PrintDecember 4, 2007
Jack Cafferty calls Republicans the Party of Macaca and Katrina
Anyone familiar with CNN's Jack Cafferty knows he's no stranger to foot in mouth disease. For those who haven't had the displeasure, try this witty analysis of Dick Cheney's interview on Fox News from February of last year:
"Well, I obviously didn't see it because it hasn't been released in its entirety yet. But I would guess it didn't exactly represent a Profile in Courage for the vice president to wander over there to the f-word network for a sit down with Brit Hume. That's a little like Bonnie interviewing Clyde, ain't it?"
The guy just can't help oozing charm, can he?
On last night's Situation Room, the poor man's Andy Rooney described a "Republican attack machine [that] is geared up and ready to go on Hillary." Referring to Frank Rich's Saturday New York Times article, Cafferty suggested that Republicans would face a tough fight should Barack Obama win the Democratic nomination, explaining that:
"The Republicans are the party of Macaca and Katrina and race relations aren't their long suit. And it could prove awkward for them to get aggressive in a campaign against a black candidate"
Republicans the party of Macaca and Katrina?
Rich used the term "saddled with" which is itself insolent, but Cafferty's words pinned both events on the party's lapel as though a "Kick me -- I'm Racist" button.
Katrina? Oh yeah -- The Earth is warming, humans are emitting more Carbon Dioxide, the majority of SUV owners don't vote Democrat, and recent hurricanes have been unusually strong. Therefore, human CO2 emissions cause warmer weather which causes powerful Hurricanes so ipso facto -- Republicans driving Escalades destroyed New Orleans. Oh, and Bush rejects Kyoto and lots of blacks lived in New Orleans so maybe master logician Kayne West was right on target when he concluded that "George Bush doesn't care about black people" live during the 2005 televised Katrina Victims Fundraiser.
Makes perfect sense.
Or perhaps they've given up their preposterous blame of Bush for the deadly storm itself (the Atlantic Hurricane Season ended with a whimper last Friday, rather than the global warming induced bang alarmists anticipated), which would imply it's the Republican government's less than stellar response in the spotlight here. But repeating fantastic allegations of racially motivated disregard doesn't make them any less arbitrary or capricious. Nor, for that matter, does ignoring the greater responsibility of Parish President Aaron Broussard, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco - Democrats all - mitigate their accountability.
And to suggest Macaca to be the dominion of any Republican other than the single failed Virginia Senator whose dim-witted words sentenced the rest of us to six years of the insufferable Jim Webb eliminates any doubt of the partisan hack status of both Rich and Cafferty.
Race relations not Republicans' long suit, you say Jack? And just what might yours be?
Was it a "profile in courage" for a crotchety correspondent to spew unchecked, irresponsible, anti-GOP race-toxins at Wolf Blitzer and viewers of the "c-word" network (the LA Times just labeled them the Corrupt News Network in response to their sleazy tactics during last week's Republican debate)?
That's a little like Jim Jones preaching to members of the People's Temple in Jonestown, isn't it?
