I like to keep it pretty apolitical here at The Consumerist, but when Obama uttered the very same PR-double-speak phrase, “taking it seriously,” that we’ve been skewering for eight months, I had to post it.
WHO: Barack Obama
WHAT: Shortly before the opening of the Democratic National Convention, Obama assured America that Hillary was always a viable candidate in his VP search.
WHERE: Obama Dismisses Worries About Clinton Fallout [New York Times]
THE QUOTE: “‘I’ve tried not to have long discussions about short lists, long lists…But I’ve said publicly before and I will repeat again that Senator Clinton would be on anybody’s short list, so I took her very seriously.”
“Taking it seriously” is a phrase companies (and now, presidential candidates) use over and over again to appear contrite or thoughtful without actually saying or doing anything. Our series of posts documenting the phrase’s attempts recurrences are our attempt to question how much seriousness-taking is actually going on.
(Thanks to Michael Belisle!)
(Photo: BohPhoto)
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One guy, a minority immigrant, arrives with nothing, earns his money and finds himself at the end of the day doing well through the fruits of his hard work and smarts. Isn’t that the American Dream?
The other guy divorces the wife who patiently waited years for him to be freed from prison because – well – accident victims aren’t as pretty as booze distributor heiresses half your age. Marries for money then quickly becomes an arriviste who thinks that those that earn $5m/yr aren’t rich while being unable to count the number of homes he owns. He shrugs it off, blaming the Viet Cong for his many gaffes, as is his habit. Fine, this is America.
It’s when the second guy calls the first guy out for being a latté-sipping, out-of-touch elitist where I call shenanigans. The hypocrisy is what amazes, not the net worth.
But since Conservatives have trouble with that word – well, untrue: they take to hypocrisy like pigs do mud – they don’t see the difference between the two men’s history.
It’s the hypocrisy that we should take very seriously.
Who’d trade a Senate seat for that of the Veep? Does anyone seriously think Hills would accept the slot if Obama offered it?
Although, I think Obama needs to frequent Consumerist more often – then he’d know taking it very seriously has jumped the shark.
@Dyscord: I think in this case, Obama actually meant what he said.
Not so. Aparently, Obama’s staff didn’t even attempt to have Clinton vetted.
Bill is the problem with Hillary being VP, but Biden was a very bad choice. Biden, who for years has received money from credit card companies is just politics gone wrong. It’s Biden’s corruption that makes this a consumer issue since he is not for us.
I know how biased it is here and I might get bashed, but I think the McCain will be the best for our country.
@Trai_Dep: You called? I didn’t get a VM…
@IamNotToddDavis: It’s funny. Before the VP slot was filled, it was hugely important. Now that Obama picked, and most people don’t like the guy, it’s no longer an important position.
If the position has no real power, why does everyone hate Cheney? Cuz of his smile?
@Bladefist: Usually, the guy that sits in the Captain’s chair in the WH wants to – or rather, has the capacity to – run the place. Not so much in this case.
I agree with what (I think) you’re saying: traditionally, the Veep slot is something the Beltway insiders blather on and on about to fill airtime, but in the end, it doesn’t impact much. I’d humbly suggest Quayle vs Benson as Exhibit A for this view…
@OnceWasCool: I think Biden is a good choice. He fills Obama’s foreign policy gap. He also raises the bar for McCain’s veep choice.
@Bladefist: Nah, Obama’s not rich. McCain says you need $5 million before you can be considered rich, and Obama only has $4 million.
@Orv: Technically speaking, McCain isn’t rich either.
[www.johnmccain.com]
His wife is rich, and gives him money for his campaigns. But their money is totally separate. His comment about needing 5 million to be considered rich is pretty lame. But if Cindy was to ever leave him, Obama would be considerably richer then McCain
I think this article is incredibly apt, because if people have been following the VP situation then they’d know that Obama had zero interest in Hillary. In fact, this statement was made just to placate her supporters, when in fact they didn’t even vet her for the position.
It is amusing to see some of the reactions here. Politics blind some people so much that they get so defensive about the simplest of things. This post illustrated Obama using the same phrase, in much the same way that many companies do and get skewered here. It’s not saying Obama shouldn’t be President, vote McCain, or anything near that, yet some people are acting like Ben posted a link to donate to McCain’s campaign.
@Bladefist: If you marry someone rich, and they give you money on request, that still counts as your money in my book. I understand it may be something different in the world of creative tax accounting.
I never got why people are mad whenever the consumerist posts something that’s not about how some company has been kicking puppies and stealing candy from babies. I see this article as being fairly lighthearted. As for politics, even if the consumerist tries to avoid politics in posts, half of them end up as partisan battles anyway. The title even mentioned Obama’s name; don’t pretend you had no idea it was going to get political. You could just not read the article if it doesn’t interest you.
As to the topic at hand, the “dream ticket” was lip service right from the moment Hillary dreamed it up as a way to get the votes of indecisive stupid people. Hillary’s bid for the ’08 presidency died a long time ago, and any attempts to reanimate it as VP would result in either failure or a hideous zombie.
As to his current selection, my reaction would be “who the h*** is Joe Biden?”, except I realized that I didn’t care. The fact that he may or may not be a corporate shill is a bit of a worry, but unless Obama kicks the bucket, it’s not like it’s going to matter. His pick was solely for the political points, and I expect the same from McCain (though voters may pay more attention to his pick on account of his age).
I agree. I like occasional topics that don’t fit the strict definition of Consumerist’s charter for the variety and they’re often fun.
I’m also of the mind that if people aren’t interested – or at least understand – politics, they’re being myopic. Laws define the commercial landscape of our lives and if you don’t track the people making the laws, you’re missing 3/4 of why what’s happening to you is.
Welcome back, Ben!
When I said that he “Meant what he said”, I meant that he probably did take it seriously and thought it over or something. Which is the opposite of when the big companies say it because they just want people to get off their back.
@Counterpoint: Between Whitewater and her stints in the AK governor’s mansion (twice), the White House (twice), running and winning a Senate seat and running one of the longest primary campaigns to be the Dem nominee we’ve had in recent history, I think Hills has been vetted ‘aplenty.
Nothing Obama’s vetting people could do could match what she’s already been through, so wouldn’t a campaign vetting her seem, well, stupid?
It’s wonderful – awesome really – that McCain is brimming over with so much care and concern for Hillary’s feelings. Her feelings!
Aww… It almost makes up for McCain calling his own wife a c*nt and trollop!
Let’s hope you don’t have to run any stories about executive carpet bombing any time soon.
@stinerman: OK, this was posted earlier today so that means it’s about waaaaaaaaaaaaaay behind the curve, but, if you’re running for President, your rich, end of statement.
wait Obama took her very seriously? I would be PISSED if somone took my very seriously. I hope he gives it back.
PS theres a differnece between being rich and being so rich you dont know how rich you are. which is what “I dont know how many houses I have” sounds like. I am not bagging on McCain specifically since I guess his wife does a lot of real estate so the numbers probably always changing.
Why s ths n th Cnsmrst?
wk pst. jz.