With her recent victory in the Connecticut Republican Senate primary, former wrestling CEO, Linda McMahon, can expect the litany of oh-so-predictable attacks from her Democrat opponents to continue. There will be the mandatory wrestling references – headlines will use grappling terminology (McMahon Slams Her Opponent), and there will be the clever use of wrestling events in the place of political events (debates will be replaced by cage match references). But the knee-jerk reaction from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) immediately following her nomination is comical at best, and shows that her opposition is – as they say in the business – green, to say the least.
First, a little background. The national press secretary for the DNC is Hari Sevugan, a man in charge of the organization’s so-called ‘rapid response operation’. As such, Sevugan is paid to quickly craft a hard-hitting, pithy, and creative quote on the key issue of the day. He is paid for his witty counterpoints, his swift retorts. With that thought in mind, Sevugan offers this knockout blow:
“Today the party of Bob Dole, Jack Kemp and Richard Lugar nominated a candidate who kicks men in the crotch, thinks of scenes of necrophilia as ‘entertainment,’ and runs an operation where women are forced to bark like dogs. This is what has become of the grand old party.”
Two words. Oh. Snap.
This? This is what the DNC was able to concoct as their hard-hitting, pithy, creative jab? Her opponent, Richard Blumenthal must feel quite at ease with this kind of team behind him.
While the appropriateness of the subject matter formerly churned out by McMahon’s company, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and her role in that material can certainly be questioned, the above statement requires a fundamental suspension of the reality that wrestling itself is nothing more than a live television show. It has been described as ‘sports entertainment’, fueled by writers, actor/athletes, and their storylines. In fact, these shows are equally as scripted as a Blumenthal Vietnam story.
Questions remain. Do the Democrats actually believe that wrestling is real? Do they actually believe that Linda McMahon the woman goes around kicking men in the crotch, as opposed to Linda McMahon the actor? Do they also watch roller derby or American Gladiators for the sport aspect?
If this kind of pre-teen mentality is what the DNC views as good political strategy, then things certainly do not bode well for other actors looking to cross into the political spectrum.
Dwayne Johnson? You’re screwed based on a past association with the McMahon’s, and the fact that you once glossed yourself, Flex Kavana.
Matt Damon? Seriously? Have you seen how many people Jason Bourne has killed with just his bare hands and a paper clip?
The cast and crew of True Blood? Necrophilia? Check.
Imagine had this tactic been used for politicians in the past…
Regarding the candidacy of Arnold Schwarzenegger for Governor of California:
“Today the party of pro-life policies nominated a candidate who supported the abortion, or rather the termination, of an unborn child of one Sarah Connor. This is what has become of the once grand old party.”
Zing!
On the nomination of Ronald Reagan for President:
“Today the party of religion and family nominated a candidate who once played the role of God by conducting psychological experiments on a primate named Bonzo, whom he subsequently tried to raise as one of his own. This is what has become of the once grand old party.”
Booyah!
All of this is absurd of course, more so for the fact that the tactic of choice for the DNC appears to involve watching old wrestling clips from their basement. McMahon has so far staved off the wrestling criticisms. And if this is all her opposition has to offer in the way of political strategy for team Blumenthal, she will surely be laying the smackdown on her opponent come November.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
“Ravishing” Rusty is a political writer for NewsBusters, and has appeared in the American Thinker, the Daily Caller, and FoxNews.com. He welcomes feedback at Weiss.Rusty@gmail.com.