Monday, May 21, 2007

Mudslinging

I'm reading a book called That's Not In My American History Book by Thomas Ayres. (No, I'm normally not that big of a nerd, but my husband is, and he said I would like it.)

"Politics and political mudslinging have been around almost from the day prehistoric man discovered mud. .......One of the strangest campaigns ever waged was the one by George Smathers against Claude Pepper for the U.S. Senate in Florida in 1950. In his campaign speeches, Smathers began referring to Pepper as 'a known extrovert.' He spat out the words with such disdain, many in his audiences assumed the worst of Pepper. While Pepper was trying to figure out how to respond, Smathers revealed that his opponent's sister was 'a thespian.' He then accused Pepper's brother of being a 'practicing homo sapiens.' He then charged that while attending college, Pepper 'matriculated on campus,' and that he 'engaged in celibacy' before he was married. Smathers won the election."

If Smathers lived where I live, he'd still win. There ain't no rocket scientists 'round here!

3 comments:

MarlaQuack said...

OMG, that is so funny. All Pepper had to do was say "people get out your dictionary's" Oh, wait, that would be too easy.

Miranda5 said...

That cracked me up. You know what other book you'd like, Monkey-Girl? "Fart Proudly" about Benjamin Franklin. Good stuff.

Joeymom said...

I shoudl try that at our next IEP meeting. I'd leave the school folks blubbering on the floor wondering what the hell I had said.