Quote of the Day
Cidu Bill on Sep 19th 2008
(or Cheap Shot of the Day, whatever)
Barack Obama, referring to John McCain: “And now he tells us that he’s the one who’s gonna’ to take on the old boys network. The old boys network? In the McCain campaign that’s called a staff meeting.”
Filed in Barack Obama, Bill Bickel, John McCain, humor, politics | 26 responses so far
ljdarten Sep 19th 2008 at 02:20 am 1
That made me giggle.
LostInTarnation Sep 19th 2008 at 02:25 am 2
Considering how many lobbyists McCain has on his staff, it might be the expensive shot of the day.
Hockey Baby-Mama Sep 19th 2008 at 06:30 am 3
Not a cheap shot, because Obama’s not referring to McCain’s age, just his pack of Washington-insider cronies - not a group a real “maverick” would be hanging out with.
Cidu Bill Sep 19th 2008 at 07:04 am 4
On the other hand, Hockey Baby-Mama, it’s a neat way of calling McCain old while retaining deniability.
ted in Ft. Laud Sep 19th 2008 at 07:46 am 5
I guess that depends on whether the members of the “old boys” network need to actually be old. I tend to think of the term as referring to the entrenched power brokers (almost always male and white, not always elderly).
Uh-bama Sep 19th 2008 at 08:34 am 6
McCain uh, umm, can’t speak l33t and uh doesn’t know, you know, how to uh send e-mail. Vote umm, uh for me, the like new guy. I’m uh uh hope you uh uh can uh change the president to uh me. Um uh it’s a uh good idea I uh uh picked a young, outsider for my uhh vice-presidential candidate and uh not a good ol’ boy.
By the way, the use of boy is racist.
Nicole Sep 19th 2008 at 08:42 am 7
Bill — are you trying to provoke me
I think interpeting this as a cheap shot at McCain’s age is the same as interpeting the ‘lipstick on a pig’ comment as refering to Sarah Palin.
Ted has it right — the phrase “old boys network” refers to the backroom power brokers and has nothing to do with age. Clearly Obama meant that the people who are in the old boys network are McCain’s staff. Nothing more ….. but you knew that.
Cidu Bill Sep 19th 2008 at 08:58 am 8
Actually, Nicole, I think the “old boys network” was cleverly done because it allowed Obama to work in “old” without actually calling McCain old. The lipstick line was a mistake because he should have realized how it would be interpreted.
There are just certain minefields the candidates have to watch out for this time around, as ridiculous as they might appear. Just wait until Obama accuses McCain of something and McCain says that’s a case of the pot calling the kettle black…
Yeah, it’ll hit the fan.
Nicole Sep 19th 2008 at 09:37 am 9
If only — actually I think the Republicans are much better at feigning righteous indignation and getting media coverage of the faux outrage than the Democrats are.
And if it McCain did say ‘the pot calling the kettle black’, and IF the Democrats said anything, the Republicans would accuse them of ‘playing the race card’
BTW — the whole thing makes me sick
src Sep 19th 2008 at 10:06 am 10
One of the humorous aspects of this campaign season is how often the Republicans, who usually rail against any “political correctness” drives, are complaining that someone said something bad about them.
Mark Sep 19th 2008 at 10:32 am 11
“Old boys” do not have to be old. The term was originally used by exclusive British schools to refer to their graduates–a synonym for “alumni.” Thus the “old-boy network” was a group of powerful people who went to school together.
harleyquinn Sep 19th 2008 at 11:40 am 12
Personally I’m sick of the whole thing. Be it Obama complaining about McCain or McCain complaining about Obama.
I want to hear where they stand on the issues and that’s it. Tell me why I should vote for you, not why the other guy (or gal) is a cootie-head. Campaigns never seem to be about selling themselves as a candidate, it’s all about “The opponent is evil incarnite, so choose me, cause I’m like, less evil and stuff”
All this stupidness is just a way for them to not have to actually talk about themselves and why we should choose them.
Hockey Baby-Mama Sep 19th 2008 at 12:08 pm 13
Hey, both sides throw barbs every chance they get. I think it’s kinda cool that Obama’s realizing that rising above the fray wasn’t working. Sometimes you have to get right in there and fight fire with fire, as distateful as it might seem. Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight. OK, I’m done with throwing around and mixing metaphors for the day.
Hockey Baby-Mama Sep 19th 2008 at 12:13 pm 14
And as for “cheap shots” - as far as I’m concerned, a cheap shot would be something like an insult to a candidate’s weight or nose or hairline (or their spouse’s). A cheap shot is not pointing out the truth - like a candidate’s age - when it would very likely be a very relevent issue if the candidate were elected (per actuarial tables).
AMC Sep 19th 2008 at 12:34 pm 15
Perhaps the McCain camp can make a list of common phrases that people are no longer allowed to use because they might be offensive to McCain-Palin. As long as they make the Obama camp aware, in advance, what would offend their delicate sensibilities, I’m sure that the listed ubiquitous everyday verbiage can be avoided.
My, how the worm has turned for the party that used to use “political correctness” as a term of derision. Or, is mentioning that offensive to Mr. McCain, or Ms. Palin? - I certainly wouldn’t want to offend and create a pissing match that would distract from issues, like say, the economic meltdown and the nationalization of our financial institutions.
FlyingFish Sep 19th 2008 at 01:28 pm 16
This crap has been going on since the first time someone whined over the word “niggardly”. I thought Republicans would be above this.
Tim Sep 19th 2008 at 02:15 pm 17
Seems like that’s all I see in this election cycle; cheap shots, low blows, etc. I might write in “Ron Paul” just for fun.
Tim Sep 19th 2008 at 02:21 pm 18
To Hockey-Baby-Mama,
Isn’t pointing out a candidate’s weight or nose or hairline (or their spouse’s), like their age, pointing out a truth? They are, in fact, all cheap shots. Forget actuarial tables, you simply cannot predict when someone will die. Look at McCain’s mother for example.
Howabominable (aka Lindsey ^_^) Sep 19th 2008 at 03:41 pm 19
Eh, I’m sick of all the cheap shots too. Just because one side is doing it doesn’t mean the other should. I lose respect for any candidate that does that, which means I don’t have a lot of respect for most politicians. I wish politicians would tell us what we should vote FOR THEM, not why we should vote against the other candidate. Despite all the media attention I still don’t really know where either Obama or McCain stands on some issues or what they plan to do about it. But if you guys enjoy them insulting each other back and forth, well, whoopie for you. I want to vote for someone with integrity and maybe even a little dignity. I admired Obama for respecting his opponents even when the Republicans are being jerks, but apparently he’s decided that’s not the way to go.
I don’t really think Obama has gone overboard or anything so far. The “Lipstick on a pig” line was stupid and he should have realized how it would sound, but I didn’t think it was all that offensive. The candidates also need to think, “What would my reaction be if that line was used against ME?” In this situation, it’s not so bad, but if this kind of thing continues I’m going to find it harder and harder to vote for either of them. I’m learning that when it comes to elections, you have to vote for who you’re disgusted with the least. It shouldn’t have to be that way.
Oz Sep 19th 2008 at 07:32 pm 20
Is this coming from the guy who picked as his running mate the man who’s been in the Senate longer than I’ve been alive? Thought so.
bullthistle Sep 21st 2008 at 11:54 am 21
“Forget actuarial tables, you simply cannot predict when someone will die. Look at McCain’s mother for example.”
I’d rather vote for his mother - she seems really sharp!
Scott Sep 22nd 2008 at 12:41 pm 22
I’m against cheap shots also - but the Dems haven’t been making many. Certainly not old boys network, or lipstick on a pig (which McCain used referring about a Clinton position with no outrage I can remember.)
To Tim - McCain’s mother is still alive, but his father died at 71, IIRC. And my father-in-law, who is 93 and has voted for Republicans longer than most of us have been alive, is voting for Obama because he doesn’t think McCain can hold two thoughts in his head at the same time any more. Weight is not any indication of fitness for the office, but age might be, so while Obama did not bring it up, it is time somebody did.
anonymous Sep 22nd 2008 at 01:40 pm 23
every single thing the dems say is a cheap shot! everything in every obama ad i’ve seen is a cheap shot, out-of-context quote, or an ouright lie. and the fact that you, your father, and obama show flagrant age discrimination does not make me want to vote the way you do.
AMC Sep 23rd 2008 at 12:33 am 24
You tell ‘em Sarah!
ddsassdd Sep 26th 2008 at 12:04 pm 25
Age may, actually, be very relevant to the campaign. Obama seems to be more familiar with modern technology and less inclined to censor it. I would prefer someone who would stop all censorship, including ratings and especially, the F.C.C. but Obama may be a pivot point from the old, anachronistic politicians to newer, wiser ones. Societies have, always, fuctioned these ways: When new technologies were invented, the old, stupid leaders feared them and demanded censorship. They, eventually, died and the successors, having been raised with such technologies, understood that they were not dangerous and allowed them to be free. Books, radio, television, music and even telephones were subjected to censorship. I, however, plan to love techology until it cn no longer keep me alive. Remember: The First Aendmentis not ambiguous and we should demand that our leaders accept it.
ddsassdd Sep 26th 2008 at 12:08 pm 26
A more appropriate post, given the subjet of this website: Anyone who thinks that this is a cheap shot should see all of the shit Republicans have said about Obama, especially in their political cartoons. Look at this shit: (http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=2664888&userid=0&perpage=40&pagenumber=1.)