Might Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) have some "'splainin' to do" about racial insensitivity? Both Associated Press editor Michael Giarrusso and Politico's Glenn Thrush raised the question in blog posts filed this morning.
Shortly before noon, Giarrusso noted that "Sen. Tom Coburn evoked a 1950s TV show in a quip responding to Sonia Sotomayor’s scenario about what he might do if she -- hypothetically, of course -- attacked him."
For online readers unaware of the half-century-old pop culture reference, Giarrusso explained:
In the famous 1950s TV show "I Love Lucy," the Cuban-American bandleader Ricardo (played by the equally Cuban-American bandleader Desi Arnaz) would often admonish his scatterbrained wife, Lucy, by saying she'd have some "'splainin'" to do. The phrase, "Lucy, you have some 'splainin' to do," has become part of the popular culture.
While Giarrusso didn't go so far as to condemn the reference, he did open wide the door for questioning whether Coburn might have crossed a hazily-defined cultural sensitivity line:
Calling Coburn out for this might be going too far -- those who know him say he often speaks like this -- but it was hard not to notice his inflection and choice of words. At the very least, it suggests a tin ear -- particularly when you're speaking to a woman who may become the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.
For his part, Politico's Glenn Thrush -- whose story was filed at 11:00 a.m. EDT -- described the incident as "a funny, slightly cringe-inducing exchange."
Unlike Giarrusso, Thrush placed less weight on the "splainin" crack as it being "probably the first time in two-plus centuries of SCOTUS hearings where a nominee suggested he or she would plug a sitting senator, however hypothetically."
Politico also has video of the exchange (embedded below), where it's clear the Oklahoma Republican did NOT -- contrary to Giarrusso's suggestion -- evince a cheesy Desi Arnaz impression when cracking the joke.
"I Love Lucy" still via HollywoodYesterday.com
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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I watched this early
July 15, 2009 - 16:39 ET by bigtimerI watched this early today....that's the last place my mind went, adn I imagine most normal peoples minds would go...leave it to the far left to attempt to make something racist out of this somehow...gawd they are going to run out of BS, people have to be past fed up with this intentional try at some more propaganda as long as it is pointed at someone with an 'R' after their name.
What bothered me about all of this was the way she avoided, spun the simple question of do I have the right to defend myself if I am in danger from someone else....I'm paraphrasing here, but you get the drift...she danced all around it...and Coburn disappointed me with letting her do just that.
Just my point of view....I'm disgusted at the whole dog and pony show, because that is all it was in my opinion.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Desi Arnaz: Hispanic icon?
July 15, 2009 - 16:51 ET by nkviking75According to the Museum of Broadcast Communications, Desi Arnaz broke a racial barrier when he was cast as Ricky Ricardo in I Love Lucy. CBS did not want Lucille Ball's real life husband to play her TV husband, but she insisted. This was in an era when TV sitcoms were overwhelmingly white bread. Ricky Ricardo was never portrayed as a stereotype, except for jokes about his accent. And since he also owned the show and made many of the decisions, Desi Arnaz must have signed off on those jokes.
It should be noted that the "wise Latina" laughed along with everyone else at Coburn's "joke". This is a case of the state-run media looking for a controversy where there is none.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Splainin' Giarrusso
July 15, 2009 - 17:22 ET by BarkerMichael Giarrusso ain't nothing but a Jive Turkey (h/t Fred Sanford) and a Meathead (h/t Archie Bunker).
This was a nothing moment.
July 15, 2009 - 17:54 ET by balboaThis was a nothing moment. No harm meant, none intended.
Make My Day, Senator
July 15, 2009 - 18:08 ET by BarkerSenator Coburn: Then you'd have some splainin' to do, Judge.
Judge Sotomayor: Eat my shorts, Senator.
Um, if this is referring to
July 15, 2009 - 22:18 ET by GrannyGrump42Um, if this is referring to Ricky Ricardo, then it's a reference to a very talented, competent, and wise Hispanic, chiding a scatterbrained WHITE woman. So even if there was a racial overtone, it was a slur against WHITES.
It'd make more sense to lament that he was being sexist in implying that being a woman, our dear nominee was akin to the harebrained Lucy.
I Say
July 16, 2009 - 05:45 ET by sic721"It's yust so re-dik-oh-las. ah ah ah ah!"
"The human race divides itself politically into those who want to be controlled, and those who have no such desire."-Robert A. Heinlein
Libs have some "sprainin' to do"
July 16, 2009 - 08:08 ET by Pilgrim1949...as in the usual spraining of the Liberal brain as it ties itself in Gordian knots trying to squeeze the last drop of potential-inferred-infinite-degrees-of-separation racisim, or any teeny tiny hint thereof.
Good grief, Charlie Brown!
Considering recent revelations about Sotomayor's candid personal confessions that had it not been for Affirmative Action, she knows that her grades alone would never have qualified her for the university she finally attended, it's not at all surprising the "shocked, simply shocked" hissy fit her Democrat courtisans have spun up.
Babaloooooooo!!!
July 16, 2009 - 08:21 ET by jessieHThe liberals will jump on this faster than Speedy Gozalles can run.