Earlier this month Joe Biden was in “trouble” for referring to the Tea Party as “terrorists”, now Rick Perry’s getting it in the neck for suggesting loose monetary policy “between now and the election” is “treasonous” and that if Ben Bernanke turned-up in Texas he’s be treated “pretty ugly”. This might have been phrased better and on the merits of the policy question Perry’s more likely to be mistaken than not but, please, let’s not pretend this is, um, a hanging offence.
Right Andrew? I mean, sorry, but this is silly:
Here’s the actual quote: If this guy prints more money between now and the election, I dunno what y’all would do to him in Iowa but we would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas. Notice the obvious physical threat: “do to him”. Not “say to him”, but “do to him.” Not “I’d do” something to him, but “we” would. And when someone says “we’d” like to “do” something “pretty ugly” to a public official – with a reference to Texas lore, where lynching was once commonplace, I’m sorry but this was a threat of violence, especially in the context of a capital offense which could go unpunished. This was a threat of a lynching. It’s one of the most disgusting things I’ve heard from a public official in a long time. It’s disturbing how the media decided that “treasonous” was the great offense here, when it wasn’t even close. And the thug still hasn’t apologized. Can you imagine what would be said if Obama said anything like that? Drudge would be offering photos of black rioters and thieves for weeks on end.
Yeah, I dare say Drudge would go bananas. This seems an obvious reason not to go bananas when someone of whom you disapprove says something silly. There are standards!
When did everyone decide to become a literalist? I think it’s pretty obvious that Joe Biden doesn’t really think the Tea Party are al-Qaeda on the Gold Standard and I think it’s pretty obvious that Rick Perry isn’t really threatening the Federal Reserve chairman with physical, as opposed to rhetorical, violence far less that he thinks Bernanke should be tried, convicted and executed for treason.
Figures of speech are figures of speech and it’s depressing – and wearisome – when people decide everything must be taken literally or used to justify fresh bursts of huffing and puffing outrage. After all, Andrew deems Perry a “thug” but I don’t suppose he really thinks Perry is a theologically-crazed assassin, strangling unwary travellers in ritual fashion? Oh, I see…
Still, only 14 months until the election…
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