O’neill Fired Over ‘it’s The Economy, Stupid’ Remark

[fklhou]

O’NEILL FIRED OVER ‘IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID’ REMARK

‘Don’t Call Me Stupid,’ Bush Shot Back

A clearer picture of the events leading up to Treasury Secretary Paul H. O’Neill’s forced resignation was revealed today, as White House aides said that Mr. O’Neill was undone by unintentionally calling the President “stupid” in a meeting last week.

The heated exchange occurred at the White House late Thursday night, aides said, when Mr. O’Neill urged the President to focus more on the economy, telling Mr. Bush, “Remember, it’s the economy, stupid.”

Mr. Bush’s face reportedly reddened with rage after Mr. O’Neill made his remark.

“I know it’s the economy,” the President replied, “and don’t call me ‘stupid.’”

Mr. O’Neill quickly defended his “it’s the economy, stupid” remark as a figure of speech, but the President “would have none of it,” aides said.

“I know when someone’s called me stupid, and you just called me stupid,” Mr. Bush said. “Well if I’m stupid, you’re a dickwad. How do you like them apples?”

Mr. O’Neill, realizing that he had walked into a rhetorical minefield, quickly attempted to mend fences with the President.

“When I said ‘it’s the economy, stupid,’ I just meant that the economy is something you should focus more on,” Mr. O’Neill said.

“Who are you calling a moron?” a furious Mr. Bush demanded, leaping from his chair.

“It’s ‘whom,’” corrected Lawrence B. Lindsey, director of the National Economic Council, who was also present at the meeting.

Moments after Mr. Lindsey’s “whom” remark, the President called him a “smart-***” and abruptly demanded his resignation as well.

“If there’s one thing the President hates more than being called stupid, it’s being corrected on that whole who-whom thing,” one aide said.

****Borowitz Reports****

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

LOL.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Sorry.. I don't get it..

 

[fklhou]

Satire is not for everyone and sometimes something that is funny to some people will miss the mark with others.

The internal mantra for the 1992 Democratic campaign was "It is the Economy Stupid" and Paul Begala has a book out entitled "It is Still the Economy Stupid." The phrase "It is the Economy Stupid" is still used by many who want to focus attention on the economy. This piece of satire postulates that O'Neil and Lindsey (the Bush economic team) were fired over a misunderstanding of what this phrase means i.e., Bush may have taken part of the phrase personally.

 

[shortbun]

Not far enough off the possible "mark" to be
satirical for me.