My former Man Crush, Barack Obama, has been getting pelted by Grumpy Old John McCain about being a “celebrity.”Well, guess who else has been called a “rock star” and a “celebrity” by Republicans and GOP bloggers (and some others)?
Our own Sen. John Thune.
A few examples:
From Dakota Voice, April 13, 2007:
Thune: Republican “Rock Star”John Quinn says John Thune could be the Republican “Obama.” From KOTA:
‘He is young. He is articulate. He is tall, slender and well spoken,’ Quinn says, laying out a description of Thune that is intentionally and eerily familiar to that of another player on the political scene.
From Straight Talk Iowa Style, September 6, 2006:
McCain and John Thune
Here’s an interesting story about the relationship between John McCain and South Dakota dragon slayer Senator John Thune, the guy who beat Tom Daschle in 04…
Look for Thune to play a part in helping McCain become President and win Iowa. One rock star helping another could be a potent combination for success. (Yes that is a prediction that Thune will endorse McCain should McCain run.)
From Commontaries, August 7, 2008:
On top of that, he (Thune) will satisfy something that seems to be very important to some voters these days. The voters in America are very superficial. He has the ability to have that rock star appeal. The same wave that Barack Obama is presently riding. John Thune can catch a ride on the same tide. Only this time on the Republican side.
From Governing, March 13, 2007:
From the Washington Post, May 26, 2005:The story also puts Tom Daschle on Obama’s short list because, you know, he couldn’t even carry South Dakota. Since Thune beat Daschle when he was leader of the Senate Democrats, he naturally has flirted with rock-star status even in the national media.
Here’s a transcript of an interview Thune did with CNN a while back:
HENRY: Very quickly, before the process, Republicans were saying you’re a rock star. During the process, they said your credibility was shot. Now that you’ve won, where do you stand? Are you a rock star again?
THUNE: Well, I don’t think I ever was. But the point in all of this is, what I’m here to do is represent the people of South Dakota.
Senator John Thune has long been a darling of the White House, handpicked by President Bush as a rising Republican star. But just months after winning election by telling voters that his ties to Mr. Bush would help save their military base, Mr. Thune is facing a new reality.Yup. GOP “rock stars” good. Democratic “rock stars” bad. The distinction is utterly clear. Makes perfect sense to me.
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