The chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party was caught using the f-word to describe the tea party during a union political forum Monday night.
During a passionate speech about health care, Chairman Chris Redfern was attempting to supply supporters with a potential response to critiques of the president’s health care reform law.
Video of the "passionate speech" can be seen HERE (content warning).
Two quick thoughts:
(1) File this anecdote away for the next time some Lefty feigns dismay over how fanatical right-wingers (like, say, Carl Paladino) are "coarsening" our "political discourse." (And this one).
(2) Cut this guy some slack. Be honest: If you were coming to grips with polling data this abysmal, you might accidentally let an F-bomb or two fly yourself, right?
UPDATE: Redfern doubles down:
Dear Friend,
Two days ago, I addressed a private crowd of Steelworkers in Clarington, Ohio, and I spoke passionately about the issues at stake in this election.
Now, our Republican Tea Party opponents are whining and calling language I used obscene. Let's talk about what is truly obscene:
* Tea Partiers in Ohio compare President Obama to Hitler.
* They shout at town halls that President Obama is not an American.
* They harassed a victim of Parkinson's disease in Columbus.
* And they engage in campaigns of lies and fear against our president, our governor, and others -- all with the goal of keeping us silent and sitting at home.
These tactics have no place in our politics, and I will NEVER apologize for speaking out forcefully against them. And let me be clear: I will not back down from the passion I feel about the issues impacting working families in this state.
Let's open the Chris Matthews playbook and demand that every Ohio Democratic elected official / candidate either publicly defend or repudiate their chairman.