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THE MO'KELLY REPORT: Palin, Pfotenhauer and Pitiful Politics
*Mo'Kelly applauds Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama for making it clear in no uncertain terms that the pregnancy of Gov. Sarah Palin’s daughter “has no relevance” in terms of Palin’s ability to serve as governor of Alaska presently or Vice President of the United States eventually. And no, don’t assume as to why I appreciate the statement. It’s not necessarily for reasons explicit and/or obvious in nature.
More on that in a moment ...
Mo'Kelly will say this ... it’s a class move. Political gamesmanship to be sure ... but a class move. Such declarations help close the door on attacks directed at Obama's family in the future. Whether wife Michelle Obama should be more considered a “family member” as opposed to a surrogate is definitely open to discussion. Obama knows and understands this and wishes to cloud the definition of “family member." See it for what it is.
But Michelle Obama is a different discussion for a different day. For now, just remember Senator Obama is a lawyer. He implicitly understands the idea of “precedent.” Right now, he would like to use the controversy swirling around Bristol Palin as precedent.
Conversely, Obama as a counselor-at-law also understands the unstated implications of such a statement, such a precedent. Although the familial fiasco presently endured by Palin may not have relevance as to her qualifications to become President of the United States in a pinch ... it is completely relevant in assessing the judgment of GOP nominee John McCain.
The distinction is subtle, yet unmistakable.
In the ongoing discussion of whether Senator McCain “gets it,” to use Obama’s words, Gov. Palin will rightfully be positioned as another piece of evidence to cast reasonable doubt on the judgment process of John McCain. The election race will be a question of “judgment” versus “experience.” McCain’s supposed lack of judgment pitted against Obama’s argued lack of experience. So before we jump to the conclusion that Obama is “above the fray” and has spoken out for altruistic reasons; recognize the political gamesmanship for what it is. Like I said, Mo'Kelly applauds Obama’s declaration, but only because it shows his increasing political savvy. But back to Palin’s daughter ...
Republicans have been arguing (predictably) that family members and issues unrelated to the candidate him or herself should have no bearing and are out of bounds. That’s odd. Exactly WHEN did Republicans adopt THIS amendment?
Shame on them (left-leaning websites) for trying to make a political issue out of a private family matter. And I think in the end that ultimately they just hurt their own credibility when they do this. The American people are kind and understanding, and this is real life, and they know that. And I'm sure their hearts go out to the family. Their hearts go out to the young woman who is having this played out on national television. And I would hope that those Democratic bloggers would stand down, just out of a sense of common decency, if nothing else. - Nancy Pfotenhauer, Adviser to John McCain
Good ol’ Nancy had that to say on where else ... Fox News.
Nancy Pfotenhauer ... meet Mo'Kelly, "Democratic blogger."
Nancy, you're not going to like Mo'Kelly. Let's just get that out of the way now. But having said that, Mo'Kelly would like to parse your words further for the benefit of our audience.
Shame on them (left-leaning websites) for trying to make a political issue out of a private family matter.
Yes, Mo’Kelly is quite sure John Edwards agrees with you and is thankful the right-leaning websites acted in accordance to Pfotenhauser’s wishes. Otherwise, one would allege hypocrisy ... and we wouldn’t dare expect that from Republicans.
Here are some questions Nancy ...
Was this supposed referendum on "common decency" and "credibility" in the media before or after all of the endless discussion of Rev. Jeremiah Wright? Wright's not even a family member, but somehow he was deemed relevant to the discussion of Senator Obama’s credentials and a "credible" discussion for right-leaning websites and "news" sources such as Fox News.
Was this plea for non-partisonship in the blogosphere before or after the endless discussion of where Senator Obama attended elementary school 40 years ago? If Republicans are to argue that Palin’s daughter doesn’t reflect upon Palin and Bristol’s pregnancy is in the present, then how did Obama’s elementary schooling 40 years ago remain an “issue” on Fox News for the past year? How is Senator Obama's middle name, given to him by his mother at birth an issue "relevant" to the political discussion of Senator Obama but Bristol Palin’s sexual dalliances and subsequent pregnancy are not?
Mo’Kelly just needs a hint of consistency. Not much, just a hint, a smidgeon, a fleck.
If Republicans (and Fox News) wish to make the argument that the actions of people "associated" with a candidate are fodder for discussion as was the case with Jeremiah Wright ... Bristol Palin is relevant.
If Republicans (and Fox News) wish to make the argument that trivialities and minutia having nothing to do with the qualifications of the candidate in question are irrelevant ... then you (and Fox News) have 720 hours worth of Michelle Obama "whitey," Jeremiah Wright and Barack 'Hussein' Obama programming in which to explain.
Pick one side of the street and drive there all you like. But the illegal u-turns at 75 mph on the interstate must either stop and/or be ridiculed for the obvious hypocrisy they are.
Where was Pfotenhauer and her call for "common decency" during the crisis of John Edwards? Edwards was neither in office nor running for President at the time of the story breaking of his infidelity. To use Pfotenhauer’s words, that too was “real life.” What did Pfotenhauer, right-leaning bloggers (and Fox News) have to say then? Martial infidelity is just as “real” as teen pregnancy ... as is hypocrisy too.
The point of the matter is that the Republicans have not been long blasted for their professional fallibility or human frailties but for the subsequent hypocrisy in which they try to explain them away.
Like, uh, now for instance.
The Republicans originally gained control of the House and Senate with a message of an alleged superior morality. Now, after the fall of Tom Delay, Alberto Gonzales, Scooter Libby, Jack Abramoff, Ted Haggard, Senator Larry Craig, Mike Scanlon, Randy Cunningham, Mark Foley, Claude Allen, Brian Doyle, James Tobin, et al ...
Their hypocrisy lost them the House and Senate after the midtem elections of '06...not the scandals in and of themselves. Rev. Ted Haggard is indicative of Republican hypocrisy. Sen. Larry Craig is an extension of that Republican hypocrisy. Yes, we are all cracked vessels and fall short in the eyes of God.
But only Republicans have proven to be career hypocrites across the board. For every Eliot Spitzer there are 10 neo-conservative hypocrites first wagging the finger of moral superiority while also justifying their own moral deviancy in the wake of their fall.
Credibility Nancy says? John McCain cheating on his wife is more "understandable" and "acceptable" than John Edwards?!
Hypocrisy.
And now, this McCain lackey calls for “common decency” in the coverage of these events?
Really? Honestly? Real life Nancy?
This, from the same party who impeached Bill Clinton for “Cigar-gate?” That's having nothing to do with the ringleader of "Cigar-gate," Newt Gingrich who was in the midst of his own marital infidelity while pursuing the impeachment of President Clinton.
Democratic bloggers should “stand down” this time around?! This, from the same party who created a patently false and racist ad to slander Harold Ford Jr. during his recent senatorial bid? This, from the same party who brought us Willie Horton in relation to former Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis? Democratic bloggers should stand down?
Neocon please ...
Just be glad that Bristol’s baby-daddy wasn’t ALSO Black. That would’ve been the absolute tri-fecta! Husband with a DWI, the daughter knocked up once, rumored twice and the baby-daddy a Brotha. That would’ve been absolute heaven.
Then again, it’s still early. It’s only been six days since the announcement of Palin for VP and Democratic bloggers have a DWI, a pregnancy, an Alaskan government investigation and a teen pregnancy in which they should conveniently ignore, at the behest of Pfotenhauer. Who knows what might happen in the next two months. Maybe that Black buck baby-daddy is still out there on the horizon.
One can only hope...
The Mo'Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. Mo’Kelly has been blogging for the last two weeks from the Democratic and Republican National Convention respectively. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex and Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.mokellyreport.blogspot.com. Morris W. O'Kelly can be reached at mokellyreport@sbcglobal.net and he welcomes all commentary.
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