Dear Tell All: I was disturbed by an Associated Press report on the recent Republican Party convention at the Wisconsin Dells. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald got his fellow Republicans chortling in a speech that belittled the Capitol protesters: "It's been a long time since I've been around this many people who weren't chanting and yelling, sometimes at me. And I also got to tell you, you all smell a lot better, too."
Could the Republicans be any clearer in their condescension toward the rabble? Fitzgerald is talking about the ordinary working-class people who oppose Gov. Scott Walker's agenda of taking from the poor and middle class to keep taxes low for corporations and the wealthy. His comment about their bad smell is like something you'd hear from an evil cartoon patrician, like Scrooge McDuck or The Simpsons' Mr. Burns.
The Wisconsin Republicans aren't even bothering to hide their revulsion toward their social inferiors anymore, even though we make up at least half of the state they're ruling.
Tom Joad
Dear Tom: Don't despair. Several Republican speakers at the convention - including Gov. Walker and Sen. Fitzgerald - fretted about losing their Senate majority in the upcoming recall elections. That suggests that they're sweating, and sweaty people usually smell bad. So it's the pot calling the kettle black.
Dear Tell All: I've started dating a guy who's a bit too impressed that, at work, I oversee about 60 people. "That's amazing!" he keeps saying. I was flattered at first, but I'm beginning to find his amazement a little annoying.
The Big Kahuna
Dear Kahuna: Sounds like a form of sexism to me. In her book Bossypants, Tina Fey chronicles a similar phenomenon: "[E]ver since I became an executive producer of 30 Rock, people have asked me, 'Is it hard for you, being the boss?' and 'Is it uncomfortable for you to be the person in charge?' You know, in that same way they say, 'Gosh, Mr. Trump, is it awkward for you to be the boss of all these people?'"
I'd dump the dude and spend your free time watching repeats of 30 Rock.
tellall@isthmus.com
