September 21, 2010

You’re no Jack Kennedy / Sarah Palin / Ronald Reagan / (Insert Name Here)...


THE FAMOUS ORIGINAL DISS:

“I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.”
       Lloyd M. Bentsen (1921-2006)
       U.S. Senator from Texas and 1988 Democratic candidate for Vice President
       This legendary put down was unleashed by Bentsen against Republican vice-presidential candidate Senator Dan Quayle in their televised debate on October 5, 1988. Prior to the debate, Quayle had been defending his relative youth and lack of experience by comparing himself to the young John F. Kennedy. Bentsen was ready to pounce if Quayle mentioned Kennedy in the debate. Sure enough, Quayle answered a question from journalist Tom Brokaw by saying: “I have far more experience than many others that sought the office of Vice President of this country. I have as much experience in the Congress as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency.” Bentsen responded with his famous “You’re no Jack Kennedy” zinger, creating a new formula for an insult that has been used ever since. 


THE SARAH PALIN VARIATION:

“I know Sarah Palin. I respect Sarah Palin. And with all due respect - Christine O’Donnell is no Sarah Palin.”
       Republican media pundit Bill Kristol
       Comment to CNN on September 13, 2010, dissing Connecticut Tea Party candidate Christine O’Donnell a few days before she defeated Republican Party favorite Mike Castle in the state’s Republican primary election. O’Donnell had been publicly endorsed by Sarah Palin.


RONALD REAGAN’S QUIP:

“This fellow they’ve nominated claims he’s the new Thomas Jefferson. Well, let me tell you something. I knew Thomas Jefferson. He was a friend of mine. And Governor, you’re no Thomas Jefferson!”
       President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004)
       His joking comment about Democratic Presidential nominee Bill Clinton (and his own age) in an address at the Republican National Convention, August 17, 1992


A REAGAN DAUGHTER’S VERSION:

“The 2008 [Republican] presidential candidates try to imitate my father and proclaim themselves more Reaganesque than their competitors. Where is Lloyd Bentsen when you need him? ‘I knew Ronald Reagan…Senator [or Governor], you’re no Ronald Reagan.’”
       Patti Davis
       Actress, author and daughter of Ronald and Nancy Reagan
       In an op-ed in Newsweek, December 29, 2007


HARRY TRUMAN’S DAUGHTER’S VERSION:

“I would say to George Bush, ‘You are no Harry Truman.’”
       Margaret Truman (1924-2008)
       Daughter of President Harry Truman
       Her response to comments by President George H. W. Bush comparing himself to President Harry Truman, during the 1992 Presidential campaign


THE AL GORE FARMBOY VARIATION:

“Al, I was an Iowa farmboy. Iowa farmboys are friends of mine, and you’re no Iowa farmboy.”
       Republican National Committee Chair Jim Nicholson
       Quote in an RNC press release (March 17, 1999) responding to Vice President Al Gore’s claim that he did a lot of farm work as a young man, such as cleaning out “hog waste with a shovel and a hose.” Nicholson added: “Mr. Vice President, with all due respect, you’re shoveling a lot more of it right now than you ever did back then.”

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