My Take on Facebook Favreau
By LisaB on December 9, 2008 at 12:00 AM in Arrogance, Barack Obama, Disenfranchisement, Hillary Clinton, Sexism
When Facebook-Favreau-gate began, I thought of it as simply a puerile act showing the young man in question had yet to slough off that collegiate patina.
Then I realized I was only getting angrier at the boy.
Today, Amy Siskind, over at The Daily Beast, had a few things to say.
Incident 3: John Favreau Gropes Cardboard Likeness of Sen Clinton
Check out what President-elect Obama’s pick for director of speechwriting at the White House does in his free time.
This is the guy who puts words in Obama’s mouth, right?
————-
Is the type of “change” we are meant to believe in? Looks like more of the “boys club” “(only 27% of Cabinet picks to date are women—less than President Clinton and President W. Bush)” that seems to be developing at the White House under President-elect Obama.
Read the rest ->
She combines the Favreau-executive-branch-grope-fest with stories about the “Big 3 Bailout” where women’s opinions are neither solicited nor desired and the Treasury secretary-select, Geitner, who also “de-solicits” female opinion - even that of the head of the FDIC.
Siskind sees a pattern. Fine. Of course, that pattern became visible months ago. Misogyny is now part of the “liberal” canon, both political and punditocral.
So, why is Facebook-Favreau so bothersome?
* The picture tells a LOT about President-Elect Obama’s “chief speechwriter” - mainly that the dude acts like either the pledge master or would-be frat brother, I can’t tell which. I live in a college town, so I see this a lot, but it’s a COLLEGE TOWN. I don’t live near 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, where those lucky enough to work are expected to be more sophisticated than the average binge-drinker. And this guy apparently isn’t worldly enough to know that potential employers regularly check applicants out on Facebook. Many employers consider Facebook party pics something of a negative, after all.
* This picture gives the sense that Hillary featured strongly in Team Obama’s thinking. And the bs about “high spirits” or “post-long-campaign-shenanigans” just doesn’t pass the smell test. No one keeps a cardboard cutout of someone they like. OK, maybe some do. But the pose of Favreau and unnamed wingman are not respectful. A respectful pose wouldn’t be funny, after all. And funny was the putative point of the picture although it is a type of funny typically found in rhyming couplets on a bathroom wall. Lame and boring to anyone older than about 16.
* The treatment of this picture as a non-issue by President-Elect Obama himself continues a tradition of treating women poorly despite hyper vigilance on AA discrimination / insult issues. Jeeeez, I could go on and on, but we’ve written so much about this at NQ, I feel like I’m forever repeating myself (and the other fine writers). President-Elect Obama should have changed the tone of his campaign IMMEDIATELY after the primary with respect (or lack of) to HRC. Had that been the case, this cutout would have been long gone. The t-shirt on wingman as well as Favreau’s presence suggest they didn’t expect President-Elect Obama to be bothered by the picture.
* HRC is now the likely incoming US Secretary of State. That’s supposed to be a position of power and respect. Had these two jello shot dudes been just some 19 year olds from my local U, it would be disrespectful but not necessarily a potential problem for international relations. Now, I don’t think a disrespectful picture of ANY US official is an international incident, as long as the picture originates from the opposition, doodlers and/or political cartoonists. That stuff is to be expected, along with the perennial US flag burnings by people who have no idea what our flag actually looks like.
But this originates from the office of President-Elect Obama, from a person with direct access to President-Elect Obama and who has shaped both the image and message of President-Elect Obama to the US public. Because of Favreau’s access to President-Elect Obama and his importance to President-Elect Obama’s success to date, it is hard to believe this picture isn’t reflective of a broader attitude toward HRC, and, to judge by other issues regarding females, women in general. THAT’S the problem here. That opens a window for others to wonder about President-Elect Obama’s confidence and trust in HRC and in the US SOS. Unacceptable. While all the pundits and tvidiots are talking about whether HRC can be “loyal” and “tow the Obama line” without trying to “push her vision instead of his,” we now have some indirect evidence of a problem going the other way. Not that this should be a surprise, really.
Quite frankly, I’m disgusted that a would-be member of President-Elect Obama’s office would be so undisciplined and immature. While President-Elect Obama appealed to students, he isn’t supposed to put them in high office until they’ve learned a few things. Not to post stupid pictures revealing more than you should on Facebook should have been top of that list. Actually, that would have been understood by an adult. Clearly, Favreau’s boyhood isn’t over.
Indirectly, this picture is another indictment of a campaign and candidate utterly tone deaf to women. What’s worse, having nominated Hillary Clinton for one of the highest offices in the nation, President-Elect Obama has now undercut her personally and as US SOS by not immediately taking care of padwan Favreau. As much as anything else, this sends a signal to carefully watching nations as the BO administration takes shape.
I cannot think of a way out (assuming he gives a rip) for President-Elect Obama at this point than to “bus” young Facebook-Favreau. But time passes, and President-Elect Obama has clearly sent a message by dragging his heels.
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I’m numb from all these backwards people taking over the government.
Favreau should be fired immediately. And Obama should tender a meaningful apology. How disgusting can they get?
Nothing will happen, you can bet. Unfortunately, feminists such as Gloria Steinem, Kim Gandy, Erica Jong, Robin Morgan and other high profile “leaders of women” gave the Obama campaign and the media express permission to mutilate women candidates with sexist and misogynistic attacks.
Worse, they led the way by flinging some of the most hurtful and harmful attacks themselves. Even Geraldine Ferraro wimped out in the end and “forgave” Obama his misogyny by supporting him with open arms - even though she had previously made a point of how supporting Obama gave license to hateful sexism.
So what are we to do now? Women are leaderless and misogyny is condoned and accepted at every level. This groping pic is just a tiny example of how institutionalized sexism is and how women have officially stamped their approval on keeping it that way.
I remain stunned by what emerged from this campaign season as the “place” women have in this disgustingly backward society when it comes to gender parity.
And nobody disgusts me more than the feminist leadership that practically fought for the opportunity to disparage women on behalf of a novelty candidate - a cute black man who ridiculed them out of one side of his mouth and seduced them out of the other side.
I admit that I have a lot of thinking to do about just what makes up the psyche of women that they can prove to be their own worst enemy.
If women are to survive in this society, a very different kind of female leadership is going to have to come to the forefront, something very different from the far left liberal leadership we have seen for the past 40 years.
She did. Her name was Hillary. And the crowd crucified her.
*****A
Hillary is a politician who has to depend on the electorate for her survival. We need a rebellion in this country against misogyny and sexism - and a leader completely outside the government, one who does not have to kiss anybody’s butt.
Rebellion? Yes rebellion. Obviously trying to “reform” the system doesn’t work. Trying to work inside the system doesn’t work. We’ve been at that for forty years - and look at what we’ve got for all our trouble.
Yes, we’ve made some progress, but this is the 21st century, this is almost 90 years since women got the vote, this is over 200 years since “people” won their “freedom” in this country.
That we lag behind dozens of other countries in parity for women is disgraceful! That we had to endure the male (and female) hatred against women that just occurred in this election is shameful. That we would accept it with a whimper is beyond totally unacceptable!
OBAMA SHOULD IMMEDIATELY FIRE JON FAVREAU. A MISOGYNIST MEDIA-FRAT-BOY MENTALITY HAS NO PLACE AS DIRECTOR OF SPEECHWRITING IN THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE!
SHAME ON PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA FOR NOT HAVING DISMISSED JON FAVREAU EARLIER!
OBAMA IMMEDIATELY ASKED THAT DON IMUS BE JUSTIFIABLY DISMISSED FROM NBC. NOW HE SHOULD DO THE HONORABLE THING AND FIRE HIS FRAT-BOY RESIDENT SEXIST SPEECHWRITING CHIEF OF WOMAN-HATRED!
Let’s get strategic to get Favreau fired.
Campbell Brown did a story but blamed Hillary for not speaking out.
Shakesville did a thread but it took them days to post it.
where is Rachel Maddow on the Favreau flap? she should be innundated with emails since she is the only woman hosting a chat show on MSNBC.
what about the Women’s Media Center?
Or Gloria Steinem?
where is the protest in front of the transition office?
if we cannot get some action from ourselves when a presidential staffer makes light of violence against women we should stop complaining.
for all of us: to whom have you made an appeal on this issue?
The silence is deafening.
I sent a letter to this effect to about 30 MSM contacts today. Let’s see if anyone picks up on it.
Easy enough for others to do the same.
Ani, I wish you luck but I think they are in a celebratory mood and don’t care. They won. We lose. And since they are the last safeguard we are supposed to have, they have no one to answer to. But keep trying, at least you will have your dignity.
galt,
You are being counter productive.
It doesn’t hurt to write letters.
There’s an axiom in media that for every one letter received, there are probably at least 25 more people who feel the same way but didn’t take the time to write.
So write.
There is no longer a media we can trust. The media created a canidate that was elected President and they have to do everything to protect their creation.
We tend to forget some of the comments made during the primaries and have seem to have forgiven all. My viewing habits have changed, I don’t know what Chris or Keith said during their shows unless I read it here. I am waiting for the ratings in February during the next major ratings to see how much they have fallen. As of today, the Tribune is in bankruptcy and the NYT is not far behind. NBC is laying off staff and Viacom (CBS) is in the tolit. They are getting the come up’s from people like me, just turning them off.
Hear, hear! Couldn’t agree more.
me too….I’m a former journalist of 15 years and I too no longer watch msm. I only get my news from media outlets outside the u.s….and from scouring the internet. and then even then, I have to double and triple check everything I read. I have NO trust in receiving the truth from american media.
Campbell Brown did a story but blamed Hillary for not speaking out.
……………….
Campbell Brown will next be yelling at ‘Brownies’ for not speaking up either, but doesn’t dare take it to NOW or others that went running to Obama camp, some even before the primaries.
Keep the photo in the blogosphere, keep plastering it and get it in people’s minds so when Barry delivers his inaugural speech, everyone will see Facebook-Favreau, wondering if he put the words in Barry’s mouth.
This is the way to go.
There must be accountability for the actions in terms of the timing and what that says.
He is now the speechwriter for the POTUS. He must behave accordingly.
If we keep relaxing all the standards in this country there will be none.
The Primary is long OVER.
Why can’t they move on?
I’ve written to every women’s organization I know. If anyone knows of any other groups besides New Agenda, Women Count, NOW (joke joke), please let me know. I’m mad and I’m in the mood to write letters!
My gut feeling right now is the next four years are going to be worse than when Bush was President.
The other thing that keeps coming into my mind right now - and it’s probably due to all the sexism and misogyny coming out - it would not surprise me at this point if it’s the Obama Administration that tries to undo Roe v. Wade. (I know it’s probably untouchable at this point, but it just wouldn’t surprise me if he tried. And with his cult following, I’m sure they’d defend him on it.) It would also not surprise me if he also tries to limit accesss to contraceptives for women.
I feel we are looking at four years of undoing almost everything women having been fighting for since the early 1900s. That’s just my opinion because things are feeling very bad for us women right now.
Rachel MADDOW is a sexist herself. She is the protege of Chief NBC Misogynist and Hillary-basher, Mr. K. OLBERMANN. Olbie brought Rachel to the Network under his misogynist wings.
Rachel is a Hillary-basher and sexist herself!
Shame on these Obama pushers…
It is good to see that this incident is getting so much play. While it may not be the most egregious example of sexism, misogyny or disrespect leveled at Hillary Clinton, or by extension, all women, what is most significant is that this man is working for the incoming President.
As such he must set an example — frat boy keggers are over.
What if the cardboard cutout were of Michelle Obama? Still funny? Are you kidding? Heads would roll.
What about some racist equivalent aimed at a cardboard cut out of Pres. Elect Obama? Front page news for weeks…with lots of heads rolling — immediately.
Those who want us to “get over it” need to make one of those substitutions and see if they think it would then be appropriate to “get over it.”
I personally am tired of the double standard that something not remotely connected to Obama was an excuse for his team to play the race card and require an apology, but everyone else needs to “get over it.” Enough already.
A photo-shot was made of MO being groped. I have sent it out along with the several other “gropees” (including his highness Obama) to many of the MSM addresses. I ask, “Are you offended yet”, but no one is ta home!
Over at the Confluence there Mrs. Obama’s image has been photoshopped over Senator Clinton’s image — along with other women.
“Are you outraged now?” was the question.
Actually my reaction was the same will all the images — the cut out cardboard image could have been any woman and the behavior is just as immature and irresponsible.
Now we know where 0bama gets his immature flip the bird gestures — from his equally immature and lacking of common sense speech “writers” (plagiarizers actually).
It’s the TIMING!
Why are these men still obsessed with Hillary?
They need to explain that because it reveals more than just ‘harmless’ groping of a cardboard figure of her that we should dismiss under the ‘boys will be boys’ axiom and the idea that Favreau should be cut a break because he is only 27 years old.
Well, this ain’t Neverland and he ain’t Peter Pan.
Grow up!
I’ll bet he’ll grow up if he gets FIRED!
OBAMA
FIRE
YOUR SEXIST DIRECTOR
OF SPEECH WRITERS
JON FAVREAU
IMMEDIATELY!
MICHELE OR CAROLYN KENNEDY SHOULD BE SUBSTITUTED!
SEE WHERE THE FUN IS THEN?
SHAME ON BLOGODEVICH’S BUDDY FOR ALLOWING HIS BOYS TO DO THIS….
[...] My Take on Facebook Favreau When Facebook-Favreau-gate began, I thought of it as simply a puerile act showing the young man in question had yet to slough off that collegiate patina. Then I realized I was only getting angrier at the boy. Today, Amy Siskind, over at The Daily Beast, had a few things to say. Incident 3: John Favreau Gropes Cardboard Likeness of Sen Clinton Check out what President-elect Obama’s pick for director of speechwriting at the White House does in his free time. This is the guy who puts words [...]
Let us see if any of those 0bama supporters in their real life (not fantasy 0bama world) do something like this to their boss or bosses boss and it is on Facebook for all the company and their clients/customers to see. Will they still hope to keep their job? Just extrapolate what happened here to a regular company. Where is the seriousness both from 0bama and his protege, groper.
I think a person with talent could make a cutout of O and have some young hot girl put her hands on the cutout in a strategic place and then do a major effort to get it to go around the blogosphere. Would that be a problem for O? Maybe for Mechelle…
Hillary : We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby! (Read “More Info”)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke64670GkZ8
&
Sexism, Misogyny, Women’s History & Hillary Clinton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eseoMOEaFnM&feature=related
…………………….
This election cycle has set women back and unleashed misogyny/sexism that just keeps growing and the women organization’s silence is lamentable. We need new women groups, that defend women without being beholding to someone or some party. Women are human beings, deserving of respect, and dignity.
What happened to that group headed up by former Hillary supporter, the socialite? Did she fade back into the woodwork?
That sounds like a great idea. But you might want to ask yourself this: what is it that happened to the groups you used to respect, and how do you prevent a new group from suffering the same fate? I don’t think its possible to prevent this, but it is something to ponder.
Well, one of my observations would be that it is good to know the politicians, but you shouldn’t be too friendly otherwise you lose sight of your objectives. I think many in government have become buddies and have lost sight of why they went to Washington, they lost sight of the ‘little people’ the ones Senator Hillary Clinton was able to see.
I truly think that we need term limits for senators and congresspersons…otherwise over time, it simply becomes a ‘private elite club’.
Amy Siskind’s the New Agenda group is working on that, being non-partisan and inclusive.
Amy’s group is a good example and one of the positives to come out of this mess. Women began to see that no one was coming, no one was going to speak up and so these fine ladies got it together and took on the challenge. My hats off to them, and I hope they continue and grow into a nationally recognized organization.
Jon Favreau’s other gropees
http://www.flickr.com/photos/think_about_it/
http://riverdaughter.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/oh-my-those-obama-speechwriters/
http://riverdaughter.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/does-it-offend-you-now/
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/SwanSpirit/Nancypukelosi.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/SwanSpirit/DontneedYou.jpg
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=32167608&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=34012273446&aid=-1&id=44200308&oid=34012273446
http://www.flickr.com/photos/think_about_it/ (Obama)
Everyone should copy the Michelle one and send to every news source there is.
I have a feeling that if it got all over the internet and a few news sources Michelle would be screaming bloody murder.
http://riverdaughter.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/does-it-offend-you-now/
Wow,
I could call you a fraud but I think dipshit is probably more on the mark. The photos that show up through the links you posted are complete fabrications. I deal in art and shadows and you should fire whoever produced those photos for you because they quite simply the worst knock-offs I’ve seen in years.
Also on a completely different note, I have to say that for the person who wrote the lead article here to be complaining that only 27% of Obama’s cabinet is comprised of women is incredible to me. For all these angry white Hillary and McCain supporters who have been calling Obama the affirmative action candidate for months now to come back and ask for affirmative action female appointees to his cabinet is really beyond the pale. Do you folks actually smell the bullshit when your passing it around or does the smell just escape your nose?
Man-o-man! Is NQ ever giving this O’bot a work-over! It is so funny to see this fraud-assistant, shallow, empty-suit, snot-punk get the heat.
[...] My Take on Facebook Favreau When Facebook-Favreau-gate began, I thought of it as simply a puerile act showing the young man in question had yet to slough off that collegiate patina. Then I realized I was only getting angrier at the boy. Today, Amy Siskind, over at The Daily Beast, had a few things to say. Incident 3: John Favreau Gropes Cardboard Likeness of Sen Clinton Check out what President-elect Obama’s pick for director of speechwriting at the White House does in his free time. This is the guy who puts words [...]
After all the things that other candidates had to bend over backwards to ask Obama’s forgiveness for and then this.
Sorry Obama’s closet looks crappier and crappier everyday.
Hey its getting to where the people he employs are not the greatest characters.
Hmmmm Guess his speech writer wasnt the person he knew 20 years ago..Hmmm think his speech written was even old enough to vote then….
Obama has a problem with almost 1/2 of America. Some of the ones he voted for are still a bit questionable about him(yes many voted for him because he was black, a demorcrat or they thought just a bit better than having another bush in office).
Ck this out — the liberals are alreay having some concerns about Obama. Obama is not even President and there are already some media changing their view of himhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081208/pl_politico/16292;_ylt=AvF7IugJrGsAPQkyUeZjoGEazJV4
Why do I only see this picture three times on the front page? It needs to be there at least ten times.
I vote to put a picture of the WH with a caption that says the WH has a new name:
The Frat House!
Us gay men whom were shunned by Obama supporters in California need to get a picture of obama and strap a dildo to it and give it some attention.
Touchet, Mr touchet!
And in NY, “the ultimate insider” needs no qualifications
http://edgeoforever.wordpress.com/2008/12/09/about-that-caroline-a-genuine-historical-artifact/
The good news is edge: she sounds like a very long shot. Yesterday, the NY Post did a piece citing many Albany insiders that say Paterson is very cool on the idea. Ted is pushing hard, but Paterson needs to get elected, and it will infuriate conservative Upstate NYer’s if they enthrone Caroline.
Obama won’t say anything about it until Favreau writes it for him.
That’s not the kegger I knew. . .
Every time I think I am as disgusted as I can be about O’s judgment about the people he associates with, I find that I am even more disgusted.
I am now becoming more and more saddened by the fact that our country has decided to let the “vanguard,” the “intelligentsia” do our governing. It may be happening more slowly than it did in Russia, but it’s happening.
For all his ability at speech writing, he is still mostly a Male Chauvinist Pig.
It got even worse last night. Riverdaughter has a post up with a clip of James Carville talking to Wolfe Blitzer on CNN. There is also a Republican talking head who worked for Romney. Carville completely jumps the shark. His voice, dripping with contempt, slams The New Agenda, and he dismisses all of this as “boys will be boys,” and “it’s just a cardboard cut-out.” He then completely contradicts himself and says groups like The New Agenda should be focused on battered women. Is he really so obtuse that he does not know/see the connection between these attitudes toward women and the alarming sexual assault/domestic violence statistics in this country? He is either incredibly obtuse on this or has sold out like everyone else. The three MEN all agree that “poor Jon” is a victim of the new media and “you have to be really careful these days.” It’s not that he is being vulgar and barbaric, it’s that he got caught. And BTW: he’s not some college frat boy–he is the HEAD SPEECHWRITER FOR THE PRESIDENT ELECT! Disgusting. They have BECOME the Republican Party in their willingness to sacrifice any and all ethics to get/keep what they want. Karl Rove would be so proud.
I think this is EXACTLY how Obama wants his team to “respect” Hillary.
Combine Favreau’s disgusting behavior with Obama’s elevation of Susan Rice to Cabinet-level rank (as U.N. Ambassador) where she will be a RIVAL to Clinton for power within the State Dept. — but who will have MORE clout with Obama than Hillary will — and we can see that Obama is setting Hillary up for failure and dismissal.
I think Obama’s SILENCE here sends a very clear message — I just fear Hillary doesn’t understand that.
This is about RESPECT!
If the cutout was of Favreau’s sister, mother or girlfriend what would his reaction have been if the laughing fool sitting at the back table had molested and demeaned a cutout of one of them?
Hopefully Jon would have stopped this nonsense because he RESPECTS these woman. This is the point, the Obama campaign taught their supporters and campaign staff not to RESPECT a former First Lady and sitting Senator.
Men(and some women) are defending Favreau because he is just a “boy”, when do boys “grow up”?
Are boys no matter what they are taught in church, by family, with education, who they work for, what job they have, what stratus of society they spring from, still allowed to be “boys” at 27 years?
When the hell do these boys grow up? At 35? At 45? At 55? Using our employees Washington politicians, as an example……..it seems never. Disgusting.
Carville on CNN (if you want to be further infuriated):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-K06LwcGK8&eurl=http://riverdaughter.wordpress.com/
I wrote a post on this in the other thread.
So my take on this is clear.
But I think it’s wrong to expect these high profile people like Carville to take the banner up on this issue.
I’m adamant about this being OUR responsibility to turn the heat up.
Politicians sell their souls to the highest bidders. If enough voters with real votes weigh in on this then watch them all do an about face.
We have to stop being intimidated about taking personal action.
Sure, it’s a piece of cardboard. I get that.
What I don’t get and what is important to me is the timing: the mentality of men who can’t seem to move on with regard to denigrating a particular woman in power; the inability for these guys to realize that they are now part of a presidential administration and their actions represent the POTUS to the country and the world; how 0bama can be so utterly dissmissive with regard to the way this affects his image to the American people who now have no alternative but to interpret the words coming from 0bama’s mouth as hollow because they have been written by this empty vessel of a man.
0bama’s youtube ‘fireside chats’ have already lost their luster. (See Drudge)
The word ‘nigger’ ceased having power over me ages ago. Any parent worth their salt first teaches the sticks and stones lesson. Words don’t hurt. They really don’t.
But after a word like that is uttered, there is no way you can look at the utterer the same again. You file that person in the trash and move on.
Favreau is an immature, mindless jerk. 0bama wants him as his speechwriter? Then people will have no problem with judging the President-elect by the company he keeps.
PS to all New Yorkers
email Gov Paterson to say NO to Caroline Kennedy!
It’s way past time that women in general get the full honor and respect they deserve. Mrs. Clinton is a trooper, cut her some slack and give her a break. Good grief!
A testiment to institutionalized sexism and misogyny:
TRANSCRIPT OF CNN INTERVIEW WITH JAMES CARVILLE ON JON FAVREAU GROPING OF HILLARY (CARDBOARD)on YouTube.
CNN SAMANTHA HAYES: The Obama transition team says as far as they are concerned, “he [Obama's speechwriter Jon Favreau] has apologized, she has accepted and the issue is over.”
CNN WOLFE BLITZER: Now let’s talk about what’s going on with CNN’s contributor and Democratic strategist James Carville and Republican strategist Kevin Madden.
James, it’s fascinating to see how stuff like that can get blown up, but I guess it’s a sign of the times.
CARVILLE: I…I dunno…it’s a piece of cardboard, stupid (scowling). That’s all it is, and this new agenda crowd…they need to get a new agenda. The new agenda is that women are losing their jobs…the new agenda, women are battered out there…the new agenda that women are victims of sex discrimination and not his kind of silliness. This guy was just having a good time. He did absolutely nothing wrong. And I think this was wrong…why…people look at this and say “is this really what we are talking about?” Mr. Favreau is a very talented young man and he was doing something that 27 year-olds…heck, I hope that when I’m 67 I’m doing that. He was enjoying himself, he was having a good time, he hurt no one. I don’t even think he did anything inappropriate.
BLITZER: Kevin?
MADDEN: Well, look, most important, it’s a self reminder that in the information age that we have right now where information is so mobile, with the click of a mouse, an image or statement by a campaign staffer can embarrass the candidate. And that’s something everybody has to be very vigilant about. The simple fact…if I went out right now and I got caught jaywalking, it would probably say “Kevin Madden, former Romney spokesman caught jaywalking.” So, I think it’s incumbent upon a lot of staffers to be reminded of that and…boy, I’m just glad we didn’t have the digital photography out when the Romney campaign ended. There would probably be a lot worse photos (big smile).
BLITZER: Or when James Carville was at LSU. Right James?
(All laughing)
CARVILLE: Right. Exactly. There’s no telling what would…it wouldn’t have been a piece of cardboard, I promise you that. (All laughing loudly.) But to go back…how is it that…how does it that a guy having a good time at a party…that doesn’t have anything to do with the President-elect or Mr. Favreau’s talents as a speech writer or his future. And I just think that…that…God…with all the people that put this stuff up on Facebook or YouTube or whatever it is, these are really sick people…that go around and do this and put this stuff up. I mean, they need to go and check themselves in to some kind of…get some kind of psychiatic help.
(All laughing)
MADDEN: John Favreau is a talented guy and he’s made the apology and we ought to move on.
BLITZER: So let’s move on…
CARVILLE: (interrupting) I don’t know what…he’s apologized for absolutely nothing. For fondling a piece of cardboard. I even don’t know why he has to apologize for that.
(All laughing)
[...] More change we can believe in: Obama’s top speech writer gropes Hillary’s breast … yet another puerile act or indicative of campaign rooted in sexism, misogyny, and Clinton hatred? [...]