MSNBC’s ‘Lean Forward’ Ad Unwittingly Alludes to Communist 'Great Leap Forward,' Which Killed Millions of Chinese

For the past few years, MSNBC has produced ‘Lean Forward’ ads featuring a network hosts push his or her liberal agenda on the  audience.  Past ‘Lean Forward’ ads have included a push for action on global warming, promoting gay rights, and viciously attacking the Republican Party.

MSNBC’s newest ad features weekend host Melissa Harris-Perry unwittingly -- or at least one hopes-- referencing the Communist Chinese economic program known as the “Great Leap Forward” which left an estimated 18-45 million Chinese dead. The 30-second ad featuring Ms. Perry is narrated as follows:

No fight began just in the years preceding victory.  The struggle for civil rights didn’t begin in the 1950s.  African-Americans had been demanding representation since the 1880s.  Women didn’t just start fighting for the vote in the 1920s.  That began at the founding of this country.  Immigrants to this country have been since its founding fighting for safe and legal status. It’s a change in the political climate that creates the moment for that great leap forward.  The time has come.   [See video after jump.  MP3 audio here.]

While Ms. Harris-Perry’s reference to the horrific economic policy of the Chinese Communist Party was likely inadvertent, its reference is quite ironic, especially given that the Tulane professor was lecturing viewers about how you need to understand history to track the evolution of societal progress.

The Great Leap Forward is historic testament to the disastrous effects of putting the government in charge of transforming the economy to fit the whims of the political elite. Perhaps MSNBC producers should study more about the failure of Communism. It's either that or risk another MSNBC host gush about a great "cultural revolution" coming down the pike.

See relevant transcript below. 

MSNBC

NewsNation

March 18, 2013

2:36 p.m. EDT

MELISSA HARRIS-PERRY: No fight began just in the years preceding victory.  The struggle for civil rights didn’t begin in the 1950s.  African-Americans had been demanding representation since the 1880s.  Women didn’t just start fighting for the vote in the 1920s.  That began at the founding of this country.  Immigrants to this country have been since its founding fighting for safe and legal status.  It’s a change in the political climate that creates the moment for that great leap forward.  The time has come.