PC gone amuk!

Imran Siddiqui · January 7, 2004, 19:35

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/....ap/index.html

Quote:

T. LOUIS, Missouri (AP) -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton apologized for joking that Mahatma Gandhi used to run a gas station in St. Louis, saying it was "a lame attempt at humor."

The New York Democrat made the remark at a fund-raiser Saturday. During an event here for Senate candidate Nancy Farmer, Clinton introduced a quote from Gandhi by saying, "He ran a gas station down in St. Louis."

After laughter from many in the crowd of at least 200 subsided, the former first lady continued, "No, Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader of the 20th century." In a nod to Farmer's underdog status against Republican Sen. Kit Bond, Clinton quoted the Indian independence leader as saying: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

The director of a U.S. center devoted to Gandhi's teachings called the remarks stereotypical and racially insensitive, while an educator said the flap underscored the need for politicians to be cautious when trying to get laughs.

"Political speeches can't be like episodes of The Simpsons," said David Robertson, a University of Missouri-St. Louis political science professor.

After being approached by The Associated Press to clarify the remarks, Clinton suggested in a statement sent late Monday that she never meant to fuel any stereotype -- often used as a comedic punch line -- that certain ethnic groups were synonymous with operating America's gas stations.

"I have admired the work and life of Mahatma Gandhi and have spoken publicly about that many times," Clinton said in a two-sentence statement. "I truly regret if a lame attempt at humor suggested otherwise."

So does Michelle Naef, administrator of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, the Memphis, Tennessee-based nonprofit group founded in 1991 by a Gandhi grandson to promote his grandfather's teachings, including nonviolent resistance.

While crediting Clinton and her husband, former President Clinton, as long having "supported the Gandhi message," Naef said Saturday's remarks "could be incredibly harmful" in perpetuating racial myths.

"I don't think she was, in any way, trying to demean Mahatma Gandhi," Naef said. "To be generous to her, I would say it was a poor attempt at humor. Perhaps I'm overly sensitive, but I find it offensive when people use stereotypes in that way."

To Robertson, the professor, the flap demonstrates the potential peril of when humor by politicians falls flat.

"The more prominent the politician, the more they've taken positions on equality in the past as Mrs. Clinton has, the more this is going to be troubling to some people," he said. "It's understandable that groups want to make sure they're treated with complete respect."

When it comes to Hillary Clinton, he said, "there's no reason to think she doesn't admire Gandhi, like so many people do. After all, Gandhi was influential to Martin Luther King Jr., and I know she respects King."

Come on! It was just a silly joke! And Hillary isn't someone I'd normally support!

Space05us · January 7, 2004, 19:39

everyone knows he didnt run a gas station it was a diner! sheesh at least get your facts straight.

DRoseDARs · January 7, 2004, 19:40

I get the joke. Wasn't a smart thing to do, but the joke does make a little sense in light of the quote she recited.

And she's right: it was lame.

Verto · January 7, 2004, 19:45

The joke was not that big of a deal.

Kuciwalker · January 7, 2004, 19:49

*sigh*

monkspider · January 7, 2004, 20:03

I find that joke offensive.

Ari Rahikkala · January 7, 2004, 20:08

I thought this was going to be a tech support thread... thanks for wasting my time

.

(then again, being that if this had been a tech support thread it would have been about Windows, which means I would have wasted my time anyway...)

Dr Strangelove · January 7, 2004, 20:33

At least she didn't claim that he ran a convenience store in Springfield.

Space05us · January 7, 2004, 20:34

Quote:

I find that joke offensive.

MrFun · January 7, 2004, 20:39

Yep -- PC has gotten out of control.

Just like other PC fanatics want to see flag-burning banned because they find it offensive.

Caligastia · January 7, 2004, 20:42

Can you imagine if a republican said this? We'd never hear the end of it.

Nubclear · January 7, 2004, 20:45

Quote:

Originally posted by Caligastia
republican

Person of conservative values and ideals, you ignorant hick

MrFun · January 7, 2004, 20:46

Hey Cal, this doesn't have anything to do with racial traits, so why did you post in here??

Anyway, Democrat, Republican or Martian -- anyone who would be in Hilary's situation would not be in the wrong.

St Leo · January 7, 2004, 21:48

This is silly. What's wrong with being called a gas station attendant?

If Hillary had called Gandhi a mathematician, would she have been accused of perpetuating the stereotype that all Indians are mathematical prodigies like Ramanujan?

Ming · January 7, 2004, 21:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
At least she didn't claim that he ran a convenience store in Springfield.

TCO · January 7, 2004, 22:09

You're just being anti-indian...

Shi Huangdi · January 7, 2004, 22:33

Quote:

Originally posted by monkspider
I find that joke offensive.

Thank you come again!

Japher · January 7, 2004, 22:35

I don't find offensive, then I am not an Indian.

Still, Cali is right. Republican Senators have been forced out of office for similar comments. Double Standards suk, except when they benefit me.

I already hated Hilary, so this nothing new.