Specter to Bachmann: “Act Like a Lady”
[Guest post by DRJ]
Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Michelle Bachmann appeared together on a Philadelphia radio station yesterday and as Politico said, it got ugly (audio at the link):
“The exchange, broadcast on 1210 AM’s Dom Giordano Show [but not archived on the station’s site], began when Specter challenged Bachmann to articulate what, exactly, she stands for, according to a readout on the clash published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s lively Early Returns blog.
Bachmann first laid out her agenda — cutting taxes and killing President Obama’s health reform bill — at considerable length.
When Specter tried to counter, Bachmann, darling of the Tea Party movement, kept on talking, which didn’t sit well with the one-time Philadelphia DA, who is a stickler for politeness and protocol.
“I’m going to treat you like a lady,” Mr. Specter shot back. “Now act like one.”
Ms. Bachmann replied, “I am a lady.”
Things went on along this line for a while — with Specter later asking Bachmann to “act like a lady,” according to the PPG’s Daniel Malloy.”
Keep those Republican women in their places, Arlen.
— DRJ
Let’s review. Specter changed “parties” because Republicans couldn’t help him. So he is a Vichy politician, and he is telling a woman how to act like a lady?
Eric Blair (0b61b2) — 1/21/2010 @ 12:49 pmBachmann seems like an idiot, lady or not. Maybe she isn’t, but it’s the impression she’s left on me.
Leviticus (79f4a8) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:04 pmI do hate it when one of the interlocutors won’t let the other get their word in edgewise.
A lot of programs love that shit because it’s so exciting and neato, but it’s why I find the text on the internet to be a much better medium for debates.
I ate Bachman’s mint chocolate chip cookies in 2004. They were tasty and she is a nice person and I think is as ladylike as she needs to be. And I think Spector is a soulless politician with no honor. But Spector had a point.
A lot of people see Bachman only through these excited instances, and probably come away with the impression Leviticus came away with. It’s hard to overcome the filter. Anything that makes Palin or Bachman or W look smart isn’t funny enough to make it onto comedy central or CNN. She’s in the house for a reason, Levi… she’s in the hot cup of coffee, not the comity saucer that holds Mccain and Spector.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:09 pmShe should be polite enough to stop talking at times. Specter is clearly a jackass for switching parties (and for being a semi-liberal twit in the first place) but it does sound as though she was being rude.
IgotBupkis (79d71d) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:11 pmTo paraphrase Maximus in Gladiator:
“The time for honoring yourself is almost at an end …. Senator.”
Leviticus seems like an unthinking hater of conservatives. Maybe he isn’t, but that’s the impression he’s left me.
See how easy that was? Spector is a tool, a Gelatinous Traitor Tool.™
BJTex (a2cb5a) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:15 pmAmynda Marcotte could not be reached for comment.
Specter is not a good man.
JD (23cdbb) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:23 pmHe “challenged” her to “articulate”, she obliged. Any questions?
Gazzer (c213bd) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:24 pmEchoing Comment by Gazzer — 1/21/2010 @ 1:24 pm
Vivian Louise (eeeb3a) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:28 pmPremature Articulation.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:29 pm“I have never been intentionally rude to a lady. I have, upon occasion, insulted a woman.”
mojo (8096f2) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:32 pm— Robert Heinlein
Bachmann seems like an idiot, lady or not. Maybe she isn’t, but it’s the impression she’s left on me.
Comment by Leviticus
Perfect ! Thank you for being an unfailing example of clueless leftist thought.
The left hates Bachmann almost as much as Palin, calling her stupid and ignoring the fact that she is a tax attorney. I look at Wash Monthly almost every day to see how their minds work. No rational human being could understand them without examples like Leviticus and Steve Benen.
Mike K (2cf494) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:32 pmBut if you research the videos of Specter at town hall meetings last summer, it seems that once he got tired of being put on the hot seat by he didn’t mind “interrupting” one of the attendees.
Remember Specter’s shouting “Now wait a minute. Wait a minute” as he interrupted someone speaking?
retire05 (37d0ed) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:36 pm“Act like a lady”- no matter what Bachmann is like that sounds pretty condescending, arrogant, and demeaning. I would expect if he said that as a “R” the feminists would be out for his head. It sounds like Specter thinks he is doing her a favor/giving an honor in allowing her to talk. I don’t know if there is a longer clip elsewhere, the one linked has zero content to put the interchange in context. I’m inclinded to think perhaps Arlen gave her a noose to hang herself with (Tell me what do you stand for, you pee-on, because you’re not important enough for me to have noticed?), and when she was making too much sense wanted to but in when she wasn’t finished (“I let you talk [until I decided to but in] now you let me talk [I’m the one in charge, you know).
If there is a better clip with more context that proves me wrong I will retract me comments.
First Congresswoman from Minnesota (area includes twin cities suburban area), reelected in 2008 despite a pointed attack against her by Pelosi with out of state funding. By profession a tax attorney who wants to simplify the tax code, mom of 5, foster parent to 23 children over the years, wants to increase US fossil fuel exploration.
“Sounding like an idiot” is in the mind of the beholder. She certainly sounded more like a midwest mother of 5 than a tax attorney, but to say she voted against Obama’s taking over of private industry and that the administration has no experience in the private sector and doesn’t know how to make jobs sounded like rational points. Definitely lacking in “gravitas voice” like Specter, but I’ve long thought that Sen. Specter’s tone of voice is far more impressive then the content it usually conveys.
FWIW, identifying Bachmann as a “darling of the Tea Party movement” I believe puts the writer in the category of “hostile witness”.
MD in Philly (d4668b) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:40 pmSpecter is an example of all that is good in politics today, a principled compassionate person willing to set aside politics for the good of the country. How dare you criticize or question him. Good day. That is all.
JD (5127d7) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:41 pmBachmann seems like an idiot, lady or not. Maybe she isn’t, but it’s the impression she’s left on me.
One thing that people have to realize is that individuals who get to that level of government power are not morons. They may not conduct themselves in a manner that others would consider mature or intelligent, but you don’t get elected to Congress in spite of being stupid. The city council of Detroit, yes, but not Congress.
Another Chris (2d8013) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:43 pmI denounce you JD!
PCD (1d8b6d) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:46 pmOne benefit of his party switch is that we can pin his antics on democrats.
imdw (8f8ead) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:48 pmI wonder how Barbara Boxer would react if told to act like a lady. Perhaps: “Don’t call me a lady, I’m a senator!”
Old Coot (d2bd0f) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:49 pmWell. If Gelatinous Traitor Tool™ had told Bachman to “act like a lady, Ma’am.” well then …
Nope, still arrogant and condescending.
Leviticus seems like a clueless leftist boilerplate spewer, hater or not. Maybe he isn’t but that’s the impression I get.
BJTex (a2cb5a) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:55 pmWhat is Buchanan is a lesbo? Would it be fair to ask her to act like a lady? And what if Specter was a man…
Steve (e5c232) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:57 pmLeviticus can speak for himself, but I think his basic attitude is throw all the bums out.
MD in Philly (d4668b) — 1/21/2010 @ 1:58 pmI agree, MD, although I also think Leviticus wants to throw the Republicans out first.
DRJ (84a0c3) — 1/21/2010 @ 2:05 pmHas there been a sharp drop-off in use of the “Teabagger” slur since Scott Brown won in Massachusetts?
Like #13, MD, I too notice Bachmann is called “darling of the Tea Party Movement.” Which strikes me as a put-down by the writer, who goes on to excuse Specter as “…a stickler for politeness and protocol.”
The Left can have Specter and the other washed-up old Jackasses too stubborn and too grouchy for civil debate. The GOP has all the good lookin’ smart babes anyway.
ropelight (1d3970) — 1/21/2010 @ 2:17 pmOne thing that people have to realize is that individuals who get to that level of government power are not morons.
Now, just a minute. I have a long list with which to refute that point but will assume you were using a bit of hyperbole. Barbara Boxer alone is an example of how far you can get with enough money behind you. Do you know the sum total of her legislative efforts ?
Mike K (2cf494) — 1/21/2010 @ 2:17 pmComment by Mike K — 1/21/2010
Boxer and Maxine Waters would be the exceptions to the rule.
Of course, there’s always the line my drill sergeant gave us in basic–“You guys aren’t stupid, you just do stupid things.”
Another Chris (2d8013) — 1/21/2010 @ 2:23 pmOh, you’re forgetting about so many others it’s impossible to list them here; you can start with that idiot Pete Stark, then proceed downward into the territory of the pure moron of Al Franken.
Dmac (539341) — 1/21/2010 @ 2:29 pm. . . but you don’t get elected to Congress in spite of being stupid.
Comment by Another Chris — 1/21/2010 @ 1:43 pm
So explain Sheila Jackson Lee or Cynthia McKinney.
RickZ (515f30) — 1/21/2010 @ 2:30 pmDon’t overlook Patty Murray, Democrat from Washington.
ropelight (1d3970) — 1/21/2010 @ 2:33 pmthe girlie man from Pennsylvania is hardly in a position to lecture anyone.
he needs a nice big mug of warm STFU.
redc1c4 (fb8750) — 1/21/2010 @ 2:54 pmShe should taken a strap on to the dirt bag.
Politeness? About as polite as a snake.
HeavenSent (ae267e) — 1/21/2010 @ 2:59 pmPennsylvanians are surely looking forward to the specter of Arlen in retirement, doing 2011 summer stock as ‘Philip Nolan’ in Philadelphia dinner theatre productions of ‘The Man Without A Country.’
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/21/2010 @ 3:44 pmI wonder how this’ll play in the Democratic primary. Perhaps it won’t play to anyone’s advantage–Specter’s sexism was directed at Bachmann, and the Dems hate Bachmann. For a liberal, then, what Specter said was both bad and good. So maybe it’ll be a wash.
Alan (07ccb5) — 1/21/2010 @ 3:50 pmWhile out of context, this might seem like leftist boilerplate, I tend to agree with Leviticus on this. I have heard her speak, and she doesn’t seem very sharp. That is, as Leviticus said, just the impression that I get.
Of course, Arlen Specter behaved like a jerk here.
carlitos (ca01bc) — 1/21/2010 @ 4:14 pmMeh.
A catfight between a Lady and a Whore, with the Whore chastising the Lady’s manners.
Wind Rider (3e79e2) — 1/21/2010 @ 4:26 pm“I agree, MD, although I also think Leviticus wants to throw the Republicans out first.”
– DRJ
I actually don’t care about the order. If the Democrats get thrown out first, that’s totally fine with me. I left a comment along these lines on one of the Scott Brown threads.
And (addressing the general audience) I don’t care what degree Bachmann has – John Kerry has a JD from Boston College, and he seems like an idiot. Bush has an MBA from Harvard. I’m not saying any of these folks are bad people – I read that Bachmann and her husband were foster parents to 23 children – but when someone says “I find it interesting that it was back in the 1970s that the swine flu broke out then under another Democrat president Jimmy Carter. And I’m not blaming this on President Obama, I just think it’s an interesting coincidence”… well, then I scratch my head and say, “Damn – that person sounds rather stupid.” Again, my assessment could be totally incorrect, but an impression is an impression, and there’s nothing I can really do about it.
Or when Sarah Palin says that her favorite Founding Father is “all of them.” Ha hahahahaha…
I wonder how many she could’ve named if Beck had pressed her – not that George Washington isn’t a good choice, of course, but from the things she’s said one might suspect a certain (deserved) admiration for Alexander Hamilton (if she knew anything about him).
Leviticus (30ac20) — 1/21/2010 @ 4:42 pm[…] Patterico’s Pontifications: Pelosi: “I Don’t See the Votes” to Pass Senate Bill and Specter to Bachmann: “Act Like a Lady” and Did Obama Get Massachusetts’ Message? (Updated x3) Scared Monkeys: “MASS”acre … […]
Limbaugh on Scott Brown & Massachusetts Election, on Doomed ObamaCare, on Democrat Politicians Runing Scared « Frugal Café Blog Zone (a66042) — 1/21/2010 @ 5:12 pmAbe Lincoln would also seem like an idiot with the kind of coverage he’d have gotten. And even with the coverage he got back then, he wasn’t very popular and a lot of people thought he was an idiot.
Einstein could look like an idiot if you gave him the wrong debate format.
And sadly, a lot of these people deliberately look stupid because that’s an effective shtick. Fox and Friends’s Gretchen Carlson is a great example. Watch her program and she is always bewildered by the obvious, and read her resume and it’s clear she’s very smart.
Perhaps the smartest smart guys in politics are the ones who can pretend to be outraged everymen.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 1/21/2010 @ 5:13 pmNo, the explanation was important, because they had pledged so much to secure their objective, she’d probably be closer to a Jeffersonian in general attitude, believing in the people’s innate wisdom
ian cormac (a80ed2) — 1/21/2010 @ 5:35 pmover Hamilton’s elitism characterized by the National Bank
You know, I think that when people start to coyly call others stupid, they need to be more thoughtful and humble about themselves. And in particular, own their own prejudices based on watching television and reading magazines. Like this, about some trash talk from Barbara Bachman:
Despite the “save” at the end, it is clear that the writer has an agenda. And I wonder just how “smart” the author of that post would sound to a hostile press?
And let’s be fair: Reverend Wright out and out claimed the US government invented HIV to kill blacks, and he was the spiritual guide of the POTUS.
Or a President who talks of “57 states.”
Now, we are always urged to look at context, to be sensitive to nuance, and so forth. Fair enough.
Yet again, I can think of things that this particular poster has written that, well, didn’t appear to show a dazzling or fair minded intellect. Or a terrifically mature outlook.
Of course, “…my assessment could be totally incorrect, but an impression is an impression, and there’s nothing I can really do about it….”
See how that works? It’s a cover for yet more partisan snark.
As for Abraham Lincoln, I believe a NYT editorial in during one of his campaigns called him “a stupid ape.” So Olbermann style nonsense is nothing new.
Eric Blair (0b61b2) — 1/21/2010 @ 5:35 pmLevi,
Corwin (5d15cf) — 1/21/2010 @ 6:26 pmRep Bachmann had a rep as a pretty good (actually very good ) litigator according to one of my brothers .(Hr practiced in Minnesota).It’s certain she took a substantial pay cut when she entered politics. I think it’s likely she knows who Alexander Hamilton was. You make yourself look ridiculous when you make remarks like that .
I wonder why various people comment on sites like this. Among my choices are to convince others of their view poing, to add some unknown information to the mix or to impress others with their intellect. Just a thought.
Leviticus:
I understand you don’t like either party but it seems to me a liberal would rather see the Republican Party fail first.
I think you are far too willing to call other people stupid.
DRJ (84a0c3) — 1/21/2010 @ 6:55 pmComment by Leviticus — 1/21/2010 @ 4:42 pm
Leviticus, I’m curious how you define “smart”, because the examples you site in this comment refers to forgetting the founding fathers names and a suggested negative reference to another Democratic president. There is no correlation between these two. Apples & oranges, but not smart?
When Palin made her founding fathers response, it seemed like one of those brain hiccup moments that people start experiencing in mid life. We draw blanks and forget things that were always a given. It feels like she’s been so beat up, she’s afraid of making a mistake and becoming fodder again, that she scrunches her face and tries to come up with an answer – and chokes.
When Bachmann made her comment re swine flu under another Democratic president, it made me laugh because I saw it as a sly dig and allusion…not dumb at all but rather doign what politicians do: subtly suggest while at the same time, deny. That isn’t a stupid person.
Anyway, defining the terms always helps the discussion.
Dana (1e5ad4) — 1/21/2010 @ 6:55 pm“And let’s be fair: Reverend Wright out and out claimed the US government invented HIV to kill blacks, and he was the spiritual guide of the POTUS.”
– Eric Blair
And how did that sound to you, at the time?
You do realize that Patterico has an entire tab dedicated to “Morons”, right? I don’t see you getting on his case for his subjective judgements. But, as you’re so fond of saying, that’s different. A parable involving splinters and planks comes to mind.
Is this going to end the same way our last discussion of this subject ended? With you waffling and claiming that you actually think I’m intelligent, but were just insinuating I’m dumb to make a point about how it’s unfair to make subjective assessments of things?
Or are you going to get on carlitos’ case for agreeing with me about Bachmann?
Sorry: forgot. That’s different.
Leviticus (30ac20) — 1/21/2010 @ 7:04 pmExcuse me but how does a lady act? Or how is a lady supposed to act?
The Emperor (d34fbf) — 1/21/2010 @ 7:24 pm“I think you are far too willing to call other people stupid.”
– DRJ
Maybe you’re right. Maybe Eric Blair is right too.
I’m just getting cranky. The more attention I pay to politics, the crankier I get. It makes me unfairly uncharitable. Sorry. I suppose that I am in no position to judge the intelligence of either Michele Bachmann or Sarah Palin.
Consider this a retraction. Damn it.
Leviticus (30ac20) — 1/21/2010 @ 7:28 pmI actually remembered that I had a number of inarticulate moments myself today.
Leviticus (30ac20) — 1/21/2010 @ 8:05 pmUm. Remember, when I did that, I was poking fun at what you were doing.
I think you post when you are angry. Passion isn’t as helpful as forethought. Just my opinion.
Eric Blair (20b3a8) — 1/21/2010 @ 8:36 pmAnd I do, very much, appreciate Leviticus’ retraction. There is a lesson there for many people, including me, of how to disengage one’s ego from a political position.
Oh, and as for Reverend Wright’s nuttiness on HIV? I didn’t think he was stupid. I think he was peddling race hatred to advance his own personal power. Stupid is a compliment compared to that.
Eric Blair (20b3a8) — 1/21/2010 @ 8:43 pmRev Wright drives a Porsche to his mansion and his buddy is the US President. He is like Al Sharpton and doesn’t believe a damn thing he preaches. There’s no way he could and have that lifestyle. I’ve looked into it and stuff.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 1/21/2010 @ 8:51 pmArlen Sphincter is a genuine twatwaffle. Google it!
daleyrocks (718861) — 1/21/2010 @ 8:56 pmDaley, that is just about as “...that’s different...” as Olbermann calling Scott Brown a sexist—after the way he, Olbermann, described Michelle Malkin as…what was it?
Oh yeah:
That’s the tolerant party, I guess. Good thing they aren’t intolerant, huh?
Eric Blair (20b3a8) — 1/21/2010 @ 9:02 pmEric – I was just giving my impression, sort of.
daleyrocks (718861) — 1/21/2010 @ 9:05 pmEric – Also, twatwaffle is a term I believe Malkin coined.
daleyrocks (718861) — 1/21/2010 @ 9:10 pmThe more attention I pay to politics, the crankier I get. It makes me unfairly uncharitable. Sorry.
Comment by Leviticus — 1/21/2010
All who can identify, raise your right hand.
Now, how many people just spilled something on your keyboard?
MD in Philly (d4668b) — 1/21/2010 @ 9:11 pmLeviticus can disengage as much as he wants. This broad said a bunch of dumb things. As have I, as has Arlen Specter, but she comes off worse than me on TV. (you’ll have to trust me on that) 🙂
carlitos (ca01bc) — 1/21/2010 @ 9:11 pmLeviticus,
You can always call Ace’s guys Morons.
DRJ (84a0c3) — 1/21/2010 @ 9:31 pmDRJ – I loved that video. I was hoping to persuade you guys to make it into a post, but then again this is a family blog.
daleyrocks (718861) — 1/21/2010 @ 10:23 pmI don’t think of this as a family blog but it’s true I’m usually rated PG.
DRJ (84a0c3) — 1/21/2010 @ 10:31 pmDRJ – I was kidding about the family blog bit, but heck, it’s so tough to goad Patterico into posting some cheesecake (or beefcake for the ladies) pics even for important journalistic purposes.
daleyrocks (718861) — 1/21/2010 @ 10:37 pmThis is one of the drawbacks of the internet, daley. I knew you were kidding and I was, too.
DRJ (84a0c3) — 1/21/2010 @ 11:05 pm[…] Patterico’s Pontifications: Pelosi: “I Don’t See the Votes” to Pass Senate Bill and Specter to Bachmann: “Act Like a Lady” and Did Obama Get Massachusetts’ Message? (Updated x3) Paul A. Rahe, Big Government: George W. […]
Clueless: Rep. Alan Grayson Predicted Coakley Win in Mass & That Health Care Would Proceed As Normal (video) « Frugal Café Blog Zone (a66042) — 1/22/2010 @ 7:12 amA Democrat before, and a Democrat again…
AD - RtR/OS! (f0e19b) — 1/22/2010 @ 9:02 amanything in between was just camouflage.
The people of PA will be well rid of this imcompetent fool, but not soon enough.