The Italian/American Tiger Wood
The Italian/American Tiger Wood
(April 11, 2008)Have heard latest IA expressing his thoughts on race in the 08 elections?
The video above portraits Davide Bellavia, an Italian American and a Conservative-Republican candidate for Congress, introducing McCain to a pro-war rally in D.C. hosted by " Vets for Freedom".
Implicitely comparing Obama to Tiger Woods, Bellavia says:
"Rest assured that people like Senator McCain will be the goal and the men that my two young boys will emulate and admire. You can have your Tiger Woods. We have Senator McCain."
Is it just innocent nonsense, as David Kurts seems to suggest on TPM?
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Quite appropriately, Steve Benen commented on Saloon that:
"There are a few angles to this. First, Bellavia is not just a random conservative McCain fan; he's actually a Republican candidate for Congress, running for Tom Reynolds' open seat in upstate New York.
Second, McCain was standing nearby during Bellavia's comments, and hasn't distanced himself from them. (Indeed, he hugged Bellavia after the introduction.)
And third, MSNBC's Chris Matthews decided this was a "no harm, no foul" moment -- because Tiger Woods is a good golfer."
I would suggest turning to the Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary for additional hindsight:
Tiger wood
Ti"ger\, n. [OE. tigre, F. tigre, L. tigris, Gr. ti`gris; probably of Persian origin; cf. Zend tighra pointed, tighri an arrow, Per. t[=i]r; perhaps akin to E. stick, v.t.; -- probably so named from its quickness.]
1. A very large and powerful carnivore (Felis tigris) native of Southern Asia and the East Indies. Its back and sides are tawny or rufous yellow, transversely striped with black, the tail is ringed with black, the throat and belly are nearly white. When full grown, it equals or exceeds the lion in size and strength. Called also royal tiger, and Bengal tiger.
2. Fig.: A ferocious, bloodthirsty person.
3. A servant in livery, who rides with his master or mistress. --Dickens.
Read more about Davide Bellavia, 32, a local Iraq war hero in Batavia (NY), co-founder of "Vets for Freedom" and a Conservative & Republican candidate to the next congressional elections.
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Bellavia, bello non è stato!
Without having to spend much time on this, yet compelled to say something, I guess we can say that Bellavia's comments are tantamount to the non-Italian customer who used to ask me "How did the day go?" Or, when my elementary school friend's mother used to hug me and say, "How's my black-eyed guinea friend?" The customer wanted to make a joke, my friend's mother wanted to be both affectionate and funny. Neither of them succeeded in my opinion, then or now!
A neapolitan outside Naples can understand, I believe
I agree. As a Neapolitan who has been leaving outside Naples for many years, I recall being addressed, in Florence or Milan, like "Ciao, Maradona!" -- which was irritatingly bothersome. "Hei, Pulcinella!" was even worse. Actually, I don't even think they wanted to be funny.