Once again, a white, Southern, Christian Republican has made an ass of himself trying to underscore how he and his ilk have some sort of proprietary hold over all that is good and pure and traditional in the American character.
At a closed-to-the-media gathering of local GOP operatives, Arkansas state senator Kim Hendren, defending against constituent accusations that he isn’t a true Republican (for not signing a “no tax increase” pledge), affirmed his party loyalty by differentiating himself from the likes of people like Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) whom Hendren called, “that Jew.”
“That Jew.”
In his inevitable apology, Hendren said this:
At the meeting I was attempting to explain that unlike Sen. Schumer, I believe in traditional values, like we used to see on The Andy Griffith Show. I made the mistake of referring to Sen. Schumer as “that Jew” and I should not have put it that way as this took away from what I was trying to say.
Hendren did say there was another Jew he does agree with, and that Jew is …
Jesus Christ.
Apparently this is what was in Hendren’s mind when he invoked Schumer:
Of course, this clip of Schumer has the Right’s panties all in a bunch (Townhall.com made the clip.), if for no other reason than Schumer’s dismissive use of “air quotation marks” around “traditional values.”
But here is one most excellent reason why quotation marks and disimissiveness are absolutely appropriate whenever the Right references traditional values:
They have no freakin’ clue what they are talking about.
“Traditional values” is phrasing used to package separatist, xenophobic, parochial, myopic, fear-riddled prejudice and bigotry in trimmings that are lemonade and simple and folksy. The image is a fantasy … kinda like …
a television show.
Speaking of which … Here are some interesting tidbits about The Andy Griffith Show:
- Creator/Executive Producer: Sheldon Leonard … JEW
- Producer: Aaron Ruben … JEW
- Associate Producer: Jay Sandrich (son of Mark Sandrich) … JEW
- Executive Producer: Danny Thomas … ARAB
- Star: Andy Griffith … DEMOCRAT
Sinclair Lewis said, “When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” Every single time I hear a Republican politician or pundit harp on “traditional values,” I think about this quote. Funny that.
Poor Rachel. She seemed both made uncomfortable yet oddly amused by her tangential role in this whole affair ;-)
Sinclair Lewis said, “When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” Every single time I hear a Republican politician or pundit harp on “traditional values,” I think about this quote.
Holy crap! A liberal implying that Republicans are fascists! So original! Bravo DM, bravo. Really quality blogging. Bravo!
actually, donovan, i love maddow because she seems “both made uncomfortable yet oddly amused by” everything she reports on. i think she best embodies the intelligent person’s response to american politics.
***
more generally … in response to concerns of the the “quality” of my blogging and because i always embrace an opportunity to exchange knowledge, i thought i would share a bit about lewis.
sinclair lewis is an american nobel laureate in literature. much of his writing focused on the ambivalent nature of american capitalism … its many pluses, its many negatives. in this respect, he is similar to many american writers … mark twain, eugene o’neill, joseph heller, john updike, arthur miller …
writing in the early decades of the 20th century, lewis focused on a local phenomenon in many communities: the booster club … which can best (though not exactly, i suppose) be analogized by the more modern chamber of commerce … local businessmen coming together to promote economic/business development in their communities … theoretically, a fine idea … in practice, often resulting in a subculture that operated on exclusion, suspicion, proscription, and judgment.
lewis’s babbit is a wonderful novel … an amazingly contemporary story of one businessman’s struggle to fit the mold and what it costs to do so.
those booster clubs operated on the belief that they protected traditional american values, policing the virtue of the community … and by doing so, ensuring economic success (certainly for themselves, the protectors) and (theoretically) ultimately for all.
it is
[1] understanding the GOP’s historical role (certainly since the late 19th century) as the pro-biz party,
[2] having read lewis’s works,
[3] knowing this quote of his, and
[4] being repeatedly reminded of it (for instance, yesterday, when i learned of kim hendren’s, er faux pas
that i provided such “original” and “quality” blogging. apparently, sinclair lewis, too, had “original” and “quality” thoughts … almost as original as the continual misappropriation of a 1960s sitcom by the aforementioned pro-business political party.
Didionsmommy,
Rachel Maddow has become, in a very short span of time, my favorite news commentator of all time.
To my friends I refer to her as my lesbian lover.
donovan!
very well said! i think she would approve … after blushing, that is.