Rahm: Can't we raise the level of our fucking discourse?
Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had it with the odious bickering that plagues our national debate:
Washington Post (8-12-09): White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel argued that the contrast between Obama -- whom he described as "reasoned, calm, looking like an adult in the room" -- and some of the more bombastic protesters would also work to the administration's advantage.
"I think the public looks at screaming, swastikas, attacks. . . . It's not a persuasive argument," he said Tuesday. "If anything, it is the opposite."
It's an irony to see Rahm playing the rhetorical peacenik, considering the way he handles debate with those who disagree with his own views.
I give you his response to Paul Krugman's criticism of the stimulus package as being inadequate earlier this year:
THE NEW YORKER (3-2-2009): ""No disrespect to Paul Krugman," Emanuel went on, "but has he figured out how to seat the Minnesota senator?" (Franken's victory is the subject of an ongoing court challenge by his opponent, Norm Coleman, which the national Republican Party has been happy to help finance.) "Write a fucking column on how to seat the son of a bitch. I would be fascinated with that column. O.K.?" Emanuel stood up theatrically and gestured toward his seat with open palms. "Anytime they want, they can have it," he said of those who are critical of his legislative strategies. "I give them my chair."
In addition to the above-mentioned rant, Former TPM blogger Greg Sargent reported less than a week ago:
"Sources at the meeting tell me that Emanuel really teed off on the Dem-versus-Dem attacks, calling them "f-king stupid." This was a direct attack on some of the attendees in the room, who are running ads against Dems right now."
Aww, isn't he just classy, civil and respectful? Granted, Emanuel is not seen or heard flashing swastikas, but his expletive-laden ad-hominem attacks are a far cry from the calm, reasoned "adult in the room" that he looks up to.
Allow me to borrow a page from Emanuel's book and conclude that he's a fucking hypocrite.
Oh fucking get over it. Everybody with half a brain knows Rahm is a very much in your face kinda of guy. And sorry if I don't see the similarities to Rahm teeing off in an article to the loons at the town halls. Or being pissed at Dems for going after Dems. Not saying I agree with him, but I also not surprised at his remark.
August 12, 2009 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unlike you, I have no problem with Democrats going after the Blue Dogs. Why does it bother you so much?
August 12, 2009 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
if you'll notice I said I didn't agree with this statement. I just don't equate with the the ill informed rabble at the town halls.
August 12, 2009 8:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
if you'll notice I said I didn't agree with this statement. I just don't equate with the the ill informed rabble at the town halls.
August 12, 2009 9:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Stealth" troll "truthseeker" never misses an opportunity to endeavor to transform a nit into a major scandal.
He falsely believes himself clever in his smearings by means of bullshit accusations.
Rahm spoke of OBAMA being the adult in the room. He DID NOT call HIMSELF the adult in the room. _Ergo_, no hypocrisy.
August 13, 2009 7:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Meet JNAgara. He stalks me everywhere I go, calling me troll. Welcome back, and thanks for letting us know that Emanuel doesn't behave like an adult, which is exactly my point.
What do you think about the Moveon ads against Blue Dogs, stalker? I like them, unlike Rahm who thinks they're fucking stupid. Are you with me or Rahm or this one?
August 13, 2009 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
TS - you know he would do this - if you criticize a Republican on TPM you are high-fived but dare you criticize a Democrat and you are labelled a "troll" and told by JN to STFU
August 13, 2009 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Additional interesting fact about JNAGA: according to the archives, he never writes diaries. This is understandable due to his poor knowledge of, well, everything.
His goal is to comment on other people's pieces, trying to seem all rowdy and tough. This is what I call, as Emanuel would likely put it, an attention-whore.
August 13, 2009 9:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why is that interesting? There are plenty of people who stick to commenting for a myriad of reasons. Perhaps he has a life that keeps him too busy. Perhaps he has other outlets for his creative ideas and/or thoughts.
Are we only allowed to comment on blogs if we are willing to blog ourselves? I don't recall reading that as one of the "rules" on TPM.
August 13, 2009 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps he should resort to referring to others as cultists or hypocrites. That would certainly elevate our discourse.
August 12, 2009 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. Well played.
August 13, 2009 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's what Rahm is there for - to play the bad cop to Obama's good cop. Anyone who knew anything about politics knew we weren't getting Mr. Nice Guy here. It's Rahm's job to be Obama's enforcer, to get mean when it's time to get mean and keep his boss as clean as possible.
August 12, 2009 7:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, more of that change we can believe in. Oops, sorry. I keep forgetting to shut up.
August 12, 2009 8:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice soundbyte!
August 13, 2009 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
No, you forgot to find a new sarcastic and lame catch phrase to express your cynicism.
August 13, 2009 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I fail to see how you can compare someone being personally abrasive and public thuggery and lies on national issues? Pretty childish waste of our time.
August 12, 2009 7:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Emanuel did not talk about lies. Neither did I. That would be another topic. Emanuel and I spoke about being calm adults as opposed to being assholes.
And...in my comparison, I made it clear that the town-hallers who show up with swastikas are worse than Emanuel. But Emanuel needs to calm down, according to himself.
August 12, 2009 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you are missing the diff. between the public sphere among strangers, and private conversations between colleagues.
If Rahm curses at another WH staff -- his collegaue-- that's entirely different than some redneck thug telling some lady he doesn't know to "shut your face" at the local library.
August 12, 2009 9:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd prefer you didn't--but there's little I can do to stop you. Pot/Kettle and all that.
August 12, 2009 8:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
A little anger might just be what this thing needs. From our side that is, cause the bozos on the right are going to excesses. I'm pissed about the crap the righties are pulling all the time.
Venting is a good thing when put to good use.
August 12, 2009 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Funny title.
August 13, 2009 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
What's the problem with Rahm sometimes swearing like a sailor, and getting in people's faces from time to time? His outbursts are in closed door meetings with his colleagues, not at public forums like the town halls...I don't necessarily approve of this sort of tactic when meeting professional colleagues, but this is the big leagues, and the people in the room should be able to take a little heat.
Oh, and I'll save you the time: I don't do my own posts to the cafe, I'm a fly by night commenter-type, so feel free to dismiss my opinion out of hand now.
August 13, 2009 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rahm Emanuel is Obama's bulldog. He does his job well and unfortunately his style is needed in many situations. I wouldn't want to see my President have resort to those kinds of tactics. I am happy that Rahm is there to do it for him.
I also agree with "pot/kettle"
August 13, 2009 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like Rahm.
August 13, 2009 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Emanuel is brusque and colloquial in person, and believes in a sane, adult policy approach. I don't see a contradiction. I see congruity.
What the OP views as "hypocritical" I see as impatience with nonsense, and an insistence on dealing with facts. That includes both sticking to the real world when it's time to negotiate legislation, and also phrasing plain truths bluntly when it's required.
August 13, 2009 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink