Bill Cosby's mid-1990s CBS television show “Kids Say The
Darndest Things,” had viewers cracking up. You could tune in every week to hear
children ramble off the first things that came to their mind when asked a
simple question. You'd think that adults would take note of children's
impulsive and instinctual responses to even the most senseless inquiries.
However, hundreds of professional adults – who may have gone
to law school, engaged in various community politics and mastered oratory careers
– still don't pay attention to what they say.
Imagine you're a politician running for office and you're on
television in front of thousands of people. You're on the campaign trail and
some god-awful words fly out of your mouth. Sure, you're only human and you
make mistakes, but the sheer lack of discretion in allowing shocking words to
come out of your mouth would make citizens rethink your character, right? I
took the liberty of finding a few doozies uttered by politicians who were just
trying to express themselves the best they could.
Let's start with Todd Akin's comment last week during a
television interview – which is the latest addition to a series of
irresponsible remarks. “If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways
to try to shut that whole thing down.” Would any man in his right mind
not think about statements like these before he opens his mouth –
especially on television? It's not as if this was published in a newspaper and
taken out of context. Without getting highly political about where Republicans
generally stand – Akin's jab at the female body and defining “rape” was not
something he should have said to anyone unless it was in his home – in a
private place where no one could hear him, or maybe even in the confines of his
mind. Obviously, Akin isn't dropping out of the Senate race simply because he
said something that clearly indicated his instincts are out of touch with what
rape IS. Even though he was encouraged to drop out of the race, I'm sure Akin
has a few more political doozies up his sleeve in the next round.
One of my favorites is Howard Dean's “I Have A Scream”
speech: “And we're going to South Dakota and Oregon and Washington and Michigan,
and then we're going to Washington, D.C., to take back the White House!
BYAH!!" When Dean let out the high-pitched shriek at the rally in West
Des Moines, Iowa on January 19, 2004, he instantly became the laughing stock of
the Democratic primary campaign.
Every state needs a cheerleader, but when people start
making fun of your “enthusiasm” it's not a good sign. Dean will always be
remembered for his passionate outburst and I wonder if anyone can look past
that incident.
Bill Clinton, the 42nd President, had some of the best – and
worst – speech blunders:
“It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is'
is," he said during his 1998 grand jury testimony on the Monica
Lewinsky affair.
"When I was in England, I experimented with
marijuana a time or two, and I didn't like it. I didn't inhale and never tried
it again."
Clinton is remembered as one of the most personable
Presidents and was also considered one of the most down-to-earth politicians –
with his saxophone style and appetite for women and food. But every man in America
can now say, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman,”
and refer to a time when alleged oral sex wasn't... considered sex!
I have to admit, I don't favor any local politicians or
their views, there aren't that many local leaders who have slipped with words.
Charles Barron is one of our own politicians who always says what you would
expect him to say – no matter who it offends or how it looks on paper.
His reputation was earned by supporting Libyan ruler Muammar
Gaddafi. Wikipedia noted that in 2002, Barron was criticized for stating at a
reparations rally, saying, "I want to go up to the closest white person
and say, 'You can't understand this, it's a black thing' and then slap him,
just for my mental health." Barron explained that the remark was
hyperbole and not to be taken seriously.
The last noteworthy and respectable quote I heard
from an elected official was when City Councilman Lew Fidler and Senator David
Storobin were at the end of a nail-bitingly close race for disgraced former
Senator Carl Kruger's 27 District seat. I must admit, Fidler always chooses his
words wisely.
“Whether or not I win,” a confident Fidler said at the
time, “I will either wake up as the senator of the 27th District or I will wake
up the councilman of the 46th District.”
Sadly, it's hard to avoid reading the typical responses and
retractions from some politicians, which go like this: “I apologize for the
irresponsible and offensive statements I have made that were taken out of
context______ (insert something patriotic here).”
We don't need an old show – like TV Bloopers and Practical
Jokes – to highlight all the wacky and tacky statements made by professionals
who want your vote. Just wait for the next campaign speech or until one of them
is in front of a camera in front of millions of viewers. The next slip-up is a
few days away.
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