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DNC Official: "You Know What You Call Someone Who Digs Up Dirt on John McCain? An Archeologist"
April 25, 2008 2:04 PM
Call it the perils of Twitter.
Or a new Maginot Line in what Slate's John Dickerson has called "the Umbrage War."
On his Facebook page, the Democratic National Committee's director of research, Mike Gehrke, was shown "twittering" -- meaning he was sending a message to his friends through "Twitter" -- the following message:
"Mike is twittering: You know what you call someone who digs up dirt on John McCain? An archeologist."
See it HERE
It's a Jay Leno joke, fyi.
DNC spokeswoman Karen Finney reports that the comment has been taken down and Mike "has been reprimanded."
Last month Democrats made much out of the fact that a staffer on McCain's campaign "twittered" a link to a racially inflammatory Youtube video about Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, as first reported by Politico's Jonathan Martin.
To Gehrke's Republican critics, his ageist twitter joke seems to go against a standard that DNC Chairman Howard Dean set a few days ago when he said Democrats would likely not try to make an issue out of Sen. McCain's advanced years. The Arizonan would be the oldest president ever elected to his first term; he turns 72 in August.
"I doubt we will bring it up in the election," Dean said "There is somewhat of a higher ethical bar on what we do. We don't have any Lee Atwaters or Karl Roves on our side."
Clearly there's a different bar for ageist humor than there is for sexist and racist ones -- for plenty of reasons, including the idea that age happens to all of us (as they say, it's better than the alternative.)
And there has clearly been a lot of traffic this campaign season in feigned outrage.
I doubt McCain would be much offended by this joke. He'd probably laugh at it.
But, frankly...a research director should know better. (Not to mention an archaeologist!)
- jpt
April 25, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (16)
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Dean should start a new career in stand up comedy. The “higher ethical bar” line was a real side splitter.
Posted by: Smith | Apr 27, 2008 12:27:23 PM
Choose the Vice President wisely and I see no problems.
Posted by: wednesday | Apr 26, 2008 6:41:32 PM
Sure Melissa, Democratic voters in Michigan are going to ditch their concerns over the economy and the war, and vote for McCain just because our stupid state leaders gambled and lost.
Thanks for insulting my state. I don't know where you live, but we aren't the type to pout when we don't get our way.
Posted by: Ann | Apr 26, 2008 6:08:51 PM
Age does happen to a lot of people. I lost a parent and an in-law in the past couple of years. Both were in their 70s and their health went suddenly. Another is still with us but she's become physically and mentally frail to the point of needing full-time care. Again -- it happened suddenly from minor strokes.
We refuse to discuss that Ronald Reagan suffered from Alzheimers and probably had it while he was still president.
Is it prejudice to face reality? Is it irresponsible not to? I think so. It would be irresponsible to elect a president who is at such a high risk for serious health issues. And that's no joke.
Posted by: freeday | Apr 26, 2008 3:33:51 PM
It's no worse than after an MTV fan asked Bill Clinton boxers or briefs that Robert Dole answered, "Depends". These jokes are funny, but the PC Democrats have to play by the rules they write. But also being the hypocrites they are I bet they do make age an issue because Dean said "Probably!"
Posted by: JJ | Apr 26, 2008 2:59:25 PM
So now we're taking our news from the National Enquirer??? No wonder the country is going to hell!
Posted by: SuzyQ | Apr 26, 2008 8:44:33 AM
I am as conservative as they come and I found it funny as heck.
Get a sense of humor dems.
Posted by: lulu | Apr 26, 2008 2:31:32 AM
I'm a McCain supporter, I'll probably vote for him, AND I thought the joke was extremely funny. Whats the big deal?
Posted by: Beavis | Apr 26, 2008 2:25:22 AM
These fools better figure out how to count the Florida and Michigan votes,
if they don't these state will go to McCain.
Posted by: Melissa | Apr 25, 2008 9:55:10 PM
John McCain, November 30, 2006:
"I'm older than dirt."
Posted by: AngryOne | Apr 25, 2008 7:01:51 PM
Mccain will have the last laugh when he is president. I would rather see him as my president than Obama.
Posted by: unhappy in fl | Apr 25, 2008 4:56:19 PM
Keep on making fun of his age - the over 44 crowd is already showing its unease with the under 30 wave of enthusiasts and their “new and improved” candidate (see the latest polls). Gray America will be laughing all the way to the polling booth. And McCain will be shuffling his way into the Whitehouse!
Good joke though.
Posted by: smartprimate | Apr 25, 2008 3:40:34 PM
BARACK OBAMA’S MARRIAGE EXPLODES ACCORDING TO NATIONAL ENQUIRER
Is this true?
Posted by: Rick | Apr 25, 2008 3:32:08 PM
What is it they are saying? Oh yeah, I remember now. "If you can't take the heat, get out of here!" If McCain cannot take that mild-mannered joke, whoa Nellie. He is in for a very rude awakening. Obama, nice person that he is, will rip him a new one. Hillary would eventually thrust out her claws and scratch his eyes out. That is after he has done his best to get her the nomination (them together that is - an all for naught) - and then turn on him like a starved and angry tigress.
Posted by: Ellen | Apr 25, 2008 3:19:13 PM
Ha! I laughed.
Posted by: Jeff | Apr 25, 2008 2:33:17 PM
Lol.
Good formula :
1) make the most ridiculous snide comment possible about your opponent. Use an annonymous third rate surrogate as the patsy.
2) hype it in the national news.
3) apologize to cover yourself -but everyone still knows about the comment
Posted by: tomdavie | Apr 25, 2008 2:24:43 PM
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