Yao Ming and Bill White photo used in Texans for Perry web video.

Earlier this week, the Rick Perry campaign released a web spot including unflattering photos of Democrat Bill White – White with a crying baby, White with Middle Eastern businessmen, White with… Yao Ming. I asked y’all why you thought Yao was in there, and got these responses:

–It had nothing to do with cap and trade.

–The common thread in all the photos (in the ad) were they all made White look goofy.

–I can’t think that Yao or his public relations people like the governor using him in a political attack ad.

–I’m pretty sure the campaign thinks picking on Asians plays well with supporters, but that is unacceptable in my mind.

–Why would you ask if showing Yao is somehow anti-Chinese, without asking if the video is also anti-white for showing him with a white baby?

KPRC-TV in Houston took the “Why Yao” question straight to Gov. Rick Perry, and to Yao’s agent (no response yet). Check out Mary Benton’s piece – and the governor’s response – from last night’s news in Houston:

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Elise Hu was a political reporter at the Tribune, focusing on multimedia projects, from 2009 to 2011. She previously worked as the state political reporter for Austin's ABC affiliate, KVUE-TV, from 2006...