January 2006
About Schmidt: Message Isn’t Working Anymore
Rove’s mastery not as well received the this time around
By Michael D. Altman
Queen City Forum Magazine editor in chief
Liberal, nine-eleven, cut-and-run, coward, nine-eleven, evil-doers. Freedom.
Alienating… alienated… ignorant.
Ugly is as ugly does.
Jean Schmidt had her last word weeks ago, though liberal talking heads and anti-Bush administration politicians—including a growing number of Republicans— would be well served to keep an eye on the Ohio 2nd District Congresswoman and exploit everything she says in the same way that her hero has exploited the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on that September morning.
Schmidt has always been a magnet for controversy and a cartoonist’s dream. But, to be fair, she’s run, like…a bunch’a marathons, of which she reminds people every time she gets a chance.
Jean Schmidt
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She has been called “Mean Jean” by many politicos and not just because it rhymes. She has an aggressive, dismissive style that diminishes the asker of even the most basic questions. This almost impenetrable defense mechanism is tailor-made for carrying the message of this administration. And so, her statement in mid-November on the floor of Congress to Jack Murtha (D- PA) – that cowards cut and run; Marines do not—was perfect.
Never mind the fact that Murtha has actually been decorated for bravery in battle for the United States, and, before this time, had never seen a war that he didn’t like.
This one, Murtha is saying, he doesn’t like.
This man’s declaration was just enough ammo for the loud, misguided Congresswoman to launch the supposed words of one of her constituents, who ran from the accusation quicker than John Kerry from a personality. Schmidt tried to exploit the phantom message to remind her constituents and the rest of the country of our battle cry: Nine-eleven…We will not cut-and-run.
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“Jeannie”, another nickname, did attempt to retract her statement in so many words. The message, she maintained, is important. How she said it, she felt, was not.
She’s right. The message was cowards cut-and-run; Marines do not. We can even cut it down to make it broader; cowards cut-and-run. Perfect, Jeannie; now we have a bumper sticker.
As stupid as Schmidt’s defense was that she didn’t know that Murtha was a Marine, (since most seventh graders, if they were mentioning one person specifically would have enough sense to do some research on the person) it was a message to the base.
Voters in Ohio’s Second should not be surprised that she did what she did—setting herself up for such ridicule. But the message has been delivered, and once again the debate is not about whether this country is wearing itself too thin by having our troops—the sons and daughters not of the elite in America—reupped over and again. The debate is not on just what we are fighting for or against and why as that changes every nine months or so.
No, it has been simplified for the Republican base consumption. We are not cowards; we redeploy your sons and daughters until we have proven this to enough fundraising audiences.
But the truth is, Mrs. Schmidt, even if you run 50 marathons it won’t equal two purple hearts. It won’t equal half of one. It won’t equal real service to this country.
You have an opportunity to serve your country right now. Serve your constituency, your country. The President that you pledged to serve is lavishing his compassion on billionaires and ruining our future. Don’t cut-and-run from your duty to the 4,000 or so non-billionaires in Clermont County that put you over the top…they’re starting to wake up, look at you and chew their arms off.
Jean Schmidt just stuck to the concept that served that part of the Republican Party for so long.
The message isn’t working anymore. And just as Forrest’s Momma Gump used to say, “Stupid is as stupid does.” The deceitful is as deceitful does crowd wary of this administration from publicity stunt number one is starting to say, I told ya so.
Michael D. Altman writes “I Don’t Mind Telling You” based on the dynamic of human and political bliss and frailty. The monthly feature in QCF Magazine hits on local and national politics and sometimes suggests where to eat.
Contact Information
· michaelda@queencityforum.com
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