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ERIC CANTOR LOVES THE LITTLE GUY.
Via Greg Sargent, Republican Eric Cantor's office sent out a video parody hitting back against government employee union AFSCME's ad campaign criticizing him, which draws heavily on union stereotypes. This is some of the text of the parody:
“On your way to work tomorrow, instead of sittin’ around with your finger up your a**, look around,” the voice-over says. “There’s a union out there called AFSCME and they’re busting’ their balls doing a lot of sh*t work you take for granted. For example, we pick up your f–kin’ garbage.”“We don’t take sh*t from nobody,” the vid concludes. “You got that, a**hole? AFSCME — the f–king union that works for you.”
Here's the video, which is obviously NSFW:
It's obviously not the most effective insult. The jobs mentioned are important, they are hard, and it's a good thing that AFSCME represents the people who do them. Suggesting union people curse a lot--well, even if it was true, who cares? And it just makes Cantor look like he hates people who work for a living.
AFSCME is blasting Cantor publicly, but they definitely aren't taking the parody too personally. "People here think it's pretty funny," said one AFSCME official I spoke to.
In fact, there was already a Facebook group called "We're F--kin' AFSCME!" and there's apparently quite a few AFSCME members on it. The goon joke thing is apparently, not so original, and the parody itself is at least two years old.
UPDATE: Well this gets interesting. Cantor's rep defended the video, saying it was a joke, but in the past Cantor hasn't found obscenity so amusing. Cantor voted for the Broadcast Deceny Enforcement Act, which allows fines of up to $500,000 on broadcasters for airing any “obscene, indecent, or profane” content. That's f--kin' hilarious.
-- A. Serwer
COMMENTS (8)
I've got to say I love this Afscme parody commercial. It speaks to the real america. What an absolute moron Cantor is that he doesn't get it.
aimai
Posted by: aimai | February 11, 2009 1:04 PM
I love it too. I am confused. Cantor sent this as an anti-Union thing? I thought it was a mockingly pro-union. "AFSCME ... they’re busting’ their balls doing a lot of sh*t work you take for granted. For example, we pick up your f–kin’ garbage.” That is true, no? That sounds pro-union to me. I am pro-union and pro-picking up my fucking garbage, and helping old ladies across the street and pro a whole lot of shit work I take for granted.
Posted by: Ropty | February 11, 2009 1:26 PM
and another thing. According to the discussion at the WashingtonMonthly blog, the video and voice over is 20 years old, with lots of old union people having copies on VHS. It was recorded as an alternative track for fun when the video was made. Whether that is true or not, it is clearly a pro-union video.
Posted by: ropty | February 11, 2009 1:44 PM
Republican Eric Cantor: The GOP is putting the piss in the water!
Posted by: Aaron | February 11, 2009 1:50 PM
Good Lord, how stupid IS Cantor? This isn't an insult, it's a fuckin' paean to the fuckin' shit workers.
Posted by: Passing Shot | February 11, 2009 1:55 PM
So Cantor's "rep" is on Canton's staff? Cantor's payroll? TAXPAYERS picks up the tab for HIS "work"? Hmmm...Maybe he should get to stand in an unemployment line for awhile just to learn to take seriously the condition some of us are in.
Posted by: Sharon Arnold | February 11, 2009 6:46 PM
As a proud AFSCME member I had to laugh over the reaction. We keep your drinking water safe, your sewage processed, your street lights lit, your pot holes filled and we're happy to do it. I'm no wall street banker but I'm still proud of the job I do and like my job. Yes we sometimes talk dirty, we're working people after all. We have a union because no politician ever got elected for giving the city workers a decent wage. We're not allowed to strike and don't want to. Our union is all we have to fight for us because the politicians certainly aren't going to help us.
Posted by: Danny | February 12, 2009 2:07 AM
I find it hilarious that you guys really think that Cantor and the aide in his office didn't get the joke. No doubt they were laughing their asses off. Believe me, Republicans always get the joke--they don't take offense over every little thing and demand constant apologies.
Posted by: Viki | February 13, 2009 10:40 AM