The Big Hillary Gaffe

[corplinx]

You have probably seen it by now, Hillary pandering in a black church on MLK day and giving a political stump speech. She says something to the extent of "the house is run like a plantation right now, and i think you know what im talking about" and then her eyes bug out as she realizes what she said. Or maybe thats just how her eyes are, its hard to tell with Hillary.

The point is, this was obviously a gaffe to me. She used the term plantation in a speech to a different audience. Using it to this audience with the qualifier she did though was one of the most awkward moments I've seen on video in a long time.

The thing is, unlike Ross Perot who made a fairly innoccuous "you people" comment once, Hillary will be summarily forgiven. Its not even a big hubbub in the press. There isn't even a manufactured feeding frenzy over this.

Mind you, I wouldn't like a manufactured feeding frenzy. It wouldn't be right. However, it would be fair. Is the US media ever going to get tough on Hillary or will she just be fodder for right wing media like Rush Limbaugh?

 

[bigred]

Oh please. It was that POS playing her audience like a fiddle.

Even if I was a die-hard liberal, I would gag at the very sight of her. I'd rather Kerry or damn near anyone else as president.

 

[DavidJames]

..

"Democrats think it's their job to run the plantation" and that "it shocks them that I'm actually willing to lead the slave rebellion."

 

[Lurker]

Thanks DavidJames. The fact that I do not even recall that quote by Newt certainly seems to demolish the right's manufactured grievance about how the left is given free passes while the right is raked over the coals.

Lurker

 

[Kerberos]

What was Hilary's terrible gaff? Was it just to say plantation with it's allusions to slavery in front of black people or am I missing something deeper?

 

[DavidJames]

Thanks DavidJames. The fact that I do not even recall that quote by Newt certainly seems to demolish the right's manufactured grievance about how the left is given free passes while the right is raked over the coals.

Lurker

Thanks.

Why politicians don't just make their points, discuss the issues and avoid getting "cutesy" with language is beyond me. HC's verbiage just detracts from the message.

Instead of starting a valid debate about the issues, the debate is about her using the word plantation.

 

[Mark]

What was Hilary's terrible gaff? Was it just to say plantation with it's allusions to slavery in front of black people or am I missing something deeper?

She opened her mouth...to the Right that immediately qualifies as a gaffe. They're afraid of her...and they should be.

 

[corplinx]

Thanks DavidJames. The fact that I do not even recall that quote by Newt certainly seems to demolish the right's manufactured grievance about how the left is given free passes while the right is raked over the coals.

Lurker

It isn't left/right nor do I say it was. Compare Ross Perot "you people" to the Hillary gaffe. The word "plantation" isn't a big deal. We still have plantations. There is a cotton plantation not far from me.

The problem was the audience and the tone. Hillary saying "the house is run like a plantation and you people know what Im talking about" is just painful to watch on TV. Not one of her better speeches.

I appreciate your effort to turn this thread to something it isn't though.

 

[Luke T.]

"When you look at the way the House of Representatives has been run, it has been run like a plantation, and you know what I'm talking about," Clinton, D-N.Y., told the crowd at the Canaan Baptist Church of Christ in Harlem. "It has been run in a way so that nobody with a contrary view has had a chance to present legislation, to make an argument, to be heard."

Link.


See a video of the remarks here. The plantation remark is around 1:05.

I don't understand the big deal.

 

[corplinx]

"When you look at the way the House of Representatives has been run, it has been run like a plantation, and you know what I'm talking about," Clinton, D-N.Y., told the crowd at the Canaan Baptist Church of Christ in Harlem.

Like I said, I know what she was trying to say. Do you think if Ross Perot had said this to the NAACP it wouldn't be a big deal?

 

[Lurker]

Well Corplinx, you seem to the one who is trying to turn it into a big deal. Nobody lese seems to care except those saying, "If a person from the right had said it..."

Sure, her speech here is not as well thought out as I would like. So?

Lurker

 

[seayakin]

Thanks.

Why politicians don't just make their points, discuss the issues and avoid getting "cutesy" with language is beyond me. HC's verbiage just detracts from the message.

Instead of starting a valid debate about the issues, the debate is about her using the word plantation.

I think part of this is the fact that politicians often engage in hyperbole in an effort to get greater effect and perhaps a wider audience. Sometimes this is successful sometimes it isn't. I have come to the conclusion that politics is less about discussing issues and more about gaining competitive advantage no matter the costs and both parties are equally guilty.

 

[Lurker]

Mind you, I wouldn't like a manufactured feeding frenzy. It wouldn't be right. However, it would be fair. Is the US media ever going to get tough on Hillary or will she just be fodder for right wing media like Rush Limbaugh?

Why would it be fair? As noted earlier, Gingrich used the same verbiage a while back and I don't recall any feeding frenzy by the media. What is the point you are trying to make? That HC is given a free ride? Could I then point to Gingrich's remark and claim the same thing?

Lurker

 

[Luke T.]

You have probably seen it by now, Hillary pandering in a black church on MLK day and giving a political stump speech. She says something to the extent of "the house is run like a plantation right now, and i think you know what im talking about" and then her eyes bug out as she realizes what she said.

I have found the full video of her speech here. 1:30 into the video she makes the plantation comment.

I see no eyes bugging out.


ETA: Apparently the hotlink doesn't work, so go to this page and search on "Download".

 

[corplinx]

Why would it be fair? As noted earlier, Gingrich used the same verbiage a while back and I don't recall any feeding frenzy by the media.

As I pointed out, that doesn't have the slightest to do with this in any way shape or form except that he used the term plantation. I gave you Ross Perot (who isnt part of the GOP establishment) as an example of why I think the mass media is going light on Hillary. I'm not sure why you keep bringing up the Ginrich comment.

 

[DavidJames]

I think part of this is the fact that politicians often engage in hyperbole in an effort to get greater effect and perhaps a wider audience. Sometimes this is successful sometimes it isn't. I have come to the conclusion that politics is less about discussing issues and more about gaining competitive advantage no matter the costs and both parties are equally guilty.

Agreed. There is also the fact that the issues are often more complex then can be dealt with by a sound bite, but they know only the sound bite will make the news. Add in that many people watching/reading, don't seem to have much of an attention span, and you end up where we are.

 

[corplinx]

As you noted Luke, when you look at her full comment it doesn't look offensive at all. However, Howard Dean "we can't win" and Donald Rumsfeld "you go to war with the army you have" were sniped by the media as well despite being non-controversial in full context.

 

[Tricky]

I think Perot's gaffe was much different. Saying "you people" clearly makes a statement that "you are not a part of us". It is often used in a accusing fashion, as in "what is wrong with you people?" and just sounds out of place. I'm sure Perot meant nothing by it, but it would be a subtle hint that he has prejudices buried that even he may not be aware of.

While Hillary's remark was certainly one of a politician playing to a select crowd, it doesn't look like she conveyed anything she didn't mean to, thus, it's not really a gaffe. The telling piece of evidence here is that she has not needed to apologize.

 

[Mephisto]

You have probably seen it by now, Hillary pandering in a black church on MLK day and giving a political stump speech. She says something to the extent of "the house is run like a plantation right now, and i think you know what im talking about" and then her eyes bug out as she realizes what she said. Or maybe thats just how her eyes are, its hard to tell with Hillary.

Although this has to be a first, I might actually agree with you. I'd even go a step further to say that she might have simply been using the occasion (and audience) for some political-pandering, plain and simple. I don't think it was a gaffe, and frankly I'm tired of excusing the English skills of politicians who spin and weasel their way out of their words.

I think you mistook her bug-eyed pause for guilty realization when what she was really hoping for was an AMEN! from the back of the church (Newt missed his cue checking out the poor box).

What would most of us do for fun if it weren't for the constant (and sometimes frightening) hilarity our politicians bring us? These people don't represent most of us - Bush doesn't care any more about Corplinx, than Hilary cares about me!

P.S. You have to admit, Corplinx that Hilary's words were overshadowed by God's will and the "Chocolate City."

 

[headscratcher4]

I'm lost...not for the first or last time.

Fox, CNN and now Corplinx tell me this is a gaffe. Now, I'm no fan of Hil's, but a gaffe? It was a entirely clear discription of the point she was trying to make...the HOR is run like a plantaiton, the right of the minority party are ignored or trampled on. It was true when Gingrich said it about Democrats. It is true when Hil says it about the GOP House (though, I would argue their control is qualitativelyh different, but that's for another thread).

The audience she delivered this to, wasn't offended. They understood the reference and appreciated it. Were the GOP offended because it is true and thus what? Made them racists? Or just the ones weilding power, and those in power don't like to have their ham-handed ways pointed out to them (again, true, I think, regardless of party).

This is a nothing controversy. It allows lots of pundits to bloviate, but ignore at the same time the essential truth in her comments. Its a plantation, for example, because the leadership uses its power to stifle real oversight...of the war, of its self, of the Administration, etc.

I don't know...I just don't see it. Hil says many stupid things. Ray Naggin said some really, really stupid things the other day. Bush just seems to have to open his mouth ...but why this is a insult to black people, or more pandering than usual from Hil or any politician....I just don't see it.