BUT I WON’T… I WON’T… THE HELL I WON’T…
January 10th, 2006
Two generations ago this would not be an issue. President Harry Truman made it very clear to the Washington Press Corps that his daughter was off limits and that he would personally wipe the floor with any reporter who dared cross that line. But more than 50 years later the rules are blurred. Gender roles, thankfully, aren’t what they were.
Yesterday Buckeye Politics went dark and to the best of my knowledge only three people know why: blogger Tim Russo, his boss and NEO nexus George Nemeth. It may be unrelated, but what we do know is that yesterday Phillip de Vellis called George yesterday to tell him that the Meet The Bloggers interview with his boss Sherrod Brown was off.
De Vellis told George that Brown was not willing to sit down with someone who had cursed at his wife in public.
I wasn’t there and I’ve heard several different versions of the incident at the Ohio Democrat Party meeting last month but the basic facts that everyone seems to agree on are that Russo and Brown had some face time in which voices were raised, that Browns wife Connie was present and that Tim used the word fuck several times.
In Truman’s generation, saying fuck in front of someone’s wife would be grounds for getting your face punched. But what about now? How do the rules for Chivalry work today?
If a husband steps up in the defense of his wife is he being paternalistic? Is it chauvinistic to assume that your wife, who is a professional and public figure, needs your defending? Would a wife think less of her husband if he didn’t defend her honor? Is it the job of a husband to defend that honor?
Or is it the case that family is family and political correctness be damned? My take? Mess with my family and you mess with me. I don’t care what you think.
Part of the buzz floating around is that Brown has damaged his campaign by canceling the Meet The Bloggers interview. That may be true. But if any man chooses position over family, he’s no man.
My Soundtrack: Goodbye Baby by The Teenage Prayer on WOXY.
Something is not passing the smell test.
If that was the case that Brown was cancelling MTB because Tim said the word “fuck” in front of his wife than I have 3 questions.
1. Why cancel 3 WEEKS AFTER the fact? Why not cancel the next day. If you are that upset than immediately cancel. That length of time from the incident to the cancelling is suspect.
2. Why not ask that particular blogger not to be present in MTB? I am sure the other bloggers would have obliged. Now in my eyes (I am a woman), Brown looks likes a coward NOT as if he is acting out of chilvary.
3. Why not confront Tim Russo directly? Based upon the Mother Jones article, Hackett would have “called Tim out”. Instead it appears that Brown is “hiding behind a skirt”. Be a man and step up to the plate.
I think this is a prime example of why the democrats are having problems now. First they are easily offended. If I was Sherod, defending my wifes honor, I would have taken Tim out back right then. However, my wife, spending 8 years in the military, probobly would have gotten to him before me.
Two, there is no showing of internal fortitude. Your previous commenter was correct. If Sherrod was so offended why accept then cancel? At the time of the request, Sherrod should of asked if Tim would be involved and if he was, state he would not attend and say specifically why. Have some conviction behind your actions.
Third, this is so grade school. The Dems to succeed need to rise above all this and build a strong platform with strong candidates. Name calling and hurt feelings are just silly. First Tim swearing in public shows no class. Sherrod’s response shows no backbone.
I think we’re losing the forest in the trees here, folks. I was obviously not present at the meeting, so my first question is what Sherrod and Tim were arguing about in the first place? What issue possibly could have been so incendiary that three weeks later egos are still bruised…
Now, something I know something about …
Let’s just say I have a neighbor that might have said some nasty things to my wife without necessarily using the f-word, but sufficiently nasty enough that I might have stepped over to him and possibly explained in two languages what would probably happen if the incident ever repeated itself. /Tony
Both commenters make excellent points. Whether or not Tim cursed in front of Connie (and if she’s a reporter, she’s heard it all before) isn’t relevant; this is an awkward and cowardly way of handling the situation. Brown is dangerously near not getting my vote even if he wins the primary, just as Ted Celeste didn’t get it in 1998 because I was so disgusted with his failure to campaign with an enthusiasm. (I didn’t cast a vote in that race.)
Position over family? Give me a break. This old school chivalry argument is fucking bullshit – plain and simply said. First off, if you ask your wife to come over and introduce her to someone who is already in a heated discussion, would it not then be YOUR fault for damaging her psyche by letting her fragile feminine ears hear the word fuck?
Yes, it’s paternalistic and chauvanistic. My wife and many strong women today are fully capable of both hearing and using the word fuck.
I’m not about finding out who said the word fuck first or most often. I’m pretty sure both Sherrod and Tim got out of hand from what we’ve heard. But for fuck’s sake, rise above it!
PS – Yes, fuck is one of my favorite words as well.
Just because someone can take the word doesn’t make it any less offensive. I’m a thick skinned guy but if someone would have used that language to me and in front of my wife in a public setting, they would be missing some teeth.
My point is, by swearing you sound like an idiot. It doesn’t show passion, it makes you look bush league.
I don’t know Tim from Adam, I have read his blog and we definately come from different point of views. I do respect his opinion even if I disagree. This incident as it has been reported, no matter if he is right or wrong, in my eyes makes him look stupid. Using the F word in public is childish, immature and plain rude. I think it makes the blogging community look bad and Sherrod could spin this to make it look like he will not be associated with the fringe groups of his party.
I would buy that line if there wasn’t already so much water under the bridge. The paid staffers lying and making threats not just to cursing Russo but to other bloggers as well. It doesn’t wash, just as it didn’t wash that he was too busy fighting CAFTA to focus on a Senate bid when at the time he was setting up a web portal for the bid and trying to hire bloggers in the state to help run it.
FECK !!!!!
Shalom Dr. Democrat,
Thank you for stopping in, for reading and for commenting.
I agree that the time factor is problematic.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Shalom Tadvent,
That’s true. You’re absolutely right. I don’t want grade school antics on the floor of the Senate.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Shalom Anastasia,
I will vote for whoever the Democratic Party runs against Mike Dewine. The race is too important to sit out. But for the time being, I’m much more inclinded to support Paul Hackett than I am Sherrod Brown.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Shalom Eric,
Thanks for stopping in, for reading and for taking the time to leave a comment.
Yeah, I use it a bit myself.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Shalom Tadvent,
I would have hoped that Sherrod would know how to ast more Senatorial.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Shalom 2nd,
Yeah. The follow up threats troubled me as well. Very petty and school-yard like.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Shalom Cailin,
Father Jack rules!
B’shalom,
Jeff