Specter shows questionable taste (ethinic jokes)

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | December 13, 2008 | Salena Zito

[Salena Zito]

While most people will agree that being “politically correct” has gone too far -- Sen. Arlen Specter R-PA reminds us why political correction began in the first place: tasteless ethnic jokes.

At the swanky once-a-year Pennsylvania Society (where all politico’s large & small from the Keystone State trek up to NYC to converge on Park Avenue for luxurious power- broking) Specter thought it appropriate to tell “Polish Jokes”.

One insider said before Specter gave his speech at the Commonwealth Club he asked the audience if anyone there was Polish. Since only ten or so out of a few hundred raised their hands Specter decided it was ok to tell the jokes.

[Paladin2]

We need to examine the jokes.

Who was Alexander Graham Bellski?

[gaijin]

Wasn’t Arlen Spector the one who let Einhorn, that 60’s hippy ghuru, get away with murdering his GF, choppping her up, leaving her in a trunk in his appartment, and then running away 2 France?

[SERKIT]

At least he didn’t say “maccaca”. That would have meant a boot out of Congress. Polish jokes and Catholic jokes are fair game, but it will soon become criminal to make a Muslim even slightly uncomfortable.

[Gaffer]

Biden, “You can’t work in a 7-11 if you don’t have an Indian accent”. Enough with this stupid ‘Republicans are insensitive’ crap.... My response to anything like this from now on is “So What!”

[mimaw]

He needs to be destroyed by the DBM before confirmation hearings are held on Eric Holder.

[TheThinker]

The Poles are white. No scandal unless the libs want to treat all people equally for a change. Was this the change Obama was talking about? /s

[nothingnew]

Too bad Toomey got the shaft from President Bush and Rick Santorum, eh?

FMCDH(BITS)

[Zuben Elgenubi]

What the h*ll is wrong with Arlen? All one has to do is substitute "blonde" for "P*lack" and his rear is covered. As long as it's a generic white knock, then it's okeydokey.

A great leap forward, just like the ChiComs in the 50's.

[Ed Condon]

When I was a kid, moron jokes were popular. In the 60’s elephant jokes were the “in” thing.

I don’t recall either of those groups objecting.

[Carley]

And so it begins. The once favored republican senator from PA has to be demonized so Matthews can win his seat.

[kbennkc]

Why would Pollocks vote for Spectre ? Cuz they are so damned stupid .

[river rat]

Frankly - I’ve never found anything funny about Specter..

Nor - respectable, honorable, trustworthy or worthy of the office he holds.

[Palladin]

Old Arlen is senile, and an embarrassment to the GOP.

[river rat]

Frankly - I’ve never found anything funny about Specter..

Nor - respectable, honorable, trustworthy or worthy of the office he holds.

[river rat]

Damn! There’s an echo in here.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Hi Salena...it would be easy to blame ‘this’ on the Snarlin’ Ones age; or affects from having those brain tumor episodes...but I trully had the initial reaction of ‘here comes the media drumbeat for their ‘own’ Chrissy Matthews to win Spector’s seat.

[alloysteel]

The death of ethnic jokes, the more tasteless, the more gleefully they were repeated, was but the first step sown that slippery slope on which we now find ourselves.

Now see, EVERYTHING is sacred.

“Sacred” is but a slight anagram of “scared”.

[brityank]

Pennsylvania Society (where all politico’s large & small from the Keystone State trek up to NYC to converge on Park Avenue for luxurious power- broking)

Ms. Zito - has anyone questioned just why the Pennsylvania Society has to leave the Commonwealth to arrange for a schmoozefest in the Big Apple? Not enough hookers?

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Even in Philly’s Main Line there mustnt be anyplace ‘swanky’ enough for all those movers and shakers.