'Tar baby’ quip lands Mitt in muddle

Boston Herald ^ | 07/31/06 | Laurel J. Sweet

[JRochelle]

Prominent black Bay Staters are outraged by Gov. Mitt Romney’s use of the words “tar baby” to describe the Big Dig as he stumped for presidential points in Iowa. “Tar baby is a totally inappropriate phrase in the 21st century. If Calvin Coolidge didn’t use it, why the hell should Mitt Romney?” railed Larry Jones, a black Republican and civil rights activist. Tar baby can refer to a sticky mess, but it also has been recognized as an epithet to humiliate black people. President Bush’s spokesman Tony Snow learned that in May when his expression, “I don’t want to hug the tar baby of trying to comment on the program,” raised the hackles of political correctness. “He thinks he’s presidential timber,” Jones said yesterday of Romney, “but all he’s shown us is arrogance.”

[theDentist]

...would be okay had a democrat said it.

Well... it would be okay had a black democrat said it. Even white democrats are chastised for such phrases.

[7thson]

Actually - and someone correct me on this - isn't a spade and a shovel two different instruments?

[LexBaird]

As a metaphor, it refers to animals that drowned in tar pits thousands of years ago.

No, actually it refers to the Joel Chandler "B'rer Rabbit" story, which was adapted by Disney in "Song of the South".

[American_Centurion]

Not to worry, ignorance will soon bring that one in too, folks in NC better watch out.

[MARTIAL MONK]

Uh uh. Best do some sheckin'.

[SueRae]

It's spelled 'timbre' by the way.

Gee, where's the outrage over the racist cartoons against Condoleeza Rice? Or Michael Steele? Or.... or.... you get my drift.

[cripplecreek]

I generally think of a spade as the small handheld shovel used in gardening. The jury is still out on the black suited playing card.

[Tulane]

Not that there is anything wrong with being a thespian or an introvert right?

[goldstategop]

OK, but its true. You can see the remains of the famous Brea Tar Pits here in California.

(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)

[bwteim]

"Prominent black Bay Staters are outraged"

Aah, they would prefer a sanitized language? Perhaps they could visit Iran with its elastic loaves instead of Pizza,
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1674203/posts

or Malaysia, where "parents are not allowed to name their babies after animals, insects, fruits, vegetables or colours. "

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Sunday/National/20060730075852/Article/index_html

[LexBaird]

A spade is a specialized shovel, typically flatter in profile and sharp, used for cutting through sod.

[RexBeach]

Yeah, I enjoy calling a shovel a shovel!

[RebelBanker]

I believe a spade is a type of shovel. IIRC, "shovel" covers a variety of digging and/or scooping tools and "spade" is a shovel with a flat, narrow blade.

[LexBaird]

OK, but its true. You can see the remains of the famous Brea Tar Pits here in California.

I used to live 4 blocks from there, but I doubt Chandler ever heard of them.

[cripplecreek]

Now if only I didn't feel so oppresed when I hear someone call a "bucket" a "Pail". (It's too close to pale)

[butternut_squash_bisque]

They're in the same family of tools. A spade cuts or digs, while a shovel digs and scoops. Splitting hairs, but there is a slight difference.

[VeniVidiVici]

It is hereby decreed that the digging utensile formerly known as a spade shall henceforth be refered to as a shovel.

And let's not even go near "hoe".

[ishabibble]

Being offended is sometimes purely a form of aggression. - Mohamed Rosoel

Although Mr. Roesoel was speaking of Muslim outrage at every and all things non-Muslim, I identify this statement as the pluperfect definition of the core of the racist/feminist/homosexual/socialist mindset.

It's an old, worn out cheap trick that few will fall for any longer, the black race pimps better realize that they've been totally upstaged by the insane Muslims. The tigers have turned themselves into butter...'bout damn time!

[MrEdd]

When I hear the words "Tar baby" I immediately think Brer Rabbit.

Me too. Please fling Larry Jones in dat briar patch.

[LexBaird]

The tigers have turned themselves into butter...'bout damn time!

Hey! No Sambo jokes!