I own two swords. One is a broadsword hand made by a guy who crafts them for those folks who dress up in armor and stage tournaments, the Society for Creative Anachronism. The sword is made of tool steel and it rings like a bell when tapped, a bright, clear musical note that reverberates for a long time. This is a real sword that would be lethal if it had an edge (it does not; I have not sharpened it and have no intention of doing so.)
The other sword is one I picked up this summer in Gettysburg. It is a very nicely made replica of a civil war cavalry saber. The blade is bright and shiny and lovely to look at. But when tapped, the blade makes a leaden, dull sound, not the clear, bright note that the tool steel sword does. It isn’t really a sword, of course. It is a decoration, nothing more. It would surely shatter if it were ever swung with intent.
Yesterday, the principles of the Obama campaign had a bad day. First Biden making his clumsy attack over stem cell research that – unintentionally, or rather, thoughtlessly – could be interpreted as a swipe at Sarah Palin and her son, Trig. As I said earlier, no, I do not think Biden did it intentionally, but his line rang like a lead bell in the ears of many people.
Then of course there’s Obama’s reference to lipstick, pigs and old fish when attacking McCain and Palin. Intentional? No. I don’t think it was. Thoughtless? Yeah, I suspect it was that. Again, ringing like a lead bell for a lot of people. The sound of that decorative blade that would break in actual use.
On the other hand, McCain and Palin can sound that bright, clean, singing note with something not meant for the public campaign at all. A sign held by a supporter that read “We Love Kids with Down Syndrome,” was noticed by McCain and Palin at a campaign stop. There was a reaction:
CALLER: Right. So we accompanied them up the hill, we went right to the bus, where it was, and Governor Palin, Senator McCain, Cindy, Todd Palin, they’re all standing there. We’re in this inner circle with just us and them, and the Secret Service agent, and they came right up to us and thanked us for coming out, said they loved our sign, and Governor Palin immediately said, “May I hold your daughter?” and our daughter Chloe, who’s five, went right to her, and I have some pictures I’d love to send you maybe when I’m done here, but Governor Palin was hugging Chloe, and then her little daughter brought their baby Trig who has Down syndrome from the bus, he was napping, and Chloe went right over and kissed him on the cheek, and my son Nolan who’s nine, he thanked her.
There’s that sound, that note, bright, clear and reverberating.
Links via Instapundit and Memeorandum.
Gaius, I have to disagree with you when you say the Obamessiah’s remark in reference to Gov. Palin, “You can put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig!” was unintentional. I think it was completely intentional just like his remark about the Hildebeast during the primaries, “She’s out there talking like she’s annie Oakley!” was intentional. Both remarks are meant to directly degrade the subject. Go back and watch the playbacks of both comments (I think you can still find them on youtube). Pay attention to his voice tone and his body language when he makes the remarks. He gets that slightly shrill, little boy, “They’re pickin’ on me, Mommy!” quality in his voice and body. Whenever he thinks a political opponent has scored a point against him he gets that little boy defensive quality going and lashes out. I think sometimes he has the emotional maturity of about an eight year old. And they want to put this guy in the White House? What happens when Putin pulls one of his little maneuvers? Obama going on TV and saying “I know you are but what am I?”
Here’s another great story about Palin at a campaign stop involving a four year old Down’s child. It’s heart warming. http://palepage.com/?p=2491