I've tried to avoid commenting on the Larry Craig scandal -- it's sad and I don't have anything new to say -- but I need to emerge from seclusion to complain about this soundbite from Mary Matalin on "Meet the Press":
MATALIN: If you’re a liberal and you cheat on your wife, it’s a private affair. If you’re a conservative and you cheat on your wife, you’re a hypocrite. Normal people, when the husband cheats on the wife, the wife does not consider the politics before she gives a response on this. Normal people out there did just what James just referenced, they looked at Mrs. Craig, and I remember looking at Lee Hart and through the years this—these poor suffering families. The first thing normal people thinks are—think are, “What? Is—this is a family tragedy.” The second thing they think is, “Why is everybody in Washington glued to this? And can’t—and don’t you guys have something better to do?” And thirdly, I didn’t listen to the tape, I didn’t watch any of this, but the people that I talked to are not particularly Craig fans, or critics, said, “That sounds like entrapment. Don’t the cops have better things to do than tap dance in bathrooms in the airport?” I’m just telling you the normal person view at the end of all...
I don't know what's more annoying -- the idea that Matalin thinks she speaks for "normal people" or the fact that she couldn't be bothered to listen to the Craig tape before pontificating about it on national television.
Well, I don't know Mary Matilin, so I can't say if she can talk for normal people, and I don't know if I qualify as a normal person, but it's exactly what has been going through my head (well, that and mirth about the whole ridiculous story).
Posted by: Marie | September 03, 2007 at 08:44 PM
That Mary Matalin and James Carville are obliged to spend their lives in each other's company is proof that (a) there is a just God ruling the universe, (b) karma's a bitch, (c) they are spending this lifetime preparing for their permanent residence on eighth circle of Hell, or (d) all of the above.
Posted by: Rob | September 03, 2007 at 09:22 PM
Rob, I don't know who you are, but I have to pick up that quote. Consider yourself quoted!
HJ
Posted by: Bing McGhandi | September 03, 2007 at 11:15 PM
To Bob Shrum's credit, he called her on that attempt minutes later, paraphrasing, "Mary, I love you [ick], but who are you to be telling us what normal people think?" I was glad someone shot her down. Although her bit about "performance" on MTP was both weirder and funnier.
Posted by: shaister | September 07, 2007 at 02:39 PM