Did Rick Santorum say something “politically unwise”?

January 13, 2012 | Filed under 2012 Presidential Race,Mitt Romney,Rick Santorum | Posted by Rick Rice

Or is this merely yet another race card being played? I’ll report, you decide:

Perhaps I’m misreading it… perhaps this has nothing to do with race… if so, what exactly makes it “politically unwise”?

Color me a darker shade of curious.

Shortlink:

Posted by Rick Rice on January 13, 2012.
Filed under 2012 Presidential Race, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum.
I blog more regularly at my own place where plain thoughts are delivered roughly. My about page gives you more on who I am.

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http://www.rustedsky.net JLawson
Facepalm…
You’re right – at what point DOES the race card get played out? Is there ANY phrase that can’t be used, somehow, by someone who is looking to play the race card?
Why am I reminded of the fable of the boy who cried wolf?

jim_m
Alinksy Rule #7:”A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag. Man can sustain militant interest in any issue for only a limited time…”
This applies to charges of racism for at least the last 4 years. Nobody gives a damn about racism anymore because everything and everyone under the sun has been called racist in the last 4 years.

JWH
He implied Mitt Romney is a vampire?

Stephen
No, he said Romney is just another Obama, only lighter skinned.

JWH
So you’re saying Obama is a vampire? That’s fairly strong …

Joe_Miller
He was channeling Procol Harum, that’s all.
makindescene
So I better not order black coffee or listen to Procol Harem’s “Whiter Shade of Pale”? Seriously people, stop looking at trying to get offended. Bunch of wussies.

http://www.rustedsky.net JLawson
No, you may not. Because it’s Racist.
(Sigh.)
There’s some people out there who simply look for things to be pissed off about. If there’s not something major, they’ll look for something minor. If they can’t find something minor, they’ll take exception to the trivial, and try to inflate it to major status.

http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves
Let them take as much umbrage as they can carry, especially if it’s more than they can swim with.
ackwired
I think it is politically astute. Much of the art of politics it the ability to phrase your statements in such a way that they appeal to the largest number of people. Santorums clever phrasing allows the racists to half smile and nod to each other while he pleads total ignorance to any reference to the current president’s race.
Very astute politics.

914
Stick your head back up your ass fool..
http://www.brutallyhonest.org Rick Rice
Yet another idiotic statement proffered instead as insight…

ackwired
If there is no reasoning available to support your view, you can always attack.
________________________________
From: Disqus
To: ackwired@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 7:53 AM
Subject: [wizbang] Re: Did Rick Santorum say something “politically unwise”?
Disqus generic email template
Rick Rice wrote, in response to ackwired:
Yet another idiotic statement proffered instead as insight…
Link to comment

jim_m
If there is no reasoning available to support your view, you can always ~~attack~~ call them RACIST!!!!
FIFY
914
I think Obumma’s marxist tactics are too dark a shade compared to Karl Marx vision!

ackwired
Does this, in any way, relate to the topic? Or are you just trying to make another point?
________________________________
From: Disqus
To: ackwired@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 8:58 AM
Subject: [wizbang] Re: Did Rick Santorum say something “politically unwise”?
Disqus generic email template
914 wrote, in response to ackwired:
I think Obumma’s marxist tactics are too dark a shade compared to Karl Marx vision! Link to comment

http://2012.ak4mc.us/ McGehee
Funny how the only people who ever “detect” these “dog whistles to racism” are idiot leftists.

http://www.rustedsky.net JLawson
Well, it just proves that they’re so much smarter and more perceptive than folks who actually have to work for a living…
ackwired
Oh, the idiot bigots detect them too.
________________________________
From: Disqus
To: ackwired@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 8:34 AM
Subject: [wizbang] Re: Did Rick Santorum say something “politically unwise”?
Disqus generic email template
McGehee wrote, in response to ackwired:
Funny how the only people who ever “detect” these “dog whistles to racism” are idiot leftists. Link to comment

http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves
And you can tell those racist bigots ’cause they start barking.
http://2012.ak4mc.us/ McGehee
Assertion monkey asserts.

ackwired
Is this some kind of code?
________________________________
From: Disqus
To: ackwired@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 4:28 PM
Subject: [wizbang] Re: Did Rick Santorum say something “politically unwise”?
Disqus generic email template
McGehee wrote, in response to ackwired:
Assertion monkey asserts.
Link to comment

BluesHarper
You mean like Obama casually flipping the bird and pretending he’s scratching his cheek?

ackwired
I’m not familiar with the incident that you cite. But it sounds like it could be a similar ploy.
________________________________
From: Disqus
To: ackwired@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 10:16 AM
Subject: [wizbang] Re: Did Rick Santorum say something “politically unwise”?
Disqus generic email template
BluesHarper wrote, in response to ackwired:
You mean like Obama casually flipping the bird and pretending he’s scratching his cheek? Link to comment

Brian_R_Allen
….
Santorums clever phrasing allows the racialists to half smile and nod to one another ….
Pardon us if we Republicans will have to take your word for what the racialists will feel.

ackwired
Well, I’m a Republican too. But, don’t take me at my word. Do your own research and thinking. I noticed that I used the word “racist” and you used the word “racialist”. Was this a slip on your part, or is there a hidden meaning there?
________________________________
From: Disqus
To: ackwired@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 12:24 PM
Subject: [wizbang] Re: Did Rick Santorum say something “politically unwise”?
Disqus generic email template
Brian_R_Allen wrote, in response to ackwired:
….
Santorums clever phrasing allows the racialists to half smile and nod to one another ….
Pardon us if we Republicans will have to take your word for what the racialists will feel. Link to comment

http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves
@ackwired:disqus informs us: “Well, I’m a Republican too.”
Damn good thing you told us so, otherwise we’d never have -known- suspected.

ackwired
Yes. I’ve noticed that some of you folks are very quick to make a lot of assumptions.
________________________________
From: Disqus
To: ackwired@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 3:35 PM
Subject: [wizbang] Re: Did Rick Santorum say something “politically unwise”?
Disqus generic email template
Rodney G. Graves wrote, in response to ackwired:
ackwired informs us: “Well, I’m a Republican too.”
Damn good thing you told us so, otherwise we’d never have known.
Link to comment
http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves
Evaluations based on observed behavior and statements are not assumptions. The “Red Queen” use of language is yet another hallmark of the barking moon bat set.
ackwired
I see that, like Senator Santorum, you also speak in code.
________________________________
From: Disqus
To: ackwired@yahoo.com
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 9:47 AM
Subject: [wizbang] Re: Did Rick Santorum say something “politically unwise”?
Disqus generic email template
Rodney G. Graves wrote, in response to ackwired:
Evaluations based on observed behavior and statements are not assumptions. The “Red Queen” use of language is yet another hallmark of the barking moon bat set. Link to comment

http://profiles.google.com/jinxmchue Jinx McHue
Oh, FFS! Do you actually believe that or are you just trolling?

http://2012.ak4mc.us/ McGehee
He’s a moby, so the answer should be obvious.
ackwired
I absolutely believe it. As an example, look at Obama’s campaign for “change”. Change what? Well, you fill in the blanks. Or look at W’s campaign as a “Compassionate Conservative”. What does that mean? Well, you fill in the blanks. This is the stuff of political campaigns. It is important that the candidates do it well if they are going to win.
________________________________
From: Disqus
To: ackwired@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 3:01 PM
Subject: [wizbang] Re: Did Rick Santorum say something “politically unwise”?
Disqus generic email template
Jinx McHue wrote, in response to ackwired:
Oh, FFS! Do you actually believe that or are you just trolling?
Link to comment

jim_m
Absolutely anything any GOP candidate says against obama is by definition racist. Who really gives a how they say whatever they say? The left will rant and rave about racism and the majority of the public, who are already long past being sick of the racism bs, will ignore it all.

Hank_M
“Absolutely anything any GOP candidate says against obama is by definition racist.”Thinking back to the democrat primaries before 2008, it seems that anything anyone says against Obama is by definition racist.
herddog505
It goes further than that. Absolutely anything the GOP says about Barry, the democrats, or the left is racist because (as we ALL know) the dems are totally about helping poor, downtrodden minorities, and opposing them is NATURALLY the result of racism. You don’t like bussing? Racist. You don’t like welfare? Racist. You want to shrink the size of the government (other than DoD)? Racist. You want to control the borders? Racist. You want to fight terrorism? Racist.
Bah.

Hugh_G
Well I’m a liberal and I don’t think there was anything wrong with it. Seems the folks getting bent out of shape are you folks.

914
Who said anything about ‘liberal?’ lol

Hugh_G
lol….umm see most of the above comments

PBunyan
I just read through all the comments and you’re the first one who mentioned “liberal”. There were a few referring to “democrats” and ”the left”, but there’s nothing liberal about democrats or the left, unless somehow the definition of liberal has been changed so now it means “fascist”, too.

Hugh_G
Well, how do you do?
Have a nice day. Sounds like you’re having a miserable life.

Gmacr1
It appears that ’Ricksteroni’ from Brutally Honest has got its panties bunched by a statement that implies more of the same. His race card is maxxed out, possibly his man card too with a referenced name like that.

http://www.brutallyhonest.org Rick Rice
I’m Ricksteroni… and you’re saying that moniker is enough for a revocation of my man card? Seriously?
Okeydoke…

Brucehenry
Hey, Rick, who is this MikeIsmail person, and who BESIDES him or her has got upset about this comment, or called it “politically unwise?”

http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves
Your brother in arms ackwired to name but one.

Brucehenry
No, I believe he called it “astute.” That’s kinda the OPPOSITE of “unwise,” isn’t it?

http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves
Given ackwired’s “Red Queen” standards of language abuse, not really.

James C
Red Queen…is that like a gay communist?

http://www.brutallyhonest.org Rick Rice
MikeIsmail is brother to an in-law, someone I think to be a decent guy, someone with a lovely family who does comedy on the side and is indeed funny but who has a completely skewed political perspective… and this is but one example of that skewedness… I honestly don’t know who else might be upset about this comment but I’m willing to bet they’re out there… I suggest Googling it and finding out Bruce… or checking in with ackwired.

Brucehenry
Oh, I wondered if there was some kind of liberal poopstorm about it, so I checked some of the websites I bookmark. The only reference I found to it was on Wonkette, a liberal satire site (funny as hell, usually, btw).
Looks like just about the only one making a tempest in this particular teapot is YOU, Rick.

http://www.brutallyhonest.org Rick Rice
Actually Bruce… I think I was simply reacting to the race card that was played… by the brother to an in-law who I’m sure represents others that are out there or are you denying they exist?

Brucehenry
Your link is to a “404 page not found” thingie.
But excuse me, I’m sure they do exist. I just don’t see them on the web today, do you?
I just thought you were playing the boohoo-conservatives-are-victims-of-political-correctness card AGAIN. Lol.
http://www.brutallyhonest.org Rick Rice
I fixed the link… and I think you’re attempting to change the subject frankly… did you find the comments to be politically unwise? If so, how so? Do you believe the race card was played? If not, then what is politically unwise about Santorum’s remarks?
Brucehenry
Oops, see below.

Brucehenry
Santorum is oblivious enough that the remark was probably not any kind of intentional dogwhistle. What was unwise was the obliviousness itself — the inability to foresee that a remark like that could be seized upon by an opponent, whether it was meant as a dogwhistle or not.
Of course, all politicians, of both parties, are liable to slip up and say dumbass stuff like this. “I like to fire people,” “they cling to their guns and religion,” “right-wing social engineering”…. It’s simple tone-deafness. I sympathize with Santorum on this. He probably kicked himself in the ass as soon as the comment left his mouth.
Most people have said something they immediately realized could be misinterpreted as something other than they intended. Too bad major presidential candidates don’t get a pass, huh? Politics ain’t beanbag.
Thanks for fixing the link. It refers back to Wonkette, btw. As I said, tempest in a teapot. Let me know if the Sunday chat shows give it more than 10 seconds tomorrow.

http://www.brutallyhonest.org Rick Rice
What was unwise was the obliviousness itself – the inability to foresee that a remark like that could be seized upon by an opponent, whether it was meant as a dogwhistle or not.
So then you agree with Mike… I don’t get it… the only way it’s seen to be unwise is to focus on the color of the President’s skin… and by doing that, who’s the racist?

Brucehenry
Ummm, nobody, Rick.
Typing slowly: Assuming the remark was NOT a dogwhistle, (and I do assume it wasn’t), it still was unwise because it could easily be misinterpreted by those looking to, as you put it, “play the race card.” You know, for political purposes. In other words, the remark could backfire. If you make a remark that could easily backfire, you have just done something “politically unwise.”
In other words, pointing out that it was politically unwise does not constitute “playing the race card.” It’s pointing out that others might. See the difference?
Again, politics ain’t beanbag.
In any case, my opinion of the conservative whine about others “playing the race card” is this: Boo-hoo! I can’t make bigoted, hateful remarks, (or oblivious, clueless, hurtful remarks either) without consequences! Boo-hoo!

http://www.brutallyhonest.org Rick Rice
Oops on my part this time, see below…

http://www.brutallyhonest.org Rick Rice
What this is about is the attempt to play gotcha with conservatives, where the hypersensitive and those looking to exploit every little thing are quick to jump on words merely, in the end, to attempt to shut the opposition down… if you get them worrying about every little thing said, you are in essence shutting them up… and for many a leftist in the end, knowing their bankrupt ideology can’t survive the free market of thought, this is the goal…

Brucehenry
Well, I disagree, Rick. I don’t see using any opportunity to cast your opponent in a negative light as the province of either side.
Witness, during the Bush administration, portraying any attempt to defund the Iraq war as “voting against the troops.” Or the whole Kerrys-botched-joke thingie in 2006. Or even the “bitter clingers” controversy in 2008 – an example, it could easily be argued, of conservatives “playing the race card.” (I’m not personally calling it that, I’m just saying it’s arguable.)
Liberals have “Hey, isn’t that kinda racist?” Conservatives have, “Hey, did that guy just insult Our Troops?” ( Or “our flag?” or “our values?”). It ain’t just one side. Be for realz, Ricksteroni.

Did Rick Santorum say something “politically unwise”?

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