Explaining Why So Many People Hate Politics With A Chimichanga Tweet

by John Hawkins | February 15, 2012 3:45 pm

This[1] is so much of what politics in this country has become.

Republicans are demanding an apology Wednesday from President Obama’s campaign manager after a tweet that they argue was insulting toward Latino Americans.

Jim Messina, who is helming the president’s reelection effort, tweeted a line from a column written by The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank, in which he argues that Republicans will struggle to attract the Latino vote after coming out against the DREAM immigration reform act.

“Line of the day from WAPO’s Dana Milbank: ‘The chimichanga? It may be the only thing Republicans have left to offer Latinos,’ ” Messina tweeted.

But the comments drew rebuke from Republicans, who argued the reference to the deep-fried burrito was culturally insensitive.

“The fact that the campaign manager of President Obama’s reelection campaign thinks it’s appropriate to disseminate insulting jokes about the Hispanic community is a perfect example of the kind of empty rhetoric that characterizes this White House’s so-called outreach to Latinos. We demand that Mr. Messina immediately apologize and we ask that President Obama disavow his campaign manager’s ridiculous statement,” said Jennifer Sevilla Korn, executive director of the conservative Hispanic Leadership Network, in a statement.

First of all, Barack Obama is the guy who was elected on “Hope, change, and unity.” He still talks incessantly about putting “party ahead of country” and non-partisanship, and yet this tweet from Obama’s campaign manager is extraordinarily divisive and obnoxious. It’s essentially pitting Americans against one another based on race and underlies the entirely false message that Democrats constantly push to every minority group, which is that Republicans hate them and that they’re race traitors if they don’t vote for the Democratic Party.

This is a despicable message pushed by despicable people that does real harm to the country. There are millions of people all over this country who have been falsely convinced by these sort of smear campaigns that three quarters of the country hates their guts because of something they can’t change. What does this do to race relations in this country? How does it impact people’s lives? It’s terrible for the country and helps to ruin millions of lives, but here we have the campaign of the post-racial, unity President neck deep in this disgusting cesspool.

Of course, in politics, the best defense is always a good offense; so what’s the response? Is it? Gee, maybe Hispanics like low taxes, jobs, law and order, small government, capitalism, conservatism, and Christianity just like other Republican voters?

No, it’s the same sort of stretch Democrats usually engage in; somehow mentioning a chimichanga is racially insensitive. It’s hard to cry foul about that. After all, Democrats would certainly play the race card there (and everywhere else). So, what’s good for the Goose has to be good for the Gander, right?

Except….

Have any actual issues been discussed? Is anyone making an actual attempt to solve any problems? Is anyone trying to explain why Hispanics, or any other Americans for that matter, deserve their votes? No. It’s just random poo flinging. “Those are bad people!” “No, you’re really the bad people!”

This is why only political wonks and activists can stomach politics these days. You need to have a nearly inexhaustable tolerance for stupidity and trivia to handle politics on a daily basis.

Endnotes:
  1. This: http://thehill.com/blogs/twitter-room/other-news/210859-gop-demands-apology-for-obama-campaign-managers-chimichanga-tweet

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