literalists

People say dumb things. Things they don't mean. Things that just come out wrong. Things that are exaggerated. Things that are embarrassing. And they do it all the time. It's just the nature of verbal communication.

And for most of us, it's just not that big of a deal. We usually know what the other person meant to say, or else we'll ask for clarification and will get it and will move on.

In the case of American politics, though, it seems that even the smallest slip sets off a tidal wave of gasps and accusations. Oh my GOD, John Kerry said you should get an education lest you be stuck in Iraq -- he must truly hate everyone in the military and their families!

Look, if you watch the video, it's pretty clear that he was going for some joke or emphasis and it just came out awkwardly. Stuff like that happens to all of us. In fact, if our enemies hired assistants to follow us around all day taping everything we said in public just so they could catch us when we slipped up -- as is the case in most political races now -- I'm sure we'd all be embarrassed. So can we move on?

And unless you think I'm just making excuses for the Democrats, consider that I find the outrage over Republican George Allen's "macaca" comment to be just as manufactured. Was it in bad form to publicly make fun of someone? Completely. Was Allen's possibly inadvertent use of an old East European racial slur (that most Americans have never heard) a sign that he secretly wishes the KKK would call him some time? I doubt it. (Now, whether other evidence shows he has a more deep-rooted history of racist actions is another story altogether -- but even then, "macaca" would barely have a part.)

The good news is that it seems people can actually get over an embarrassing remark. Remember McCain's "gook" comment back in 2000? (It was insensitive, he apologized, and we moved on.) I just wish we could get to that point sooner this time around. We've got an election coming up with real issues at stake. Can we get back to that? Are you listening news editors?