Diary of a Mad Editor

Anyone happen to catch the most recent debate between Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton?

Well, if not you didn’t miss much. However, there was one moment in the debate that had me rolling my eyes. Obama was asked to respond to Louis Farrakhan’s unsolicited endorsement of his candidacy with respect to how it impacted Obama’s standing with Jewish-American voters. Obama made it clear that he did not share Farrakhan’s views and clearly denounced Farrakan. Clinton responded that he should go one better and “reject” Farrakhan.

When Obama said in the previous debate that “we are entering silly season,” he couldn’t have spoken more truly. As Clinton’s poll numbers have dropped, her attacks have become more desperate and ridiculous. This little tussle over words is just the latest example. Now I don’t care whether you support Obama, Clinton, McCain or the tooth fairy, but even the staunchest Clinton supporter would have to concede how stupid this line of attack is. If you are going to attack someone over the use of a particular word, at least know what you are talking about!

Reject: to refuse to accept. i.e. I reject your poem because it sucks donkey dick. I reject your offer of assistance because I don’t trust your motives.

Denounce: to speak out openly against. i.e. I denounce you as a hate-monger.

In the context of the debate, not only was Obama’s use of the word “denounce” correct, it was a much stronger condemnation of Farrakhan than Clinton’s call to “reject” him.

Not that having a better grasp of the English language automatically makes you a better leader, but it does make you a better communicator and better able to inspire the masses.

Perhaps, Hillary should invest some of that campaign money in a good dictionary. Silly, indeed!