Warning: excessive adulation of Barack Obama is harmful to the vision and can in extreme cases cause hallucinations.
We're all familiar with how an Obamania overdose produced strange tingling sensations in Chris Matthews. A new, virulent strain of the affliction has now emerged, claiming its first victim in the person of Bob Herbert, who on live national TV saw visions of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Washington Monument where none existed.
The NYT columnist, a guest on today's Morning Joe, expanded on the theory set forth in his column of this past Saturday, Running While Black, that the McCain campaign ad mocking Obama as a Paris Hilton/Britney Spears-type celebrity was actually "designed to exploit" racist anxiety about black men and white women. Herbert lumped the McCain ad with the "call me" ad the RNC ran against Harold Ford, Jr. in his Tennessee senate race.
It was in describing the McCain ad that Herbert's symptoms surfaced.
View video here.
BOB HERBERT: You guys have seen the ad a number of times, I am sure, and you have it here in-house. First thing you see are a couple of images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, right? And we see an image of Barack Obama right after that, comes quickly right at the beginning of the, you remember that, right? Do you remember any other startling images right there at the beginning?
Silence on the set.
HERBERT: Alright. There is an image right there in that very beginning of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and there is an image of the Washington Monument. Look at the beginning of that ad again. And you tell me why those two phallic symbols are placed there [snaps fingers]—pow!—right at the very beginning of that ad.
Over the course of the segment, the rest of the gang tried to gently talk Herbert down from his bad trip, calmly explaining that what he was seeing were in fact images of the Victory Column in Tiergarten Park in Berlin, where Obama chose to give his speech. But by the end, Herbert was still speaking of seeing "two phallic symbols." That didn't stop Pat Buchanan from getting off the laugh line of the morning.
PAT BUCHANAN: I may be obtuse but I didn't see 'em. When I see Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, I'm not looking at the background!
Hat tip NB readers SJ and RG.
Note: As FReeper BF has noted, Mika Brzezinski was uncharacteristically quiet during the segment. Abashed on behalf of her fellow Obama fan?
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Hebert is a joke
August 4, 2008 - 14:17 ET by ElyasPAT BUCHANAN: I may be obtuse but I didn't see 'em. When I see Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, I'm not looking at the background!
That is one of the funniest lines I've heard in a while. I'm sure Herbert doesn't have the sense of humor to appreciate how funny that was.
Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.
- Ronald Reagan
Sexualizing Politics
August 4, 2008 - 15:10 ET by zeestephenBob Herbert writes in his NYT op-ed: "Both ads were foul, poisonous and emanated from the upper reaches of the Republican Party. (What a surprise.) Both were designed to exploit the hostility, anxiety and resentment of the many white Americans who are still freakishly hung up on the idea of black men rising above their station and becoming sexually involved with white women."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/02/opinion/02herbert.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
That's bizarre.
What's the story with Leftside black political leaders and sex?
Vernon Jordan's public wisecrack that he and Bill Clinton talk about "pu**y."
Jesse Jackson says he wants to cut off Obama's you-know-whats.
Now, Bob Herbert delivers a Freudian racial rant.
How much worse does it get when these guys talk in private?
By the way, does Herbert know that Clarence Thomas, a Conservative icon and black Supreme Court justice, is married to a white woman?
Can Herbert name one white Conservative who is "freakishly hung up" about Clarence Thomas "rising above" his station and being "sexually involved" with a white woman?
zee.... Excellent. "Amer
August 4, 2008 - 15:18 ET by bigtimerzee....
Excellent.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
This guy cannot be serious
August 4, 2008 - 15:45 ET by ChuckM from PAThis guy cannot be serious. Really. Either that he is one sicko dude. Anyone who goes looking for symbols of male body parts in that particular ad has got to be either joking or sick.
And I don't think he was joking. I did notice how the other hosts (particularly Mika) went quiet. This is just unbelievable.
ophallic symptoms ?
August 4, 2008 - 18:02 ET by tejanodiablowhere de white wimins ???
never look a gift skunk in the tail ..
Bob Herbert's living in the 60s
August 4, 2008 - 15:38 ET by WingletDriverThe 1860s that is. He may not realize this, but the most popular athlete in America is arguably Tiger Woods, whose father was Black and mother is Thai. Tiger is married to a White Swede. And nobody finds any of this odd or offensive. Even the talk of Tiger transcending the color barrier is an echo of the past.
Winglet - Another Good Catch
August 4, 2008 - 16:07 ET by zeestephenI never think about Tiger's race.
Nor have I ever thought about his wife's race.
And I'm an old guy, too, an old white Republican.
One unintended consequence of Obama's candidacy is that many white Americans are no longer embarrassed to send racial baloney right back to the chef who cooked it.
I also saw this early early
August 4, 2008 - 14:27 ET by bigtimerI also saw this early early here...I'm still laughing with Pat's comments....
To me this Herbert was the comedy segment for the morning...he is delusional...full of illusions that weren't there.
I can't even get angry anymore with these blind followers of Obama...they are hopeless.
Btw...I will say one thing, I am sick and tired of that ad that came out against Ford as being racist...it wasn't then, it isn't now...but the leftist party and the msm had to make a huge deal out of that, this seems to be all they have anymore if the race gets heated.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
morning bt.... I didn't see
August 4, 2008 - 14:35 ET by motherbeltmorning bt.... I didn't see that, but I wish Pat had said (being a little indelicate here, LOL):
You know Bob, ...wouldn't most guys be proud of that implication???
Howdy mb... ROFL.... My
August 4, 2008 - 14:46 ET by bigtimerHowdy mb...
ROFL....
My mind went where yours did too mb...just couldn't think of a way to put it as priceless as you did...
Thanks...I'm still laughing...
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Yeah, and I've said
August 4, 2008 - 15:53 ET by motherbeltYeah, and I've said elsewhere that these liberals are the only ones who seem to have a fixation about black men and white women. Especially blond white women.
It's starting to look like a case of projection.
where is dey
August 4, 2008 - 19:03 ET by tejanodiablowhere de white wimins ??? .. 'scuse me whilst i whup it out ..
never look a gift skunk in the tail ..
BeeTee
August 4, 2008 - 14:39 ET by DoktorFrankenI agree with your "hopeless" statement. They are gone past Pluto on the Starship Fantasy, as far as I'm concerned.
His column should have been "Running While Half-White With A Mix Of Other Stuff No One Knows About Because His Real History Is Being Hidden From America". And I still don't get how using two dumb blonde bimbos who have just as much right to be insanely popular as The One in an ad is racist! "Racist Anxiety?" What the hell is that? Who made that one up?
I am glad that there are others to watch this tripe so that I don't have to.
Another HATE/BLAME WHITEY RACIST RANT
August 4, 2008 - 14:28 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasAnother HATE/BLAME WHITEY RACIST RANT by an Obamanation supporter. Are you listening AMERICA? Are you understanding the THREAT THE OBAMANATION and his supporters are to this country, its prosperity and its future? Is this what you want in the White House? The choice is yours, HATE or LEADERSHIP.
Next Please! If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal.
Too Much Psychobabble
August 4, 2008 - 14:32 ET by Hooterville DenizenThis guy has been in therapy too long. He's beginning to see "symbols" in everyday objects. This must be a cry for help. Someone. Please. Get this man some help!
Always calling wolf...
August 4, 2008 - 14:39 ET by okiehawk44I sternly admonished my daughters when they were growing into women to never claim rape when it did not occur because they owed that to those who were truly violated.
Herbert and others seeing racism in everything all the time doesn't produce the desired result anymore.
Racism is not subliminal or individual
August 4, 2008 - 14:46 ET by Dee Bunkit's an outward dislike of a group of people. Nothing said about Obama is racist unless it's implied that his ignorance or some negative trait is due to him specifically being black.
Comparing him to White celebrities certainly wouldn't be lumping him with all other black people. If McCain did an ad that showed a bunch of black criminal celebrities and compared Obama to them then maybe.
This is rediculous. McCain and all Republicans need to take the Joan Rivers approach (when she was called a racist on a British radio program) and say "How dare you call me a racist!" Republicans have to stop shying away and confront their bogus claims head on.
And if the ad would have
August 4, 2008 - 15:19 ET by IgnatzJFahrquarAnd if the ad would have used two black actresses or even two black rappers (you fill in the blanks) McC would have definately been called a racist.
No win.
"All generalizations are false, including this one.” Mark Twain
It suddenly dawns on Mika
August 4, 2008 - 15:27 ET by KC MulvilleWhen it suddenly became quiet ... and they all realized that a New York Times columnist is off his rocker ... priceless. Like the Invasion of the Body Snatchers, he's not the person you thought he was.
I didn't see this exchange
August 4, 2008 - 15:40 ET by marpelI didn't see this exchange this morning (thank goodness I didn't). Since Obama first entered the race for President, there's been a huge number of African American commentators used by all the news networks. None have been as nutty as this dude, and there have been some real nut cases (black and white) coming out of the woodwork on Obama's behalf. It certainly does not help their cause, and it leaves much open for playing the race card, I think.
Herbert is certainly not new
August 4, 2008 - 15:54 ET by motherbeltHerbert is certainly not new on the scene. He's been the NY Times' (are you sruprised?) resident race ranter for quite a few years.
I wonder what Herbert
August 4, 2008 - 15:50 ET by jwm45I wonder what Herbert thought of the NAACP James Byrd ad back in 2000 attacking G. Bush???
He probably didn't notice it
August 4, 2008 - 15:53 ET by ElyasHe probably missed it because it didn't have huge phallic symbols in it.
Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.
- Ronald Reagan
good one!
August 4, 2008 - 15:55 ET by ChuckM from PAgood one!
LOL I saw this live this
August 4, 2008 - 15:54 ET by EvokeLOL I saw this live this a.m. at work and couldn't stop laughing...pathetic.
The fact that the GOP is
August 4, 2008 - 15:58 ET by Chris NormanThe fact that the GOP is even fielding a candidate against the Messiah is proof that they're exploiting racist anxiety about black men and: the presidency, liberal policies, and the future of the country - those racist SOBs...
McNotObama '08
obamania
August 4, 2008 - 16:03 ET by donsalimanObama and his fans, will turn everything McCain says into racism.
This is not the first time and it will not be the last.
If during the campaign, they are going into saying everything is racism,wait what will happen if Obama loses?
Sad, but predictibly true
August 4, 2008 - 16:07 ET by ChuckM from PASad, but predictibly true. I saw this one coming months ago.
Aside from the 'Celebrity' Angle.....
August 4, 2008 - 16:13 ET by BarkerParis = France, Britney = Britain. Get it, Bob? No? Maybe they should have included David Hasselhoff in the ad.
Poor fella, decades of
August 4, 2008 - 16:40 ET by mattmPoor fella, decades of liberalistic thinking has finally sent him over the edge. Let this be a lesson.....
NYT
August 4, 2008 - 17:31 ET by iveseenitallIsn't this the same NYT that wouldn't publish McCain's op-ed? I guess this is why it is losing business. This guy Herbert reminds me of high school sophomore. Writing about racism and phallic sysmbols when commenting upon this political ad is positively adolescent. It is truly sad that this is how low "journalism" has come. Moreover, Herbert is a prime example of the failure of Affirmative Action. Used to be that one had to be mature and highly educated to write for the Times or any other major newspaper. Simply being black, juvenile, and angry didn't cut it way back when.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Ever since I read, years
August 4, 2008 - 19:29 ET by Chris NormanEver since I read, years ago, in The Sacramento Bee that certain people of color were offended by what they claimed were "racist code colors" used in the movie "Dick Tracy", I've realized, when one is a professional offendee, one doesn't have to look too hard to be "offended" by some fairly innocuous things.
McNotObama '08
Chris!
August 4, 2008 - 20:33 ET by iveseenitall"Professional Offendee"--- great phrase. So appropos. My wife and I got a real belly laugh reading that one. Thanks! LOL
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Isia, Happy to help out with
August 4, 2008 - 20:45 ET by Chris NormanIsia,
Happy to help out with a laugh. Sometimes, that's all we can do.
McNotObama '08
Liberal/Leftist Derangement Syndrome (LDS)
August 5, 2008 - 09:52 ET by needleIt appears that Bush Derangement Syndrome (BDS) is generalizing. This could be called an early example of McCain Derangement Syndrome (MDS), but it is important to realize that both BDS and MDS are actually just various forms Liberal/Leftist Derangement Syndrome (LDS).
Where does LDS come from? One is tempted to posit LSD; but really it come from regurgitated Liberal and Leftist opinion, disconnected from the facts and reality, interacting with the MSM in the manner of a vicious cycle. So that after a while they really believe that Bush stole the election of 2000, and that “Bush lied and people died,” etc. (The really deranged ones think that Bush also stole the 2004 election, and that he was responsible for all the destruction of Katrina.) There are now a few hundred thousand BDS/LDS cases running around who actually want to impeach Bush based upon their delusions.
I hold the MSM responsible for LDS and all its variants. The vicious cycles of delusion would go nowhere, if it were not for the MSM.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Needles
August 5, 2008 - 11:26 ET by NorthCoasterI've wondered for years about putting a label on this syndrome! It's just a vicious cycle of delusion and projection.
Listen to Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and other Dem leaders and you'll see that there is a plague of LDS occuring! I guess that explains many things.
Thanks Needles!
Same clown
August 4, 2008 - 23:44 ET by Cool ArrowThis is the same clown who last week on Chrissy's show equated "arrogance" with "uppity"
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
Herb is begging
August 5, 2008 - 03:27 ET by 55MHB55Herb's NY Times needs Obama to get free money from the government or no more NY Times. He just wants money he will say anything.