Stupid reasons not to vote for political candidates #15: Confused rhetoric?

[orichalcum]

Clinton surrogate and Machinists union President Tom Buffenbarger: "Give me a break! I've got news for all the latte-drinking, Prius- driving, Birkenstock-wearing, trust fund babies crowding in to hear him speak! This guy won't last a round against the Republican attack machine. He's a poet, not a fighter."

Obama supporters...are all lesbians? My stereotypes are getting all confused. Oh, wait, maybe lesbians drive Volvos, and Obama supporters drive Priuses (because of their trust funds, presumably)?
That must be the crucial difference. Also, less sushi. (I hear the sushi in Iowa is terrible.)

The same man also made a comparison between "the editor of the Harvard Law Review or a fighter for working families" and called him "a trained thespian" and "silver-tongued." So maybe, um...Obama is a rich gay guy and Clinton is a straight working-class woman? Is that the message here?

Comments

[contrariety.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I think it's a pretty coherent image. I mean, I don't per se approve of stereotyping, but the "rich ex-hippie boomers and their trust-fund yuppie children" is... definitely an image I'm familiar with, and definitely a recognizable part of Obama's core. I mean, I don't think there's anything *wrong* with any of those things, but I'm pretty sure it's an image that any Machinists union member will grok.

[meepodeekin.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, Obama is a gay Muslim! I knew there was something weird about him...

In any case, if they hope to convince me not to vote for him by accusing him of being gay they are barking up the wrong prejudice.

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

Hah! That's this year's version of the "latte-drinking, volvo-driving, new-york-times-reading, body-pierced liberals" remark from that Iowa campaign commercial attacking Dean, back in 2004, I guess? Hee. Hey at least I'm getting farther from the stereotype, since I no longer drive a Volvo and I didn't spring for a Prius.

[marginaleye.livejournal.com]

"Give me a break! I've got news for all the latte-drinking, Prius- driving, Birkenstock-wearing, trust fund babies crowding in to hear him speak! This guy won't last a round against the Republican attack machine. He's a poet, not a fighter."

This is such bullshit. Clinton is one of the most widely-loathed American politicians there is (she is to conservatives as the Chimp is to liberals). Nothing will galvanize the Republicans like the opportunity to vote against her, even if many of them don't particularly like their own candidate. The Attack Machine, moreover, has been pre-programmed and optimized for attacking Clinton for years. I don't think nearly as much intensive Rovian wargaming has been done against Obama. Current polls have Clinton losing to McCain, but Obama beating him.