Too funny

Someone emailed me asking me if I thought "Adios Mofo" is a serious issue. Of course not. I think it's hilarious.

Then I noticed that Scott thinks that this is a "huge on-camera gift" to Comptroller Strayhorn.

Uh, I don't see it. This isn't nearly as juicy as "major league asshole," nor is it as mean-spirited (though Bush did say it jocularly), and Bush wasn't hurt by it. It humanized him, and it was kinda funny.

Perry kinda has a smirk on his face (watch the video here -- thanks to Keath Milligan). He may have been joking, he may not have -- current claim is that it was an inside joke; that Black had "used the phrase in the governor's company while the two were watching the NBA finals" -- but it doesn't come across particularly vicious. Frankly, given the way Perry says it, I tend to believe their story. To some degree, maybe this humanizes Perry too.

If I were running a campaign against Rick Perry, I can think of better lines of attack to be used in paid media. I highly doubt we'll see this in a campaign ad.

Posted by Evan @ 06/22/05 03:06 PM

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Comments

Ted Oberg is such a weenie that some of us were cheering.

Posted by Anne @ 06/22/05 04:15 PM

I consider it a gift for a couple of reasons. One, it plays into a sort of arrogance for which he's already pretty well known (e.g., trooper-gate -- isn't this a better line than "let us get on down the road"?), and two, it's catchy, funny, and offensive to Latinos. In short, I smell a meme.

To win, Strayhorn can't just beat Perry on the issues, she must make him an object of riducule, an embarassment, a laughingstock. That's the kind of thing she can't necessarily do with her own campaign's messages, but he can do to himself with gaffes like this one. You don't attack him for saying it -- you MAKE FUN of him for saying it, using it to tie together a variety of negative themes, then blame them all on his personal shortcomings. That's how the best political attacks work, for better or ill, triggering voter reaction, not logic. Maybe you're right this phrase won't catch on, but you notice Pink Dome is merchandizing the slogan less than 24 hours later; it could have legs. The question, which will be answered for Strayhorn's campaign via polling, is whether it taps into deeper voter distrust of Perry's loyalty to their interests, or whether Strayhorn's campaign can make it do so. We'll see. Luckily for bloggers, speculation's free. :-) Best,

Posted by Scott @ 06/22/05 09:38 PM

How is it offensive to Latinos?

Also, no...I think "let us get on down the road" is more damaging and a better line.

I can understand your take, Scott, and I think you present an articulate case for it. But I still don't agree. ;)

Posted by evan @ 06/23/05 01:52 AM

"How is it offensive to Latinos?"

I think it's because, when the Governor was looking for a way to mock the reporter as being trivial and stupid, his words obviously dripping with disdain, the first two things that came to mind to belittle him were 1) speaking Spanish, and 2) using obscenity. Whether you think it's justified, some Spanish speakers will not appreciate the contemptuous association.

I have to disagree that "get on down the road" was a better line: The main difference is that "Adios Mo-Fo" invites the voters to say Adios to him!

Buena suerte, amigo ...

Posted by Scott @ 06/23/05 09:09 AM

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