![]() GET A PERMISSION SLIP! Kurtz and Page sharpen a point about the discussion of race: // link // print // previous // next //
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2008 SOMEBODY MIGHT GET STONED: We never cease to be amazed at the endless varieties of bad judgment offered by the upper-end press corps. In our view, Edward Luttwaks op-ed in today New York Times breaks new ground in this regard. Well assume that most of what follows is accurate. The gruesome bad judgment comes into play when we realize who Luttwak is discussing:
Well assume this is all true. But whose potential beheading, stoning or hanging is ghoulish Luttwak imagining here? Hes discussing a possible President Obama, who has already committed the worst of all crimes that a Muslim can commit, worse than murder. According to Luttwak, Obamas conversion to Christianity was a crime in Muslim eyes. As he goes on, Luttwak helps us imagine the attendant security nightmares:
Are the claims in this passage true? More specifically, would most Muslims be horrified by the news of Obamas conversion? We have no earthly idea. But Luttwaks discussion could hardly be more lurid, and it cavalierly treats a set of notions that should be approached very carefully. These are the notions associated with what Luttwak calls Obamas Muslim heritage. In our view, some deeply weird editorial judgment went into this columns publication. Before this, had you ever seen a writer ponder the stoning or beheading of an American president? Have you ever seen a writer casually proclaim that no government is likely to allow the prosecution of such a president? These are very unusual editorial choices, happily proffered by the Times. And the whole discussion has been triggered by the following high-minded purpose:
Luttwaks images of stoning, beheading and violent assassination (while security forces watch) is triggered by a noble impulsethe desire to refute the oft-made claim that an Obama presidency would be welcomed by the Muslim world. For ourselves, weve heard that unrealistic hope suggested once or twicebut we cant recall when we heard it last. In Luttwaks hands, this infrequent claim becomes a trigger for an exceptionally odd discussion, in which he spreads notions and images which should be approached with great caution:
Is Barack Obama half African by birth? Does Obama have a Muslim heritage? Did Obama convert to Christianity? In the current American political context, these notions should be pursued very cautiously. Instead, the Times throws them out in an unseasoned stew, wrapped in the image of stoning and beheading. All so we can see through an oft-made claiman oft-made claim which isnt being made very often at all. Was Luttwaks topic worth discussing? Concerning that, we have no firm view. But a very peculiar set of images drives todays unfortunate piece. Major figures like Obama are normally granted a higher threshold of dignity. Today, were invited to picture him getting beheaded because of his conversion to Christianityall so Luttwak can try to debunk a claim few people are discussing. This somehow made sense to the New York Times. It doesnt make much sense to us. GET A PERMISSION SLIP: Should Hillary Clinton have made that remark about her support among white voters? Without question, she should at least have made the remark in a less clumsy manner (see THE DAILY HOWLER, 5/9/08). But in fact, the remark came out rather poorly, and The Cult of the Offhand Comment took over. Adepts of this famous order wait for clumsy extemporaneous remarks (especially by pols they hate). They then expend their last few brain cells on the analysis of same. Often, they agree to reveal what the speaker really said. Weve discussed The Cult of the Offhand Comment before; its commandments shape much of our sad, sorry discourse. But as we noted on Friday, the hub-bub over Clintons remark illustrates another key point. Within the world of the mainstream press, pundits are allowed to discuss certain topicsbut disfavored politicians will be trashed for doing the same. The press can discuss them; the pols need permission! And uh-oh! On Sundays Reliable Sources, Clarence Page expressed this rule rather perfectly. We call attention to his exchange with Howard Kurtz because it illustrates this key point so nicely:
Or us, the pundits! In fact, the nations pundits had been talking like that non-stop, around the clock, for weeks. Aside from the clumsiness of her remark, why shouldnt Clinton have done the same? Kurtz pursued things further:
Race is too sensitive a topic, Page said. For that reason, we are allowed to discuss it non-stop. But well have to reserve the right to beat up on pols when they do. Note one more part of Pages remark. Its OK to talk about Catholic voters in 1960; you just cant talk about white voters now. Lets expand that point just a bit: As we noted months ago, pundits thought it was A-OK when Huckabees opponents noted that his Iowa win was driven by evangelical voters. That was OKbut a few weeks later, it wasnt OK to say that Obamas win in South Carolina was largely driven by black voters. Presumably, thats because of the press corps finely-developed sensitivities about these very difficult matters. Either that, or these people have a set of rules which may not make perfect sense. For the record, we know Page a bit (we serve on a charity board together!) and like him a lot. And lets note again what Page didnt note in this exchangeClintons comment was clumsily expressed. But lets note something else: Most major pundits are far less decent than Clarence Page isand theyre rarely advanced, enlightened, fluent or knowing about racial matters. Their judgments about the etiquette of race will often be driven by throwback values. In many cases, they are very poorly equipped to make these fine etiquette judgments. But so what? In the aftermath of South Carolina, their judgments about racial etiquette helped change the Democratic race. At any rate, we thought this discussion was worth recording because of the principle it captures. We can talk about race, the press says. But if others want to talk about race, they should perhaps get permission first.
TOMORROW: How did Obama beat Clinton? Kurtz asked. We chuckled at some of the answers.
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