Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders drew right-wing criticism Monday over an ad casting a young white actor as “Brad,” a welfare recipient portrayed as choosing not to work. Some critics objected to the actor’s race and gender.
The ad shows Brad lounging on a beanbag, snacking and playing video games as Sanders says taxpayers cover welfare for people who choose not to work. She says she launched a welfare-to-work requirement.
Activists Jack Posobiec and Matt Van Swol cited larger shares of minorities receiving welfare benefits than white people; Blaze Media host Auron MacIntyre said most Arkansas recipients are not white. Federalist co-founder Sean Davis called the ad dishonest and insulting but praised its policy. A Cygnal poll earlier this month found 52% of men ages 18–30 said they would vote for the Democratic candidate in their congressional district in November, compared with 43% for the Republican.
