From the report given in the New York Times’ lively The Caucus blog, Kentucky Republicans were having a blast, ridiculing the Democrats as political non-realists and, overall, as an almost madcap lot.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had some fun going after the Demmies…and then it was the turn of Congressman Geoff Davis to continue the celebration of how Republicans are superior to Democrats. It was his turn to take it up (or down) to another level.
And he did:
Congressman Geoff Davis, took the criticisms of Mr. Obama a few steps further, likening the change slogan to the pitch of a “snake oil salesman.” He then relayed to the audience that he had taken party in a “highly classified, national security simulation” with Obama.
“I’m going to tell you something: That boy’s finger does not need to be on the button,” Mr. Davis said. “He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country.”
What happened next was predictable: the Internet picked it up (alas, TMV is late, so accept our apologies), and the Obama campaign issued a response.
“It’s hard to tell what is more outrageous – Representative Davis’s condescending and personal attack, or his absurd and offensive claim that Barack Obama is not prepared to defend America. Geoff Davis may hide behind offensive tough talk, but he has marched in lock-step with Bush-McCain policies that have devastated our national security, while Barack Obama has stood up against a misguided war in Iraq and worked with respected Republicans like Dick Lugar and Chuck Hagel to secure loose weapons and nuclear materials from terrorists,” Bill Burton, the campaign spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Davis apologized to Obama for a “poor choice of words” — and Republicans expect that will be accepted.
But wait: hasn’t Obama just said when he said small towners were “bitter” it was a poor choice of words? So that means Republicans won’t join Hillary Clinton in hammering Obama on the issue?
But this tale of political types having fun with zingers has a bit more.
What would a fun event like this be without taking a quick-laugh swipe at Hillary Clinton?
Back at the dinner, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton didn’t escape the men’s attention either. While saying her candidacy seemed to be teetering on the brink, he [McConnell] added “I hear she hasn’t been this worried since a new Hooters opened” near her home with former President Bill Clinton.
Everybody laughed, according to Ryan Alessi, political reporter for the Herald-Leader.
Thoughtful American political discussion…at its best.
FOOTNOTE: One commenter on a site has noticed several references popping up (most assuredly from people who don’t support or like Obama) as a “boy.”
READ AND RESPOND TO THIS QUESTION ON THE LINK BELOW:
Is it racist to call a grown man ‘a boy’?
CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this post we attributed the “Hooters” joke to Davis in brackets. The joke was actually told by McConnell. The correction has been made. TMV regrets the error.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.