Life Imitates Art
Posted by Steven Hayward
Theres a line somewhere in Mel Brooks second-best movie, Blazing Saddles, about "horn-swoggling cracker-croakers."
Yesterday in Tennessee Harold Ford, Sr., was caught on tape complaining about "crackers" from the Corker campaign. "Horn-swoggling Corker-crackers" anyone?
8:37 AM / October 25, 2006
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Not so fast. A correction has already been issued; it notes that he said "trackers," which is a fair word to use for the new trend of having people w/ videocameras follow candidates around to all of their public appearances (I support them for all candidates) to see what might get said or done during more candid moments. If you listen, its fairly clear that hes saying trackers, not crackers. Nice try, though. Isnt that HotAir site a Michelle Malkin production? If so, its an unusual thing from her to see an apology for a mistake.
Hey, has everyone heard that Ford has a taste for interracial sex?? Thats right - MISCEGENATION!!! Did you see that poor white woman hes corrupted in Corkers latest ad?
It doesnt seem clear to me at all what he said. Reminds me a bit of Farrakhan denying he called Judaism a "gutter religion" in that famous audiotape 10 years ago, where it was hard to make out his slurred pronunciation clearly. Doesnt matter in one sense; having the old man out stumping for the kid reinforces the Corker theme that the Fords seem to think they have a hereditary entitlement to office. Dont they know that only Bushes and Kennedys have an entitlement to office?
Allah has confirmed that the guy said "Trackers", not "Crackers".
Ive listened to it three more times, and it does sound more like "trackers" than "crackers." Still a blunder, though.
There’s a line somewhere in Mel Brooks second-best movie, Blazing Saddles, about "horn-swoggling cracker-croakers."
What, pray tell, is MBs best movie?
Ah--someone bit. The corect answer is "The Producers," of course.
Hmm, I wouldve said "Young Frankenstein," actually.
How is saying "trackers" "still a blunder"?? Would "followers" or "oppositional documentarians" be better? I just dont see whats objectionable about the term. Again, Ive got no qualms with ANY candidate being closely scrutinized when they are in public. One should expect that to come with the campaigning territory.
I would agree with John Moser about "Young Frankenstein," too. I was ready and eager for "Blazing Saddles" to be a cutting-edge laughfest. I finally watched it with my father and we both chuckled lightly maybe 3 or 4 times through the whole film. My father said that it hasnt aged well. As I was really let down and kind of bored by it, Id have to agree.
"having the old man out stumping for the kid reinforces the Corker theme that the Fords seem to think they have a hereditary entitlement to office. Don’t they know that only Bushes and Kennedys have an entitlement to office?"
Huh?? I dont get it. So you start with a serious point and follow it with a very little joke that totally deflates it?
Well, ahem, yes, the Bush/Kennedy line was meant to be a sarcastic joke, but like much humor, meant to convey at least the undertone of a serious point, that I should think wouldnt be that hard to trace out. Let me be unhumorous: Im not a fan of the Bush family in politics (though I join Peter in defending W from his enemies or the enemies of his good purposes), and Ill happily give up the Bush family if liberals will give up the Kennedys. Deal?
Okay, so youre opposed to hereditary entitlements to office or people thinking they have such. Great.
Having never embraced the Kennedy clan, Im not in much of a position to give them up as part of a deal now.
But again, how was use of the word "tracker" "still a blunder"??? That was what I really wanted to know.
Yeah, The Producers is good, especially the "Springtime for Hitler" subplot: "Dont be stupid, be a smarty / Come and join the Nazi Party!" or "Springtime, for Hitler, and Germany / Winter, for Poland and France!" Spaceballs is another good one.
And the link now claims he said "trackers", so thats cleared up. Craig, I think the reason Steve would claim its still a blunder is because "having the old man out stumping for the kid reinforces the Corker theme that the Fords seem to think they have a hereditary entitlement to office" (comment 2). I may be wrong.
Andrew has the right interpretation. Its not the specific language; its being part of the story at all, in any way.