I know exactly what it is, and apparently Ernst mentioned in one of her ads that she'd grown up on a hog farm. It's just an interesting choice of symbolism, both for a female candidate for office and for a male senior Senator welcoming a new female colleague.
Well, this commenter, who grew up in Iowa and Illinois, even if it was in what passes for "cities" in Iowa, thought the joke funny. And entirely appropriate.
Ernst's ad had explicitly touted her hog farm childhood and her hog castration experience. With squealing hogs in the background as she said, "Let's make 'em squeal."
Ernst's ad had explicitly touted her hog farm childhood and her hog castration experience. With squealing hogs in the background as she said, "Let's make 'em squeal."
Bingo :p
It seems her ad was the more inappropriate thing, if something inappropriate went on here.
It seems her ad was the more inappropriate thing, if something inappropriate went on here.
Sure, but at that time she was merely a candidate for public office. I suppose the voters endorsed her approach, but in theory the Senate is supposed to hold itself to certain standards of gentility and professional conduct (e.g., "My honest and respected opponent, the gentleman from South Carolina, is quite mistaken in his views..." rather than "Lindsay Graham is a pig").
Normally I refer to Senators as "Sen. X," rather than (as I have done here) by first and last name only. I think it's helpful to maintain that professional detachment when discussing politics, especially because of the depth of the division between our ideas about the good. It's easy to stop seeing your opponents as people to be disagreed with, even resisted; easy to see them as pigs to be made to squeal.
Gentility and professionalism can handle humor, or they aren't that--they're just full-of-themselves stuffiness, and so legitimate targets for a steady drumbeat of outright ridicule.
If the Senate floors--or even the halls or offices--were filled with that sort of thing, it would be too much. A one-off, not so much.
FWIW, I think the ad was inappropriate. I wouldn't bother making a big deal over it or even commenting on it. But that's what I'd think privately.
I do see the humor, too :) It's just not something I would do in that position. But once you put an ad like that out, it seems odd to say it's inappropriate to gently tease her about it. Being a woman shouldn't protect her from that.
The comments on the piece I linked to show that the Twitter-sphere doesn't quite understand how the things work: one poster says, "I hope the real things are sharper." They aren't, and those are the real things; sharper isn't how they work.
Anyway, barnyard humor isn't something I disdain in the barnyard. I'm just a little concerned about it in the Senate. But I've said my say on it, and you are all free to disagree.
Grim, I think there's an important distinction between "in the Senate" and 'between Senators'. On the floor, I don't think it would be appropriate to give this gift. Off the floor, privately (or relatively privately) I think it's fine. Formality has it's place, and so does informality.
Many of the Twitter commenters (twitterers?) don't seem to share in the humor of the gift. Or understand it.
ReplyDeleteEric Hines
I know exactly what it is, and apparently Ernst mentioned in one of her ads that she'd grown up on a hog farm. It's just an interesting choice of symbolism, both for a female candidate for office and for a male senior Senator welcoming a new female colleague.
ReplyDeleteWell, this commenter, who grew up in Iowa and Illinois, even if it was in what passes for "cities" in Iowa, thought the joke funny. And entirely appropriate.
ReplyDeleteErnst's ad had explicitly touted her hog farm childhood and her hog castration experience. With squealing hogs in the background as she said, "Let's make 'em squeal."
Eric Hines
What he said. No need for anyone to take it personally unless he closely identifies with pork!
ReplyDeleteYou are what you eat.
ReplyDeleteWhy I don't eat catfish. They are what they eat, too.
ReplyDeleteEric Hines
Ernst's ad had explicitly touted her hog farm childhood and her hog castration experience. With squealing hogs in the background as she said, "Let's make 'em squeal."
ReplyDeleteBingo :p
It seems her ad was the more inappropriate thing, if something inappropriate went on here.
You are what you eat.
ReplyDeleteGood Lord, I hope not :p
I am pretty sure I'm not a vegetable or a chicken, cow, pig, fish, or lamb. Not sure how anyone could be all of these things at once.
It seems her ad was the more inappropriate thing, if something inappropriate went on here.
ReplyDeleteSure, but at that time she was merely a candidate for public office. I suppose the voters endorsed her approach, but in theory the Senate is supposed to hold itself to certain standards of gentility and professional conduct (e.g., "My honest and respected opponent, the gentleman from South Carolina, is quite mistaken in his views..." rather than "Lindsay Graham is a pig").
Normally I refer to Senators as "Sen. X," rather than (as I have done here) by first and last name only. I think it's helpful to maintain that professional detachment when discussing politics, especially because of the depth of the division between our ideas about the good. It's easy to stop seeing your opponents as people to be disagreed with, even resisted; easy to see them as pigs to be made to squeal.
Gentility and professionalism can handle humor, or they aren't that--they're just full-of-themselves stuffiness, and so legitimate targets for a steady drumbeat of outright ridicule.
ReplyDeleteIf the Senate floors--or even the halls or offices--were filled with that sort of thing, it would be too much. A one-off, not so much.
Eric Hines
FWIW, I think the ad was inappropriate. I wouldn't bother making a big deal over it or even commenting on it. But that's what I'd think privately.
ReplyDeleteI do see the humor, too :) It's just not something I would do in that position. But once you put an ad like that out, it seems odd to say it's inappropriate to gently tease her about it. Being a woman shouldn't protect her from that.
True enough. If I were running for public office, I'd go easy on the castration joke/threats. But it seemed to work out for her, and it was funny.
ReplyDeleteIf I were running for public office, I'd go easy on the castration joke/threats.
ReplyDeleteWords to live by :)
I don't even have the equipment, and I find myself cringing.
Well, apparently it plays in farm country. :)
ReplyDeleteThe comments on the piece I linked to show that the Twitter-sphere doesn't quite understand how the things work: one poster says, "I hope the real things are sharper." They aren't, and those are the real things; sharper isn't how they work.
Anyway, barnyard humor isn't something I disdain in the barnyard. I'm just a little concerned about it in the Senate. But I've said my say on it, and you are all free to disagree.
Grim, I think there's an important distinction between "in the Senate" and 'between Senators'. On the floor, I don't think it would be appropriate to give this gift. Off the floor, privately (or relatively privately) I think it's fine.
ReplyDeleteFormality has it's place, and so does informality.
The Senate is a lot dirtier than any farm, so it would be an improvement on the floor, Grim.
ReplyDelete