GOP Representative Virginia Foxx and Marshall McLuhan
May 1st, 2009 | 10 responses
This week Rep. Virginia Foxx, a grandmother, called the murder of Matthew Shepard, specifically the two convicted murderers’ intent to kill a man for being homosexual, “a hoax.” Mrs. Shepard, Matthew’s mother, who has suppported hate-crime bills since her son’s murder, was in chambers at the time. After a roar against Mrs. Foxx’s blithe use of the word ‘hoax’ ensued, she issued a tepid bathwater ‘apology’ which many saw as an insincere version of, ‘Sorry about that, if I hurt your feelings.’
In the Woody Allen film, Annie Hall, little nerdy Allen wins an argument with a disagreeable person over who knows McLuhan’s work better… when the philosopher Marshall McLuhan himself steps out from behind a standee and stands up for Allen’s point of view against the snotty professor.
Excerpt from Annie Hall:
MAN: It’s the influence of television. Now, now Marshall McLuhan deals with it in terms of it being a, a high– high intensity, you understand? A hot medium–
WOODY ALLEN: What I wouldn’t give for a large sock with horse manure in it.
MAN: — as opposed to the truth which he [sees as the] media or–
WOODY ALLEN: What can you do when you get stuck on a movie line with a guy like this behind you?
MAN: Now, Marshall McLuhan–
WOODY ALLEN: You don’t know anything about Marshall McLuhan’s work–
MAN: Really? Really? I happen to teach a class at Columbia called TV, Media and Culture, so I think that my insights into Mr. McLuhan, well, have a great deal of validity.
WOODY ALLEN: Oh, do you?
MAN: Yeah.
WOODY ALLEN: Oh, that’s funny, because I happen to have Mr. McLuhan right here. Come over here for a second?
MAN: Oh–
WOODY ALLEN: Tell him.
MARSHALL McLUHAN: — I heard, I heard what you were saying. You, you know nothing of my work. How you ever got to teach a course in anything is totally amazing.
WOODY ALLEN: Boy, if life were only like this.
Yes, if life were only like that where a voice, sotto vocé from offstage, would cue the clueless one to say/ do a more elegant thing rather than wallow around in the ‘large sock’ Allen references. Not sure when politicians began making the kind of sidewinder apologies that their own mothers would not have accepted from them without sending them back to the corner… or the woodshed.
Representative Foxx could have put forth her strongest argument against the proposed law and have made a straightforward apology to Matthew Shepard’s mother for Foxx’s ‘hoax’ squall, both. In fact a sincere apology would have strengthened Mrs. Foxx’s position from a mediocre, “I definitely dont want this law,” to expressing a strong statesmanlike deep regret to have to vote against a proposed law considering the tremendous pain still carried by those who loved Matthew Shepard.
It doesnt have to be one or the other. It can be… and/and. Dignity granted and decisiveness given.
See my first editorial cartoon here…
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10 Responses to “GOP Representative Virginia Foxx and Marshall McLuhan”
As a resident of the 5th district of North Carolina, I want to know how we can get rid of Virginia Foxx. I don't want her to open her mouth again and embarrass me. Is there a way to have a recall vote, impeach her—what can I do to start the ball rolling? I am totally serious and so sad. I once got mad, but this last thing has me so very sad.
Just my two cents' worth? Putting in your vote for someone who has statesmanship and smarts for not some, but all the people in your district, regardless of party, would be just the ticket.
My personal favorite is, “I am sorry that you were offended by what I said.”
Brava Doc!
Your editorial cartoon ROCKS! It's wonderful! Thanks so much for posting that for us to see. It's terrific!
There's a real talent you got going there doc! Keep on with it please! It's strong, unique in it's approach, and the point is made well (i.e. a lot said for the amount of space being used).
Most other editorial cartoons I've been seeing these days, attempt to say too much in a far too small space or visa versa and the much of the imaging being done these days is anything but remarkable. Many are rather predictable and images we've seen over and over again …which in many case, loses the audience. When you see the same thing over and over again, it's can lose it's punch.
However…the imaging you used along with your well stated commentary are spot on!
Excellent art and the work as a whole hit's right on the head (better than a Jack Dempsey right hook punch)!
Thanks again!
Ghost
I'm back..
I just had to add my two cents worth (ok, ok plus a bit more) about Virginia Foxx.
After reading your blog about the situation…
The idea that someone, anyone, would be so callous and unkind to another person offends my sensibilities. It hurts my heart to think that Ms. Shepherd was sitting there listening to that drivel and then that pathetic rather insulting “attempt” of an… apology (if that was what that was supposed to be).
I had to look up Rep Foxx to see what kind of woman would have said something like this into the face of a grieving mother….
AND …my, my, my.
After reading her voting records and other asides, comments etc…
I now realize we were LUCKY to get off so lightly!
Virginia Foxx was one of 11 members of Congress to vote against the $51 billion aid package to victims of Hurricane Katrina!
She (Foxx) doesn't believe in separation of church and state.
Rated 0% by the AU, indicating opposition to church-state separation. (Dec 2006)
And more …
Foxx ..
Voted NO on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization. (Oct 2007)
Voted YES on deauthorizing “critical habitat” for endangered species.
Voted YES on restricting independent grassroots political committees. (Apr 2006)
Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits about obesity against food providers. (Oct 2005)
Voted NO on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Jan 2007)
Voted NO on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Nov 2007)
NO on giving mental health full equity with physical health
NO on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids
YES on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay
NO on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D
NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility
Voted NO on providing $70 million for Section 8 Housing vouchers.
Voted NO on expanding services for offendors' re-entry into society.
Voted NO on revitalizing severely distressed public housing. (Jan 2008)
Voted NO on regulating the subprime mortgage industry. (Nov 2007)
Voted NO on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges
Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border.
Voted YES on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project.
She wants to declare English as the official language of the US (Foxx co-sponsered this bill)
Foxx Strongly Opposes the idea of Illegal immigrants earning citizenship
Rated 19% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance
Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance
Amend Constitution to define traditional marriage
YES on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman
NO on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation
Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
Voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (May 2008)
Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)
Voted NO on investing in homegrown biofuel. (Aug 2007)
Voted NO on criminalizing oil cartels like OPEC. (May 2007)
Voted NO on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jan 2007)
Voted NO on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries. (Jun 2006) Voted YES on authorizing construction of new oil refineries. (Oct 2005)
Voted NO on defining “energy emergency” on federal gas prices in June of 08.
And interestingly, Voted NO on allowing stockholder voting on executive compensation. (Apr 2007) (imagine my surprise – not!)
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Co-sponsored concealed weapon laws. (Nov 2004)
Voted YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers. (Oct 2005)
Wants the American Constitution amended to define marriage to mean one man to one woman and no civil unions either (not in her book anyways)
Voted NO on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade. (Jul 2005)
Block NAFTA Superhighway & North American Union. (Jan 2007)
Voted YES on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant. (Sep 2006)
Voted YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight. (Apr 2006)
Voted NO on $9.7B for Amtrak improvements and operation thru 2013. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on increasing AMTRAK funding by adding $214M to $900M. (Jun 2006)
Voted NO on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. (May 2006)
Voted NO on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days. (May 2007)
Voted YES on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date. (Jun 2006)
Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC. (Mar 2007)
Rated 0% by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)
And there is sooo much more.
However, I've taken up far too much space (and I think I may have repeated myself as it's getting late so…here's a link to her voting record:
http://www.ontheissues.org/NC/Virginia_Foxx.htm
I could not help but notice that she's pulled the usual scam that the way over too the far right types pull..
She hates gays and she's anti a woman's right to choose.
I have seen this ploy being used over and over and over again ..
She knows very well that there are priests and ministers telling their congregations that it's THOSE TWO issues that are putting their perishoners souls in peril.
So…nothing else matters.
The fact that she's stabbed them in the back on minimum wage, or the environment, medical coverage, education and medical for their kids?
None of it matters due to those two issues and it makes me mad as hell because I know it for what it is!
It would be different but I've seen it used too often to insure that a man or woman gets into office as a go-fer for big business and their interests.
If Foxx, in truth cared about the sacredness of life from conception to death, then she wouldn't be trying to make the lower classes lives a living HELL.
Denying children decent education and medical coverage etc.. Voting against minimum wage?
Come on Rep Foxx! You say two things, “I'm anti-choice and I'm anti-gay,” and you know that after that, you can screw your constituents to hell and back on their basic needs (medical, decent wages, education) …
That is just so wrong! These people voting for her, believe in her and THINK she's a Christian …
No real Christian would want families suffering.. out on the streets due to no resources, help or support (HUD vouchers!), parents making minimum wage trying to feed their kids!
I have no issues with people that are consistant (I might disagree with them but …that's not a problem – lots of different people in the world and sometimes we disagree) but I have a real problem with a woman like Rep Foxx who's ever so loud about her “Christianity” but her Christianity seems all too convenient to set up to serve her masters in big business! Those who live in the richest area's of town and who always have had that class position that keeps them warm and safe at night!
And ..no help for the felons coming out of prison?? No programs to help them to reintegrate into society? WHAT is that about? They did their time …let's help them get jobs and into HEALTHY supportive communities so they can get a little self esteem goin .. thus making it easier for them to remain out and about, eh?
A fence up along the border of Mexico?? (rolls eyes)
Ever notice no one says, “Let's put a fence up along the border of Canada?”'
As *I* remember , didn't the 911 people predominately come through Canada?
hmph.
And what's up with the no civil rights of ANY kind ..not even job safety for gay folks?
I'm gonna quiet down now as I could just keep on all night but I did want to post some of her (most of it actually) voting record.
Night night all and sweet dreams
Didn't mean to rant, I just don't understand these people sometimes.
Laters!
Ghost
PS oh ..here's the url to Foxxs' voting record and such:
http://www.ontheissues.org/NC/Virginia_Foxx_Hou…
It's not a rant, Ghost, it's an account. A pretty thorough one. I know Rep Foxx was one of several Reps who sponsored two bills that passed, one, allowing vets to get their paystubs electronically instead of via snail mail, thereby saving government money. And another of similar aim. It will be interesting now to see how her next election shapes up. The Reps have to go through that seeming endless process every two year. My sense is that 'campaigning posturing' can literally ne dragged onto the House of Reps floor daily, instead of tending to business as one might with a far longer window for re-election.
“I am sorry that you were offended by what I said.”…boy Dear Teeparty, havent we all heard that dodge more than once… Its subtext is sort of, I'm sorry you are such an idiot. lol.
After reading the Foxx comments, I had the curious need to go and bathe. It seems that just when what is left of the repubs start a new campaign to improve their image like the one in oh, the last 48 hours or so, their true face comes to light and it is one bearing a remarkable resemblance to one Virginia Foxx, a far right wing misanthrope. Ms Foxx and her ilk just bring down more shame on the political party of OWM (and women) in the fine tradition of Mark Foley, David Vitter and Duke Cunningham. I am a firm believer in a strong two party system as a way to provide balance but that looks to be decades away as the repubs retreat into their far right wing corner. Here's to the middle, where sensible discourse and rational thought resides.
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“Here's to the middle, where sensible discourse and rational thought resides.”
from your lips to G-d's receiver, dear bluff
dr.e