profit basketball clinic.
The children in Horsford’s ad are his own.
“This shot was of me playing with my children in our backyard,” Horsford said in a written statement. “And to refer to my kids as just some ‘black kids playing basketball’ is extremely offensive. My children will be off limits in this campaign. I won’t accept my kids being exploited as pawns in a political game and these racially charged attacks must stop.”
Tarkanian’s spokesman Ron Futrell distanced the Republican candidate from Muth’s blog post.
“I would say that Danny does not see the commercial that way,” Futrell said. “(Horsford) needs to deal with Chuck Muth on that. In the past, Muth has attacked Danny pretty hard, so we know how that feels.”
Asked for a response, Muth did not back off of his original comments.
"First, for Steven Horsford to accuse me of race-baiting is a textbook example of the pot calling the kettle black," Muth said. "Secondly, I had no idea the two kids in the commercial were his sons. Thirdly, the two black kids are, in fact, two black kids, so my statement was accurate, not racist. Fourth, I can only point out the obvious; that it was Mr. Horsford himself who actually exploited his kids as pawns in a political game by featuring them in his campaign commercial in the first place."
As for an apology, Muth refused.
"Lastly, as to Mr. Horsford's demand that I apologize for my alleged "insensitive" comments, allow me to respond by quoting Brigadier Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe of the 101st Airborne in the Battle of the Bulge: 'Nuts!'" Muth said.
It’s not the first time race has become an issue in the congressional race.
Last month, Tarkanian, under fire from the Horsford campaign, questioned whether he should “be like Steven Horsford… and pretend we’re black.”
A non-issue. No one had heard of the bolg post until Mr. Horsford brought it up.
Our society continuing to ignore issues like this which is exactly why they continue to be issues. So, racism in this campaign is definitely an issue.
It would be easier to believe that Tarkanian wasn't a racist associating with racists like Muth if Tarkanian himself hadn't been caught making racist statements already. It seems like the only people trying to "play the race card" are Tarkanian and Muth.
Why is it that the black folk are the ONLY ones that seem to use the race card as a way to get ahead. Asians dont, Jews dont, indians dont, mexicans dont.. Why ? It seems that it becomes an issue when black people bring u it up, but when another culture does they are just complaining...He had my vote until he pulled the race card.... now I vote for someone else on the ticket.... How will race become a non factor? Oh, when it is NOT MADE to be a factor.. Im tired of the baiting for votes ! ( any culture )
Horsford is playing his race card and crys foul when he is called out on it
This is a non issue Horsford initiated this tit for tat
Leave Tark out of it
Muth is a joke
Elect Danny Tarkanian
Seems like Chuck Muth has made this a racial issue. We see many campaign commercials and ads featuring White Candidates, and we never hear people like Chuck Muth mention their children. Why is it different for Steven Horsford? Are there different rules for people of color who run for office...Well, Yes!
We see this stuff all day long with the Republican party trying to paint the President as being something different. Chuck Muth is taking his Que from a stand point of believing He is entitled to fashion his own reality when it comes to Steven Horsford's children. This is low down, down right racist, up front and personal. Just like others like Chuck Muth of the so called entitlement group think they have the right to treat people of color different.
Steven Horsford is right for calling out Chuck Muth for what he said about Steven Horsford's children and how Muth is responding. People like Chuck Muth need to be confronted when the children are involved.
Racist and Hatred right here in the Las Vegas Valley, alive and well in the mind of Chuck Muth.
Chuck Muth? What a dirt bag.
At one point, I could respect Chuck Muth's opinion. Maybe the reasoning wasn't completely on-point, but his position seemed to be genuine.
Chuck seemed willing to listen to the other side and engage in constructive debate.
But things have changed. That once reasonable man has slowly devolved into a race-baiting paranoid conspiracy theorist. As a result, his influenced has waned and is now relegated to sad, sorry attacks like this on Steven Horsford.
Chuck's desperation and willingness to scrape the bottom of the barrel to attack his opponents is truly sad, and isn't representative of the man so many used to admire and respect.
Nevada's own Pamela Gellar needs to take a break and regain his composure.
Danny Tarkanian and his spokesman Ron Futrell are missing the point, and missing an opportunity.
First, they both should have condemned Chuck Muth's " white-bread" remark,
Secondly, they both should have condemned Chuck Muth's attack against Steven Horsford children.
Instead, Ron Futrell releases a statement saying, "I would say that Danny does not see the commercial that way."
Danny Tarkanian only addresses the comments in the commercial---a weak statement, a statement that sends a message to voters that Danny Tarkanian will not stand up and speak out clearly on attacks against people of color and their children.
Either way, Danny Tarkanian and his campaign will be looked at in a different light if they do not clearly distance themselves from Chuck Muth,by condemning the comments made by Chuck Muth.
Ditto to Vegasbike's comments, and "Mr. Horsford himself who actually exploited his kids as pawns in a political game by featuring them in his campaign commercial in the first place."
When the race card is the only one in your deck it comes out early. And often.
@flyinglow,
So what you are saying is, if a White Candidate is show in a political ad with their children it is alright?
Your not being reasonable. This is showing there are different sets of rules for a Black candidate.
Racism and Hatred is alive and well in the minds of many Las Vegans.
Even most of the GOP isn't listening to Muth. This seems to be more of a desperate attempt by Horsford to rally his flagging campaign by crying "racism".
The Horsford Issue Manufacturing Company (LLC) must be paying a lot of overtime these days to pump out such stuff.
Can't say that playing kids games - on or off the court - seems much of a reason to motivate a voter.
The only racist I see here is Horsford. Is the Race Card the only card he has in his hand and is Racist the only thought he has in his head? Apparently so. If you can't run on the issues, scream "RACIST" every chance you get. Pathetic.
muth and his hate talk radio freinds are racists
The fur flys when the vast minds of politicians are on the warpath.
Some people obviously haven't figured out it's 2012!
Race baiting? Is Horsford nuts? Is his campaign so void of substance that all he can do is raise the issue of race? Give us a break Steven! No family in Nevada is as colorblind as the Tarkanians. Jerry Tarkanian has mentored many black people who have become multi-millionaires and celebrities. His son, Danny, helped him do this at his side for many years. So, how about discussing the federal deficit, or the Federal Reserve's continual printing of money backed by nothing, or how you're going to stop the federal government from spending $4 Billion more per day than it takes-in? These issues are the real threats to your children's future, not anything you perceive Danny Tarkanian or Chuck Muth have said. Stop whining and grow up Steven! The only one who cares what race you are is clearly you and maybe Al Sharpton. The rest of us look on you as our equal and what we want to know and have the right to know is what you will do and how you will vote on key issues if you represent us in congress? So, please focus on the issues and forget about calling anyone who criticizes you a racist. Tell us more about the content of your character, not the color of your skin? That's the main attribute you're going to be judged-on by the voters!
Man if Horsford thinks that this is racist he should have grown up in NY where I come from.
Another liar and hypocrite. Are there any decent legislators in the Nevada legislature? We should know house and senate are lacking by now..Why don't they jack up taxes on the sheep again to raise revenue.Its always worked in the past..
"Why aren't people showing some pride in the fact Horsford was born in Africa, immigrated to the United States and then moved up the political ladder? Coming from a cesspool like Africa and then succeeding in United States politics took a lot of hard work and we should all respect that."
Horsford was born in Las Vegas.
Any more blatant racism from Danny Tarkanian to debunk?
I went to the right wing sewer to look up Mr Muth. He is an ignorant (has no clue that he is) racist.
Tark should tell Muth thanks but no thanks and put a "red line" of separation between himself and Muth. He is tossing his families good will under the bus if he doesn't make this perfectly clear.
Here is Muth in his own words
" That aside, when a black guy plays the race card as Steven Horsford --quickly becoming Nevada's Al Sharpton -- did yesterday, it works on 99 out of 100 white guys.
I'm the 1%."
Yeah Muth, you are really a legend in your own sick mind.
All of you right wing nutz, just shut up and sit down, we heard you, weighed your veracity, tested your patriotism, and know beyond a shadow of a doubt you are irresponsible.
Quit whining too, go get a pacifier.