By FITSNews || Having written dozens of news stories attempting to explain the bizarre candidacy of South Carolina’s Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Alvin Greene, the national media is now attempting to explain its own obsession with the curiously-moored candidate. In a probing piece in The Politico on Monday, Greene’s candidacy is viewed through the lens of the media circus that has surrounded it – with what Monty Python might call “hilarious consequences.”
Most notably, a “whoopee cushion.”
In attempting to the break down the irresistible “alchemy of the Greene story,” The Politico‘s Jonathan Martin scored a gem of a quote from one of the S.C. Democratic Party’s rising stars.
From Martin’s piece:
State Rep. Anton Gunn, an up-and-coming Democrat, said there is now a national perception about the state along the lines of, “If you want to hear something crazy, if you want to see something stupid, come to South Carolina.”
“I don’t agree with it,” he added, “but there’s this imagery of us being the whoopee cushion of the nation, and we continue to exacerbate that.”
Nice …
Of course Gunn switches gears when discussing the media’s obsession with Greene, calling the barrage of national coverage “condescension toward a Southern state.”
Hmmmm …
So is Gunn saying the mainstream media is racist toward blacks? Because the last time we checked, that premise was demonstrably false.
Whatever the case, props to Gunn for working the term “whoopee cushion” into the political lexicon.
By It's Freakin SC July 26, 2010 at 11:37 am
What’s more disturbing to me are the politicians this state re-elects that are certifiable crazy but no one seems to mind because they know how to act in public.
By Toyota Kawaski July 26, 2010 at 12:05 pm
ah yes! The new young guns of the (D) party
By eggaday July 26, 2010 at 12:10 pm
so where is all the hot air aimed Sic??
By Gillon July 26, 2010 at 12:13 pm
It wasn’t Anton Gunn that first coined the term “Whoopee Cushion” to describe the antics oF SC’s politicians. That distinction belongs to Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show” who used it several weeks back during the celebrated spoutings of Jakie Knotts, Andre Bauer, Larry Marchant, etc. during the leadup to the Republican primary. Good turn of words though, and worth repeating.
By ArtVandelay July 26, 2010 at 12:15 pm
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“condescension toward a Southern state.”
Hmmmm …
So is Gunn saying the mainstream media is racist toward blacks? Because the last time we checked, that premise was demonstrably false.
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WHAT?! How exactly did you make that leap? Where would you even get that from…. outside of the fact that Mr. Gunn is african american?
I sincerely hope this site is above the race baiting that is at a fever pitch in conservative media.
By AI July 26, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Gunn blatantly ripped off the whooppee cushion thing from Jon Stewart.
By Cooter Brown July 26, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Boy outta mind hiz own dam bitness! We got it goin’ on heer in SC!
By Balsak Tee Baghar July 26, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Good heavens above!
This picture has fooled me!
I thought it was Jakie Knotts taking a nap!
Palin-Haley 2012!
I can see India from my house!
By Anton Gunn July 26, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Dear FitsNews,
I was not saying the mainstream media is racist towards anyone. I was saying the (non-southern) mainstream media is culturally-biased against all of us who are Southerners. If you think about the historical images and characterizations of southern political leaders (past and present, black and white, male and female), many times we are mocked by media outside of the South. That’ all. It’s unfortunate they see us like this, but it sometimes we do things to contribute to this false image.
Anton
PS, I can’t take credit for introducing the term “Whoopee Cushion” in the SC political lexicon. That honor goes to The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart.
By Fred July 26, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Anton:
Thanks for having the guts to come on here and clarify. Alot of us on here think alot of you!
All the other elected officials are scared to use their name when posting on FITS.
Some of us ….er them use pseudonyms to hide our …er their identity.
Fred
By Old Bike Dude July 26, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Would the term “fart bag” be more southernistic?
By No worries July 26, 2010 at 6:24 pm
SC won’t have to be worried about having it image “ruined” because it will be the U.S. that is considered the “whoopee cushion” of the world once the currency collapses. Or as Old Bike Dude says, the U.S. will be the “fart bag” of the world to reflect he correct southern vernacular.
By George July 26, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Come to South Fart Carolina, home of all the hot air bubba peoples.
By Crooner July 27, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Gunn is spot on. I remember being so pleased that the sheriff handling the Susan Smith matter back in the ’90s appeared so bright and articulate, given the media’s usual portrayal of folks from the south.
By Huhhh??? July 27, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Crooner, you do know that sheriff was recently arrested in one of the Union County public corruption cases?
By carl the greenskeeper July 27, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Oh, uhhh, I don’t know. I went to maybe, the 4th grade, or something like that and I’ve done pretty well. I’ve got Carl’s Guide to Greens coming out next spring, which is a dynamic read, a real page turner. Then there’s my new CD, Blowin’ Blow in The Wind, available at retail outlets near you and I’ll be co-hosting a political commentary radio call-in on a semi-monthly basis with Sic. They wanted me to come on board for the more in-depth analysis of events in this state, due to my overwhelming successes here. So, its not fair, I don’t think, to paint all of the state as a joke. For such a jerk water state, there are a lotta hemmorrhoids coming here. You know what hemmorrhoids are? People who come down here. They’re pains in the ass when they come down, but its a great relief when they go back up.