TPM: Arkansas state Sen. Kim Hendren, who is currently the only announced Republican candidate for U.S. Senator against Democratic incumbent Blanche Lincoln in 2010, has apologized for referring to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as “that Jew,” at a county Republican meeting last week.
“I don’t use a teleprompter and occasionally I put my foot in my month,” Hendren told Arkansas blogger Jason Tolbert.
Demonstrating his point, Hendren explained that when he referred to Schumer as “that Jew,” he was drawing a contrast between his own “traditional values” and those of Senator Schumer.
Still later, Hendren added “When I referred to him as Jewish, it wasn’t because I don’t like Jewish people.” Phew, what a relief!
Via David, who entitled his post “That One.” Interesting observation from PG in David’s comments, too, but you have to go there to read it because I’m a tease.
I think the full quote about traditional values is worth repeating:
Just let that sink in for a minute.
Jews …. not traditional.
Andy Griffith Show …. traditional.
What’s wrong with this picture?
Traditional values like a government employee as hero-protagonist, a single parent successfully raising a child… if Andy Griffith really is Hendren’s ideal, Hendren can’t be TOO conservative ;-)
He probably never actually watched Andy Griffith, who was much more accepting than the senator who gives me the creeps.
Aw, he was clearly just trying to celebrate Jewish American Heritage month with his fellow Republicans!
Perhaps he just misspoke while attempting to make some, as of yet, unknown connection between Schumer and Marlo Thomas. “That Girl.”
I can’t even headdesk anymore. I have a permanent callus on my forehead, I’ve been doing it so much lately.
I’m going to use it to touch my forehead to the ground, and pray — nondenominationally — that this f$%er doesn’t somehow win.
This seems to be the kind of guy that, upon putting his foot in his mouth, only opens it wider so that he can fit the other one in.
It really speaks to what a boogey-man Schumer has become that this guy is in Arkansas, preparing for a run against Blanche Lincoln, and he’s talking up how different he is from Chuck Schumer. Schumer’s the new Nancy Pelosi.
Andy Griffith also made a point of not carrying a gun, and any vagrants who came through town would always get a free meal, and usually be allowed to shower and sleep at Andy’s office for a night or two. And big business was always the enemy — there were several episodes where the bad guy was someone who owned a big farming company or a chain store or something and was trying to put the small farmers and stores of Mayberry out of business. Not much of this is in line with the usual present Republican platform.
Ruchama,
Yeah, some of the more thoughtful Republicans have tried to point out that unquestioning obedience to the corporate for-profit agenda even when it will damage an existing social order is not really conservative (e.g. Conor Friedersdorf: “[Limbaugh] prefers capitalistic ‘creative destruction’ to community preservation, which is fine and defensible but isn’t particularly conservative”). They’re generally ignored.
Which Jew?
That Jew.
This one?
No, that one.
What about this one over here?
No, no – the one I am pointing at! THAT one!
Uhh…oh! This one!
NO! THAT ONE! OPEN YOUR EYES!
Look, I’m sorry. But you’ll have to be more specific. I mean, it’s not like they are all alike.
They’re not?
No. Different histories, ethnicities, personalities, and all that. You know – like people.
Oooh. Sorry, my family used to own slaves, y’know. Old habits die hard, heh-heh.
Yyy-eaah.