Question to Ben Jealous: Do you identify with the term 'socialist'... Ben responds with the F-bomb.

[honest.abe]

From the Wash Post:

Maryland Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ben Jealous clearly does not like being called a socialist.

On Wednesday, the former NAACP chief was asked at a news conference whether he identified with the term “socialist,” as his political opponent, Gov. Larry Hogan (R), has labeled him.

“Are you f---ing kidding me?” Jealous responded, visibly surprising some of the Democratic elected officials who had gathered to endorse him.

More: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/asked-if-he-identifies-with-the-term-socialist-ben-jealous-drops-an-f-bomb/2018/08/08/1f67ca30-9b2b-11e8-b60b-1c897f17e185_story.html?utm_term=.7eef05154ae8

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This is not going to help him here in Maryland. He should either embrace the term or politely explain why he doesn't.

[gratuitous]

1. That seems a reasonable response to the question

I think I'd respond with, "What do you mean by 'socialist'? Wouldn't you agree that we should be precise in our terms?"

[honest.abe]

2. Would you have included the F-bomb?

I think that is the issue here.

[pwb]

3. I'm not offended by it.

.

[honest.abe]

4. Many are. Apparently Ben realizes he blew it.

From the article:

The flap threatened to overshadow Jealous’s announcement of the endorsements. At 2 p.m., he apologized “for my inappropriate language.”

In a statement provided to The Washington Post and posted on Twitter, Jealous also offered a direct answer to the question about his political philosophy: “I’m a venture capitalist, not a socialist. I have never referred to myself as a socialist nor would I govern as one.”

[pwb]

5. We need more people to say fuck you for asking that.

We all know it's just a puke word they use to divide us. This guy is onto them. I'm proud of him.

[honest.abe]

8. Its a reasonable question given that he is closely tied to Sanders.

Many are bothered by the term. This would have been a good opportunity to explain what the term means and why he doesn't identify with it. Just cursing back at the reporter was not the politically smartest thing to do.

[Cha]

23. Exactly.. Jealous overreacted. There

are plenty of things to say "are you fucking kidding me?!" about. That was not one of them.

Like "touchy much?"

[lapucelle]

6. Jealous has stated outright that he identifies as a "venture capitalist".

In a statement provided to The Washington Post and posted on Twitter, Jealous also offered a direct answer to the question about his political philosophy: “I’m a venture capitalist, not a socialist. I have never referred to myself as a socialist nor would I govern as one.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/asked-if-he-identifies-with-the-term-socialist-ben-jealous-drops-an-f-bomb/2018/08/08/1f67ca30-9b2b-11e8-b60b-1c897f17e185_story.html?utm_term=.709480cd6eed

[honest.abe]

11. That is the response he should have given to the question.

Too late now. The RW media will be making ads of his original response suggesting he is unhinged.

[lapucelle]

12. You get no argument from me there. N/T

[NCTraveler]

7. I've never liked it when politicians drop f bombs during a campaign.

I do have certain expectations from those I support.

This was the absolute perfect response from Jealous.

Why isn’t the press fact checking his opponents claims of socialist?

While I’m not from Maryland, I don’t see how this is going to bother them too deeply. Just like all of us,Maryland has been infiltrated by the reality star President. This is nothing.

[honest.abe]

10. Its still a buzz word especially for older folks who lived during the cold war.

I dont think his response was perfect at all. In fact he even realized it. He has already apologized and gave a much better response.

The flap threatened to overshadow Jealous’s announcement of the endorsements. At 2 p.m., he apologized “for my inappropriate language.”

In a statement provided to The Washington Post and posted on Twitter, Jealous also offered a direct answer to the question about his political philosophy: “I’m a venture capitalist, not a socialist. I have never referred to myself as a socialist nor would I govern as one.”

[NCTraveler]

13. Great response all the way around.

These “old folks” who grew up during the Cold War aren’t as sensitive as you make them out to be. Dinner with my mother and her friends might shock you.

[honest.abe]

14. I grew up during the end of the cold war so I am well aware of the sensitivities of the term.

Also another factor here in Maryland is that this was not Bernie territory during the primary. Hillary won huge here over Sanders by 30 percentage points. Many are still bitter about the primary and partially blame Bernie for the situation we are now in. Jealous somewhat reopens those old wounds given his connections to Bernie.

[NCTraveler]

16. I don't know what to say other than it stinks that he offended your sensibilities.

I mean that sincerely. I see it having no impact outside of positive, if any at all.

[honest.abe]

17. Im not talking about myself.

The 2016 primary with Bernie certainly raised my awareness of the meaning of term.

However, from a general political standpoint a candidate claiming to be a 'socialist' will be a net negative in many, probably most areas in this country. I am surprised you dont realize that.

[NCTraveler]

18. Not following you at this point.

It doesn’t bother you but you know it’s a game changer for others? Ohh. And Bernie something or other.

[honest.abe]

19. Yes. You got it.

[GulfCoast66]

15. Yeah, all those old men who almost all served in the armed forces

Due to the draft.

I am sure they are wilting at the word.



Seriously, besides DU and a few really liberal districts socialist is a death wish for someone running for statewide office. We just saw that in our own primaries. And republicans are doing handstands trying to pin it on all our candidates.

I think he just put the issue to bed in his race. Smart move and I think he planned it. He knew the question was coming sometime. So he releases a rite apology. But no one will be able to seriously call him a socialist.

Off course it pisses off so called socialist on DU.

I would like to see every Democratic Candidate outside super blue district do the same even if I would like the language to be toned down a little.

[RhodeIslandOne]

9. At this point, anything outside the box is worth a shot.

[MiniMe]

20. Hogan has been doing a hit job on Jealous

[yardwork]

21. I love it!

[bigtree]

22. no one I know talks about this

...and most Marylanders know Ben Jealous as a NAACP activist.

Why is this important to you?

Jealous, as a former NAACP chief, is obviously an insurgent candidate cut from a different cloth.

“We’re not going to win by tacking towards the middle. Hogan’s already staked out that zone,” Jealous told the voters in Catonsville. “We’re going to run by tacking towards the people of the state.”

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/06/ben-jealous-a-former-naacp-chief-tries-to-reclaim-populism/563597/