Other Views

DNC

Dude, things got a little foggy in Charlotte with Harold & Kumar

 

jskass@tribune.com

When President Obama asked stoners Harold & Kumar to help with his message, the inevitable was bound to happen.

And it did, dude.

The first two days at the Democratic National Convention were a disaster of biblical proportions as far as political messaging. There was that squabble over whether the party platform should even mention God, and include a reference to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

And there was also the uproar on the right from that convention video in which the DNC introduced a new Orwellian slogan:

“Government is the only thing that we all belong to.”

It didn’t get better. Later Wednesday, just after former president and multitasker Bill Clinton delivered his big speech to rekindle visions of Democratic glory days, a rabbi was scheduled to come onstage. That’s the rabbi of Clinton’s former Oval Office intern and sex partner Monica Lewinsky, and he was invited to give the closing benediction.

Who spilled the bong water at the DNC? If this isn’t a messaging disaster caused by post-traumatic bowl syndrome, what is?

The stems and seeds of this disaster were planted when the Obama campaign, desperate to rekindle the cool factor with younger voters, appeared in a commercial with actors who play the noted Hollywood potheads in the movies. Obama was promoting a live-stream event of his convention address Thursday night. In the commercial, the one thing I couldn’t spot on Harold & Kumar’s iconic coffee table was their bong.

And soon after that commercial came the wrestling over God in the platform. This issue was highlighted in a confrontation between U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, the Illinois Democrat and consummate political survivor, and Fox News’ Bret Baier, who asked Durbin why the Democrats had dropped “God” from their platform this year.

“God is not a franchise of the Republican Party,” said Durbin, who accused Baier’s network of trying to suggest that the Democrats are godless. Baier said he was just asking why the almighty wasn’t there.

The Democrats got similar blowback over leaving Jerusalem out of the platform.

On Wednesday, the Democrats finally found religion — and the capital of Israel. They put both back into the platform, but not before a messy scene on the convention floor, with the convention chairman, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, pretending that the ayes had it while delegates yelled nay at him.

Many delegates were so outraged that they unleashed a chorus of boos, leaving them open to charges that they had booed God.

But that was the noise. What was nearly as bad was the lack of noise after the DNC showed an odd video on Tuesday night, the one the DNC is now formally disavowing.

Just a few weeks ago, American small-business owners were punched in the gut by Obama’s “You didn’t build that” comment, reminding them that the feds had a hand in their success and on their throats. And now comes the “Government is the only thing that we all belong to” line, which reminds everyone where America seems to be going.

That video from the Charlotte in 2012 committee — representing the host city of the convention — showed pleasant scenes of a man on a horse, bicyclists riding free (but helmeted) and a school bus rolling past an American flag.

Read more Other Views stories from the Miami Herald

  •  

300 dpi Paul Gonzales illustration of magnifying glass enlarging thumbprint. Los Angeles Times 2011<p>

02000000; CLJ; krtcrime crime; krtnational national; krtworld world; krt; krtcampus campus; mctillustration; 02001000; CRI; fingerprint; la contributed gonzales; magnifying glass; 2011; krt2011

    SUPREME COURT

    Supreme Court: No proof of citizenship required — sort of

    By a surprising 7-2 majority, the Supreme Court this week struck down a bristly little ballot initiative that Arizona passed in 2004, requiring everyone who registers to vote to prove his or her citizenship. Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the majority opinion, and he had everyone on board except Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito.

  •  

GERSON

    POLITICS

    GOP’s leadership challenge: lessons from the UK

    It is often argued, including by me, that the GOP needs its own Bill Clinton or Tony Blair — a leader to reposition the party and reinvigorate its political appeal. But if these figures are examples of successful reform, British Prime Minister David Cameron is a warning of its perils.

  •  

300 dpi Michael Rice illustration of U.S. Capitol building floating off the so=called fiscal cliff under a compromise parachute. Minneapolis Star-Tribune 2012<p>

krtnational national; krt; krtopinion opinion op-ed; mctillustration illustration; 11000000; 11010000; 11013001; krtdemocrats democrats democrat; krtgovernment government; krtpolitics politics; krtrepublicans republicans republican gop; krtuspolitics; movement; national budget; party; POL; public finances public finance; tax; krtsequestration fiscal cliff sequestration; donkey; elephant; hatchet ax; rice; 2012; krt2012; congress; parachute

    IN MY OPINION

    Glenn Garvin: Congress plots exit from Obamacare coverage

    Congress is not as stupid as you think.

Miami Herald

Join the
Discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere on the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

The Miami Herald uses Facebook's commenting system. You need to log in with a Facebook account in order to comment. If you have questions about commenting with your Facebook account, click here.

Have a news tip? You can send it anonymously. Click here to send us your tip - or - consider joining the Public Insight Network and become a source for The Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald.

Hide Comments

This affects comments on all stories.

Cancel OK

  • Videos

  • Quick Job Search

Enter Keyword(s) Enter City Select a State Select a Category