"A campaign aide abruptly escorted Strickland out of the room following the exchange."
Retread Ted Strickland is under fire for orchestrating – and subsequently defending, a racially insensitive campaign stunt.
Instead of immediately apologizing, Strickland doubled down on his stunt even after learning that "fortune cookies have nothing to do with China."
Read more about the scathing criticism directed towards Strickland for his shameful decision to use "an offensive stereotype" for political purposes:
Ohio Public Radio: "Strickland Criticized For Controversial Fortune Cookie Campaign Props"
…it’s former Gov. Ted Strickland who’s taking flak for the use of what some are calling “racially insensitive” propaganda…former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland…hit a nerve after talking about some new campaign materials. Lisa Wong with the Organization of Chinese Americans, Cleveland Chapter, says these fortune cookies are an unfair use of an offensive stereotype…here’s the big catch for people like Wong and Chinese American advocates — fortune cookies have nothing to do with China. Many say the fortune cookie was invented by a baker in San Francisco…Johnny Wu, who’s also with the Organization of Chinese Americans, says the use of such political propaganda ignores the diversity Ohio has to offer. "A representative who has been once a governor of Ohio is doing something that is hurting the citizens that are living in the state and not deciding to be careful of the diverse culture here in the city,” said Wu.
Cleveland.com: "Ted Strickland’s fortune-cookie gimmick isn’t to everyone’s taste"
Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Ted Strickland on Monday defended a campaign gimmick to spread anti-Rob Portman fortune cookies around the Republican National Convention…But then Ohio Public Radio’s Andy Chow, who is Chinese-American, asked whether distributing fortune cookies was racially insensitive. Strickland, a bit flustered, answered "no"…When Chow pointed out that fortune cookies were not invented in China, Strickland replied, "We associate them with what you get when you go to eat at a Chinese restaurant."
The Washington Free Beacon: "Strickland Campaign Distributes Fortune Cookies to Highlight Opponent’s Record on China"
Strickland fielded questions from reporters about the racial insensitivity of the fortune cookie stunt outside of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland…Speaking to reporters after the news conference, Strickland was asked by an attendee whether he is “concerned that the use of fortune cookies might be racially insensitive.” “No,” Strickland told the group of reporters…When pressed by the reporter about fortune cookies being an American invention, Strickland responded, “But we associate them with what you get when you go to a Chinese restaurant.” “An American Chinese restaurant?” the reporter asked. “Yes, an American Chinese restaurant, absolutely,” Strickland responded. A campaign aide abruptly escorted Strickland out of the room following the exchange.
Morning Consult: "Strickland Campaign Uses Fortune Cookies to Push Chinese Narrative Against Portman"
…the adoption of a fortune cookie to push that narrative has raised some eyebrows.