Political Commentary: The Standard Form, in triplicate
Hilary Rosen, Democratic consultant and CNN contributor, certainly created a firestorm with her words, referring to Ann Romney, “Guess what? His wife has actually never worked a day in her life.” And with that, the political commentariat exploded.
Let’s be charitable. “Worked” has at least two basic meanings, one of which is to expend lots of effort at a task, like being a Mom, and the other is to receive wages for employment. Let’s assume Ms. Rosen meant the latter, as she explained in interviews following the incident.
What followed, however, is indicative of the shallowness and dishonesty of today’s political discourse. Dr. Keith Ablow writes an article whose title includes the words “haters who can’t handle feminine role”.1He psychoanalyzes women like Hilary Rosen, and Hilary Rosen herself, “They despise the parts of themselves that may be drawn to such roles, as well.” A poor choice of words, a slip of the tongue, reveals such deep-seated hatred? Well.
B.T. McFarland follows up with Hilary Rosen’s remarks against Ann Romney betray freedoms fought long and hard for.2 From a small remark, a major discourse on how that remark is so “debasing,” and disrespects the efforts of women over long years.
So here’s my proposal: since so much political commentary these days is such boilerplate, anyway, let’s create a template for it, a standard form, to be filled out in triplicate. For presidential candidates, maybe something like the following will do:
Today, <Mitt Romney/Barack Obama> made an outrageous comment that was an insult to <insert victimized group here>. He said, “<insert quote>.” On a campaign stop, he <insert action here>, which demonstrates how truly unqualified he is to govern this great nation. It is now clear to all that <Obama’s/Romney’s> <appeasement/bellicosity> towards <Iran/China/Russia> will lead this country to ruin. His response to <insert event here> is further evidence of his willingness to continue waging his <War on Moms/War on Women>. His answer to all social issues is more <Socialism/social Darwinism>, a sure recipe for economic and social disaster.
Short and to the point. It’s all we want to say, anyway. Why waste so many more words saying it?
1 Nasty comments toward Ann Romney cast light on haters who can’t handle feminine role
2 Hilary Rosen’s remarks against Ann Romney betray freedoms fought long and hard for