Posted on 06/02/2010 9:41:00 PM PDT by ConservativeGadfly
De Pasquale’s Dozen: Rep. Thaddeus McCotter by Lisa De Pasquale
06/03/2010
When conservative actor Robert Davi told me Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R.-Mich.) should be President, I laughed. Just kidding. I said, “Who?”
Rep. McCotter represents the 11th district in Michigan and can play guitar behind his head. He is chairman of the Republican House Policy Committee and frequent contributor to Andrew Breitbart’s Big Hollywood.
Actually, before Davi professed his love for bald, Michigan congressmen, I saw McCotter speak at the weekly Blogger Briefing organized by Robert Bluey at The Heritage Foundation. Unlike some members of Congress, Rep. McCotter doesn’t do the typical grandstanding and stump speeches sprinkled with political buzzwords. His delivery is dry (in a good way), concise and meaningful. He has spoken at many high-profile events including the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and the Southern Republican Leadership Conference.
While Rep. McCotter may excel at self-deprecating humor (see interview below), I especially enjoy the ribbing he gives his friends. After Robert Davi introduced him at CPAC, McCotter said, “I want to thank Robert for that kind and turgent introduction And I was wondering if I have any time left?”
Rep. McCotter is a frequent guest on Fox News Channel’s Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. In his recent review of Gutfeld’s The Bible of Unspeakable Truths, McCotter wrote, “Yet that furry ball of vitriol’s fudge and Franzia-fueled animus is dumped not only upon his own ilk. Gutfeld also figuratively (and, per court documents, literally) accosts the media, celebrities, hippies, greenies, pacifists, whales, and sundry other leftist antagonists. And, in a bold stroke for freedom, he condemns terrorists. How outré!”
I am somewhat disappointed that Rep. McCotter didn’t make fun of any of my questions. How fun it would be to be in Davi and Gutfeld’s company! I wrote in last week’s inaugural column that my purpose in asking these particular questions is to reveal the wit and quirkiness of our conservative leaders. While one can’t expect every congressman to emulate McCotter’s wit, his principled leadership and willingness to engage in debate should be the standard.
Friends, bald is the new black!
1. If there were a television channel that only showed one movie over and over, what movie should it be?
MCCOTTER: The Never Ending Story
2. What’s one of your favorite movie quotes?
MCCOTTER: Reminiscent of the GOP 2005-2008, in This Is Spinal Tap, after nobody turns up at the band's album-signing promotion, PR man Artie Fufkin (Paul Shaffer) bends over and begs: "Do me a favor. Just kick my a--, okay? Kick this a-- for a man, that's all. Kick my a--. Enjoy. Come on. I'm not asking, I'm telling with this. Kick my a--!"
3. In A Clockwork Orange, Malcolm McDowell is strapped in with his eyes propped open and forced to watch images until he was "cured." If you could give President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Harry Reid the "Clockwork Orange treatment," what movie would you make them watch?
MCCOTTER: The YouTube footage of Steny Hoyer dancing the “Electric Slide.”
4. What pop culture souvenir do you own that people would be surprised to learn that you cherish?
MCCOTTER: Greg Gutfeld’s last shard of dignity.
5. What's your current “guilty pleasure” non-news television show?
MCCOTTER: Redeye with What's-His-Name?, though it is all guilt and no pleasure.
6. Which movie, television or rock star would cause you to lose your ability to speak if you ever met?
MCCOTTER: Ann Coulter, because she’d never let me get a word in edge-wise.
7. What was the first rock concert you ever attended and where did you sit and who went with you?
MCCOTTER: At Detroit's Cobo Hall: Krokus, Pat Travers Band, and Rainbow with Ritchie Blackmore—tasty!
8. Tell me about a public or private moment when you thought to yourself, "This is what Elvis felt like every day.”
MCCOTTER: After Thanksgiving dinner.
9. What are your two favorite non-news websites?
MCCOTTER: "Turn Your Head & Coif: Great Plains, Great Hair," (posted by The Nebraska Delegation); and "Savannah Banana: The Haikus of Jack Kingston.”
10. What’s the coolest thing you’ve been able to do because of your role in the political arena?
MCCOTTER: It was being with our troops in Afghanistan on New Years Eve, 2005. God bless and guard them all!
11. What question do you wish reporters would ask you? What’s your answer to that question?
MCCOTTER: Q: “If you could be any animal in the forest, what animal would you be?” A: “Rep. LaTourette.”
12. Tell me about the moment you decided to enter the political arena.
MCCOTTER: I went bald; split my spandex; and had to quit "Glam Rock."
Miss De Pasquale is CPAC director at the American Conservative Union. The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is the nation�s largest annual gathering of conservatives.
I’ve caught McCotter on Red Eye several times and have always found him impressive. A very intelligent and well-spoken man. And if you haven’t seen it, by all means take a gander at Red Eye. It is absolutely hilarious. Gutfeld, Schulz, and Levy never disappoint. Like the late, great, Samuel Johnson (yes, Boswell’s Johnson) I too “like the young dogs of this age,” if by young dogs of this age you mean Greg Gutfeld, Bill Schulz, and Andy Levy. They have the greatest guests on TV and a whole passel of “eye candy.” Alison Rosen, Remi Spencer, and Diana Falzone are breathtakingly lucious. Check it out check-it-outers!
That’s guy’s ability to orate and think on his feet is simply unseen today. He’s humor is sarcastic to be sure but his command of the language is simply unparalleled. When was the last time you saw a politician that can engage in civil verbal assault at his level on a moments notice?
It’s hard not to like him.
Um, the spellchecker went apostrophe crazy without asking me, I swear. Wow that looks bad.
Didn’t he just vote to extend unemployment benefits for UNIONS?!?
Love Red Eye! Although Red Eye airs at midnight, I think it has more viewers than every CNN and MSNBC show put together!!!
I LOVE Thaddeus McCotter .. his dry, wry,
wit, intelligence and principles.
Great speech by him here
Conservative Roundtable
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpENFswXLa4&feature=related
Floor Speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akiH5OD8KQg&feature=related
Thaddeus McCotter - So This Is What Change Looks Like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pte_2vEnX8&feature=player_embedded
"Big government is a special interest, and President Obama is its chief lobbyist."-Thaddeus McCotter
I think Gutfeld is an irritating, low-cla$$ pompa$$ a$$. But then, why do I watch him every now and then???
Thanks for the links. I like McCotter as well. During the ‘Drill Here, Drill Now’ debate year before last(when Pelosi turned off the lights), I contacted his office to show support for his efforts and they sent me a cd of his ‘band’. He is a hoot and smart as they come. A nice combination in a leader.
McCotter’s a good guy. I’ve met him on a few occasions.
That district is mostly automobile related in Wayne and Oakland Counties, with a large union population.
I understand . When I saw him extolling the virtue of the Auto takeover-bailout , I already new enough about him to see he was uncomfortable . I guess some one who is mostly not a National-Socialist is good enough. I am sure we can count on him to oppose government showering dough on our districts .
Thaddeus McCotter Rocks!!!
I do too. Thanks for the links.
;)
He’s very unique among politicians.
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