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* 11:29 am - The Senate has adjourned until Tuesday. Apparently, not enough members were present today to do anything more than a few resolutions.
* 12:29 pm - Obama’s Macaca moment. Actually, it’s much worse because it was planned.
When United States Senator Barack Obama entered the American Presidential race, he staked out his turf on the moral high ground with a call for a new kind of politics, devoid of personal attack and characterised by debates on the issues that matter.
His campaign apparently has not been listening: Members of the Senator’s campaign staff have been circulating a document that, in its title, slightingly refers to Democratic rival Senator Hillary Clinton as the Democrat from Punjab — a seeming slur on Clinton’s ties with India and Indian Americans.
Whoever ordered this racist/xenophobic hit on Clinton needs to be fired. Right away. And I don’t mean the person who wrote it. From what I understand, the first draft was much more acceptable, but it was rejected and sent back with a demand that it be infinitely tougher. If the author is fired and the person who ordered the rewrite is not, then Obama is a huge hypocrite. The full memo is here.
* 1:00 pm - I haven’t yet decided who won yesterday’s caption contest, but I’ll have the new t-shirt, mugs, etc. ready by Monday. As always, don’t forget to go buy something at our charity store. I’ve belatedly realized that the markup is way too low, so there could be a price increase next week. Get something today!
* 1:35 pm - I had remembered somewhere in my addled brain that “Punjab” was used at one time as an actual slur, so I did a bit of research. From the Racial Slur Database…
Punjab is the Indian character from “Little Orphan Annie.” Also represents the Punjab region of India (near the Punjab river). When the British took over India, they used it as a derogatory term for the natives there.
[Emphasis added.]
The headline from the Obama hit piece…
* 1:55 pm - Despite the headline on this story in The Hill, Dan Lipinski was never an “Accidental Congressman.” His “election” to Congress was carefully planned…
Democrats upset by how Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) acquired his seat and what he’s done with it will give the second-termer another primary challenge in 2008.
Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Mark Pera has filed papers with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and yesterday told The Hill that he will announce his candidacy for Lipinski’s seat after July 4.
* 4:39 pm - In this video, Obama pledges that he will “not make ad hominem attacks” on opponents and will not use opposition research to “suggest that they have untoward motives.”
Also, the chairman of the United States India Political Action Committee, which is referenced in the OR memo, is upset at what has transpired…
I am writing on behalf of the over 50,000 members of USINPAC, the largest bi-partisan political action committee representing the Indian American community. As representatives of the Indian American community, we have been encouraged by your message of inclusion and your promise to bring a new kind of politics to our country. This is why we are so concerned about media reports indicating your staff may be engaging in the worst kind of anti Indian American stereotyping.
We are very proud of the contributions Indian Americans have made, and continue to make, to our country. USINPAC represents members across the nation, from all walks of life, who are caring for the sick, building businesses, educating our children and supporting their families. We are extremely proud to be Americans, and are working everyday for the brighter future you regularly speak about.
[H/T: The Swamp]
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 11:26 am
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We’ll expect Sheila Nix’s denunciation of the Senate’s work ethic any moment now.
Comment by FDR's Ghost Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 11:39 am
Senate’s Work Ethic, what work ethic, we don’t need no stinkin work ethic! We follow the gov’s example.
Comment by A Citizen Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 12:04 pm
Rich,
This reference came from HRC herself - and was referring to her supporting outsourcing rather than any ethnic or racist meaning. Look at the context below:
http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2007/06/sen_clinton_dpunjab.html
The Punjab reference came from a joke Clinton made herself at a fundraiser hosted by an Indian doctor when she said “I can certainly run for the Senate seat in Punjab and win easily, after being introduced by Singh as the Senator not only from New York but also Punjab.”
Comment by hmm Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 12:43 pm
Sorry, hmmm, that’s no excuse.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 12:43 pm
That’s a dirty shame on the Obama thing. You are right about this: like the captain of a ship, the candidate has to take the blame as well as the credit for the doings of the people under him. The only way to save this if at all possible is to cauterize it: you very publically fire the writer AND the people above them that ordered it, and you make a big, embarassing deal about apologizing for it. Anything less will be useless. As are comments like “I take responsibility for their actions”, without then doing anything more. Obama more than any other candidate needs to keep to the high ground, for many reasons.
Comment by Gregor Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 12:44 pm
Also, hmmm, as I noted above, the hit was rewritten in order to make it scummier. Heads need to roll.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 12:45 pm
Is David Axelrod in-charge of communications for Obama?
Wouldn’t he proof all the official press releases from the campaign?
And who approved using “not for attribution” press releases? Why would the campaign use “not for attribution” press releases if it wasn’t going to engage in negative politics or dirty politics?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 12:45 pm
Who is Rahm working for or against these days?
Comment by i d Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 12:47 pm
Rich - I too beg to differ. This whack piece is stupid and hypocritical, but I don’t think it is racist or anything like “macaca.”
Stupid piece, he should take responsibility, but not nearly as bad as you’re making it out to be.
Comment by Napoleon has left the building Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 12:49 pm
Rahm is working for theperson he always has worked for. Himself!
Comment by Milorad Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 12:51 pm
Rich. I don’t get it. HRC said she could easily the Senator from Punjab because of how many jobs she got there. Obama’s team calls her on it and says that that decision to be popular in Punjab comes at the expense of American jobs. How is that racist? Its a title that draws people’s attention to Hilary’s own words.
Comment by hmm Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 12:51 pm
If you can’t figure out why this Obama memo is an unacceptably disgusting hit piece, particularly in light of the fact that it was deliberately scummed up by a high priest in that campaign to make it even uglier, then perhaps you need to reevaluate your life.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 1:08 pm
I also don’t understand the fuss.
Senator Clinton made the remark.
Further, “Punjab” is not an insult in itself (as opposed to Sen. Allen’s comment).
Outsourcing jobs is a very important issue, and if Sen. Clinton believes that she has very close ties to India to the extent that she would (admittedly in a joke) claim to represent India, it is a genuine issue.
Comment by Skeeter Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 1:09 pm
Hmmm,
It comes down to how an average observer can be expected to view a hit like this. Coming from Louisiana, where a qualified candidate lost a gubernatorial election in no small part because he was Indian, I can attest that discrimination against Asian-Americans still exists in quarters of this country.
It probably exists even more so in some of the down-scale, economically depressed, less-well-educated sectors of the Democratic base (yes, it’s there, let’s all admit it) where Hillary is currently beating Obama in the polls. So this is an attempt by the Obama-oids to try and cut into Hillary’s blue-collar support, by playing the race AND the protectionism card.
After this, I propose a moratorium on everyone who complains how dirty the Clintonites play, and how high-minded and change-the-course-of-politics the Obama team is. Obama’s catching up fast.
Comment by ZC Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 1:16 pm
Let’s also not forget that David Axelrod was the consultant who created the “Poshard looks like Hitler” ad, though he denied later that was his intent. He can play plenty rough. And it’s backfired on him before.
Comment by ZC Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 1:22 pm
It wasn’t Axelrod.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 1:23 pm
This may actually be the first time I’ve agreed with Skeeter. Allen’s remarks were disgraceful. Obama’s memo is just politics.
Comment by HoosierDaddy Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 1:23 pm
Once again, HRC has proven that she cannot tell a joke. She should leave the jokes to the pros.
Comment by Patriot Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 1:27 pm
Maybe I’m confused here.
Sen. Clinton made the comment.
Do you believe that Sen. Obama should have completely ignored it?
Is any comment referencing India off limits?
Is it wrong to point out that Sen. Clinton has received substantial campaign contributions from companies that outsource, and further, that she appears very proud of that fact?
I respect Sen. Clinton and if she gets the nomination will probably vote for her, but her comment was really out of line. It also ties in with another criticism of Sen. Clinton — the “what connection does she have to NY” line of questioning. She was born in Illinois, lived most of her life in Arkansas, was elected to the United States Senate from New York, and claims that if she wanted to she could be elected in India. That does not reflect highly on her. If she gets the nomination the Republicans sure will point it out. It is good for her and for the Democratic Party that Sen. Obama is making the charge now.
Comment by Skeeter Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 1:37 pm
Heads should roll. But they won’t and Obama will get away with it. This will be a non-issue.
Comment by Reality Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 1:41 pm
Yeah, Skeeter, is was so on the up and up that the Obama campaign wouldn’t even put their candidate’s name on the piece.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 1:47 pm
Campaigns can go through events like this and come out fine.
First: No excuses. Announce firings immediately.
Second: Make personal apology to Clinton.
Third: Make apologies to offended Indians.
Fourth: After clean-up, declare a zero tolerance policy publically.
Move on.
C’Mon, this shouldn’t be a surprise or even a challenge. Certainly someone over there at Team Obama has already considered this kind of thing coming up and has a process already in place - right?
I mean, these people are professionals, right?
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 1:48 pm
I agree Rich. He should have signed it.
Some of the comments about “Indian-Americans” were a bit over the top, but Sen. Clinton’s words were far worse.
If anyone gets an apology from Sen. Obama, it is the “Indian-American community.” Sen. Clinton certainly doesn’t deserve one.
By the way — This sure makes my candidate, Gen. Wes Clark, look good. It isn’t too late.
Comment by Skeeter Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 1:53 pm
Interesting news on the Lipinski race. I think Tim Neukirk should run! Whatever happened to this former candidate for Governor anyway ? I miss the You Tube ads…
Comment by Helm Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 2:01 pm
Yeah, for public image, and just because it’s the nice thing to do, O should apologize to the offended Indian Americans. Whoever screwed this up should resign. Nevertheless, it’s still just politics, and is not ‘macaca”.
“All politics is local.” –Tip O’Neill
“All politics is dirty, too.” –Karl Rove
Comment by HoosierDaddy Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 2:10 pm
Pera also happens to be an ASA? Could this be a stalking horse situation?
Comment by I Wrote In Krista Grimm Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 2:14 pm
is this a Gibbs thing? he’s been in dicey bits
before. guess all the support from the Indian American community is getting to Obama staff. they
thought they would have Illinois all to themselves.
Obama and his campaign have done a great job of
proving that he is not mr. clean. bad week for them.
Comment by amy Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 2:19 pm
Dan Lipinski is a terrible Congressman! Deer in the headlights.
Comment by anon Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 2:20 pm
Does anyone know anything about this Pera guy, other than the fact he’s an ASA?
Lipinski is an embarrassment, but I don’t think he can be beat by someone that no one has heard of.
Kevin Joyce or Jim Brosnahan would destroy the Lil’ Lipper — but if neither ran last time, I don’t they’ll go in ‘08.
Comment by R.A. Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 2:35 pm
As a Democrat, I do find the holier-than-thou Obama-ites highly annoying - not to mention unspeakably hypocritical. Rich Miller is right on; the piece is sleaze. Obama is usually much more slick. He’d better get his operation together if he wants to keep playing in the big leagues. He’s not going to have the entire head over heels Chicago news media out there to cover for him in the next year and a half. Heads should roll.
Comment by phocion Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 2:53 pm
Has Blago ever sign the primary date chance bill?
He could do it when he has been on the plane.
Comment by blago blaster Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 2:54 pm
So if a black who happens to be a supporter of any politico calls anyone a N—-, should Clinton, Kucinich, Edwards, etc be allowed to do it? Is there any difference? Only the people attempting to cover up for Obama. They are the difference
Comment by Wumpus Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 3:00 pm
It’s a dumb idea to even wade in those kind of waters but it’s sure as heck not a “Macaca” moment for three reasons:
-She said it first
-It came from a memo, not the candidate’s mouth
-It’s not on YouTube.
Also, it’s a hit on her ties to the major beneficary of disappearing American jobs. It’s not tring to appeal to anti-Indian seniment, it’s trying to appeal to “fear of losing your job” seniment. That’s fair game in my book. Again, dumb, but hardly fatal.
Comment by L.S. Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 3:05 pm
Brosnahan would be excellent! Isn’t Pera a
private attorney? Well off
wife. approaches work like Senator Thompson did.
Comment by amy Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 3:08 pm
LS, read the entire memo and tell me it isn’t full of paranoid anti India conspiracies and sentiment.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 3:20 pm
obama needs to come out, take responsibility for this, apologize, and then take out the idiot who pushed for this wording. it’s offensive, amateurish and unworthy of a candidate who is running to bring people together…
Comment by bored now Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 3:26 pm
LS has a point. In fairness to Obama (and I just criticized him above), I don’t think this is worse than the true “Macaca” moment. Analogies can be dangerous. It would be _the_ macaca moment if during a campaign rally, Obama spotted an Indian-American and shouted out in full view of the crowd, “There! There’s one of Senator Clinton’s constituents! I represent America! She represents Punjab!” and the crowd clapped its approval.
What this shows is that somebody on Obama’s campaign crossed the line, and I agree someone should be punished for this. But the lower down it came from, and Rich seems to know it didn’t come from the highest levels, then the more the solution is fairly straightforward.
Comment by ZC Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 3:32 pm
R.A. - Mark Pera has run before for office…easy to check out.
Comment by Taylor Street Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 3:49 pm
Rich,
I’ve read the memo a few times now. I see a bit of a problem with the statement that Indian-Americans intend to raise money for Sen. Clinton. Other than that, the memo is fine.
Sen. Clinton raised the issue of “Punjab.” Sen. Obama didn’t.
If you want to try and turn this into a scandal to sell papers, be my guest. However, an analysis of the memo just doesn’t support the allegation that it is outrageous.
It is not paranoid. They really are taking American jobs. It is fact. Americans are right to be concerned about the issue.
If you could point to particular lines in the memo, that might help as I just don’t see the issue.
Comment by Skeeter Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 3:49 pm
Rich - I went back and re-read the memo and my opinion stands. It’s a hit on her support from companies that outsource jobs. It specificly mentions Cisco and a shady Indian investor who was arressted. It makes none of the thinly vailed racist refrences that have been used on, say, Obama by Fox news. It refrences specific relationships with specific people and corporations. I find it hard to beleive that Obama hasn’t taken any money from comapnies that outsource, so it might turn out to be a little hypocritical, but beyond the Pubjab joke that Clinton made herself, please point out where this is racist?
Comment by L.S. Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 4:05 pm
So how many hours has Milo Blago put in the last two weeks. Lets break it down:
Flying Time:
Commuting:
Jogging:
Playing ball with neighborhood kids:
Attorney meetings:
Media Spin meetings:
ACTUAL WORK:
Anyone venture to guess.
Comment by So much for the 5-day work week! Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 4:22 pm
I must agree Rich’s reaction to this is over the top. Politics ain’t beanbag.
If HRC’s people don’t go on the record about this story, it will be because the campaign won’t want to talk about the issue raised in the backgrounder. HRC stands to get hurt far more than BO, should this become a Big story.
Comment by Chuck Amuck Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 4:28 pm
Pera was a terrible house dem candidate. Alderman Reilly ran his losing campaign. Why he thinks he can win is beyond me. I hope Reilly isn’t behind this.
Comment by Tom Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 4:38 pm
the weighted D vote in the 3rd congressional is all controlled by: madigan, zalewski, viverito, landek.
good luck pera (ICA)
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 15, 07 @ 5:49 pm
Lots of money spent on lots of staff who are not very well managed translates into dumb statements about the Democrat from Punjab?
Comment by Bill Baar Saturday, Jun 16, 07 @ 7:41 am
I’m not saying it isn’t inappropriate or that there shouldn’t be consequences. The only point I want to make is that it is a bit of a stretch to call this Obama’s “macaca moment”.
For starters, at least in my observation, it lists HRC as being from Punjab, a real place. It doesn’t refer to her as a “punjab”, which would seem to be consistent with it’s derogatory use. While that doesn’t excuse the action, I do think it’s a pretty big difference.
The reality is, unfortunately, in a campaign of this length and magnitude there are bound to be other moments that end up being worse than this, from all sides.
Comment by YNM Sunday, Jun 17, 07 @ 8:11 pm
R.A. 2:35…What a joke. Brosnahan or Joyce wouldn’t have a chance against Lipinski. The 23rd Ward and Madigan’s captains control Lipinski’s base, and they actually(primarily the 13th ward) work year round. The 19th Ward has no organization. They have a lot of folks with good jobs but they don’t ring doorbells. It’s called laziness and a cozy relationship with our current mayor. In essence, they have absolutely no controlled vote. Look what Obama did to Hynes in his own 19th ward. The bottom line is Lipinski is in for good. At least until the hispanic poulation totally over runs the sw side. I’ll give it 10 years.
Comment by anon Sunday, Jun 17, 07 @ 11:56 pm
shameful, and I’m an Obama supporter. I agree with Rich. And just because Hillary said it doesn’t mean the Obama camp should have used it. A google search would have turned up the racist overtones of the term.
Obama could have made hay of the situation of Hillary supporting outsourcing American jobs without resorting to a borderline racist stereotype.
Comment by Jerry Monday, Jun 18, 07 @ 8:54 am
As someone who actually has read the memo and has Punjabi friends: It is ridiculous to say that either Clinton’s or Obamba’s remarks were hurtful or derogatory.
Why is Clinton’s record on supporting outsourcing being ignored here? Are you so wrapped up in politics you don’t see issues anymore? Rich, you need to sort out your priorities.
Sanjay Puri, whose was quoted in many of these stories as taking offense to Obama’s memo also is a huge player in the outsourcing of US jobs to India through his company Optimos. He is founder, presient and CEO. Bill Clinton has earned 3 million in consultant fees from InfoUSA due to his friend there, Vinod Gupta. InfoUSA is also a huge outsourcer.
Doesn’t anyone care here about how we have been shipping quality jobs overseas on behalf of companies that exploit every opportunity possible to enrich themselves while our economy and society suffer?
Comment by Jeff L. Monday, Jun 18, 07 @ 10:14 am
I’m getting a kick out of all the dems around here who are now defending what was racist when HRC said it, is racist when Obama said it, and is racist as it’s defended.
Not as enlightened as ya thought, ey?
Comment by dan l Monday, Jun 18, 07 @ 10:22 am
Given the racist history of the term itself, it was wrong to use it. Not only that, but this mini-controversy distracts from the real issue. “D-India” would have been just as effective, lacked the racist overtone, and allowed people to concentrate on the actual problem. Instead, people are talking about this word.
What George Allen said technically means monkey (or something like that). Its how the term is used that makes it a slur. Ditto with what the press release. And can we quit saying “M***** Moment? Would you say N***** Moment, Rich? They basically mean the same thing.
Comment by Jerry Monday, Jun 18, 07 @ 1:29 pm
That’s a good point Jerry. [D] India would have been as effective. This was more deliberate.
Comment by dan l Monday, Jun 18, 07 @ 1:35 pm
Dan and Jerry,
Try a little less knee-jerk reaction next time.
The Obama camp used the word “Punjab” specifically because Hillary and her $50,000 Indian-American supporter used the word “Punjab” as in, she represented the Punjab region of India just as well as she represented the Empire State.
So Dan, essentially you’re saying an Indian-American dude who was complimenting Sen. Clinton’s support for Punjab is racist…
And that Sen. Clinton is racist for agreeing that she supported Punjab well in the Senate…
And that the Obama campaign is racist for pointing out that the junior senator from New York is all too happy to represent foreign outsourcing groups in the Senate (which she does very well as founder and co-chair of the Senate India Caucus)…
And that folks like myself and Skeeter and Jeff L. (among others) are racists for pointing out everyone else’s hyperbole on this issue…
Sure.
As for your alternative of “D-India” … that actually would seem more racist if pulled out of context as so many on this thread seem wont to do.
“D-Punjab” specifically relates to something Sen. Clinton (and her supporter) said of herself and also directly illustrates the point of the Obama team’s memo, that she is too comfortable with outsourcing.
I agree that they shouldn’t have used it given it’s etymology, but if projections of racism are your concern “D-India” is no better.
“D-Outsourcing” or “Sen. Hillary Benedict Arnold Clinton” would’ve been more to the point and not even possibly construed as racist or xenophobic or whatever other misunderstandings people are having here.
(And I’m fully aware that the RNC has, within the last 72 hours, likely registered all sorts of “d-punjab.com”; “manchuriandemocrat.com” and “benedict-arnold-democrat.com” URLs. They’ve done it before.)
Comment by Rob_N Monday, Jun 18, 07 @ 3:20 pm
Give us a break with the BS, ey Rob?
The Obama camp used the word “Punjab” specifically because Hillary and her $50,000 Indian-American supporter used the word “Punjab” as in, she represented the Punjab region of India just as well as she represented the Empire State.
Right. That way if a black person says “Hillary is my ‘n-word’”, Hillary may freely refer to herself as such in some sort of strange self-identifying blackface routine. Exactly! Indian people say it, why can’t we? Honestly Rob, White Guy Argument ™ regardless of it’s perceived validity with the “yeah, yeah, minorities are taking away freedom of speech!” crowd, doesn’t work.
Fact is, this thing was _crafted_ to be offensive, the language was specifically chosen to use an ethnic slur about one minority group, to be sent out to a privileged folks, so that they can all have their little chuckles of “hehehehehehehe he said punjab! ”
Regardless of the subtlety, ability to deny it, and/or actual intent (which we know to be offensive, anyhow) - at the end of the day, it’s still racist.
Comment by dan l Monday, Jun 18, 07 @ 6:34 pm
dan l,
PUNJAB IS A REGION!
SEN. CLINTON SAID SHE COULD BE ELECTED FROM THAT REGION.
Isn’t that clear?
Should we bar any reference to that region?
People like you give all liberals a bad name. You are so worried about “not offending” that you end up worthless and weak. You people would rather allow a stupid remark to go unchallenged than to point out the remark and in doing so, possibly make people angry.
Sen. Clinton made a specific comment. Sen. Obama called her on that specific comment. Welcome to politics. I would much rather see Sen. Obama attack the issue than to ignore it. It shows he’s tough and willing to fight. I respect that.
Finally, your comments, with the mindless focus on the word “Punjab”, completely miss what reasonable minds MIGHT consider a problematic part of the memo, i.e. the insinuation that no American of Indian orgin should donate to a campaign and that all Indian-Americans want to steal American jobs. If there was any offense, that was it and not some geographic label.
Learn what is really important, or get used to losing elections.
Comment by Skeeter Monday, Jun 18, 07 @ 8:18 pm
Skeeter went off:
Punjab is, in fact, a region. It is also, an ethnic slur. You should not bar any reference to the region. You should also not toss it around in a ::wink wink:: ::nudge nudge:: sort of way. That’s called racist.
I do, however, find my ability to ‘give all liberals’ a bad name for the following 2 reasons:
1. I’m not a liberal. In fact, I vote with the little [r-wherever] most often.
2. Somehow, liberals are the only ones whom are allowed to call out racism or sexism, something that I’ve gotten quite good at and without any doubt whatsoever, a skill which I’ve spent more time inflicting upon wingnut conservatives than democrats.
Comment by dan l Monday, Jun 18, 07 @ 10:10 pm
I am the one who went off? You found some slur in the mere mention of the name of a region.
Who is doing “wink wink”?
Maybe you have not read the piece. Turns out, it was SEN. CLINTON who referenced the REGION of Punjab.
Further, I am not even buying this idea of “Punjab” being an ethnic slur. Other than one obscure character, you can’t even establish that.
Apparently, certain regions are off limits, as the mere mention of the name might cause offense.
Let’s just hope that a cartoon doesn’t have a character named “Chicago.” If so, I will never receive any mail — can’t send something to “Chicago”, since people might be offended.
Comment by Skeeter Monday, Jun 18, 07 @ 10:31 pm
And the ‘mindless focus’ on Mike Richard’s use of the “N word” made you miss what is otherwise a very funny joke.
Comment by dan l Monday, Jun 18, 07 @ 10:31 pm
Aren’t democrats supposedly above all this type of name calling? Obama will get away with it because he is Obama. Others would never get away with such press realeases - let’s be real!
Comment by Whatever Monday, Jun 18, 07 @ 10:49 pm
[…] First Whoever ordered this racist/xenophobic hit on Clinton needs to be fired. Right away. And I don’t mean the person who wrote it. From what I understand, the first draft was much more acceptable, but it was rejected and sent back with a demand that it be infinitely tougher. If the author is fired and the person who ordered the rewrite is not, then Obama is a huge hypocrite. The full memo is here. […]
Pingback by ArchPundit » Blog Archive » Something New Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 3:34 pm
What name-calling? “D-Punjab” is name-calling? Not when Ms. Clinton herself made that joke at the home of Indian-American labor arbitrageurs who were donating to her campaign.
It was a planned hit by Obama, and richly deserved by Clinton, even though Obama wimped out with a lame-o retraction.
I expect this issue won’t die. Don’t blame Obama too much - if he doesn’t raise it the Republicans do. Blame Clinton: how did she ever expect to duck this issue? She’s been milking this campaign donor community for years and to hell with the American high-tech workers screwed over by it.
Payback is a bitch.
Comment by stivo Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 9:19 pm