Euthanize the Filly

Some people are having a Field day with the political story line they perceive in the death of filly challenger Eight Belles today at Churchill Downs - you know, the horse Hillary Clinton famously picked to win the Derby: "Kind of reminds of the phrase: 'Eff you and the horse you rode in on!'” Funny. Here's another grand comment: "...this horse going down is a metaphoric representation/event of Hillary’s bid for the presidency going down.” I'm with Digby on this:

...maybe the metaphor will be perfectly fulfilled next week as Clinton comes in second and breaks both her metaphorical ankles and is metaphorically euthanized right on the metaphorical track, but the classy thing to do would be to leave it alone. It's sickening on many levels. Resist the impulse to be cute about this. The horse died. You'll like yourself better for it.

Guess not - over at Jake Tapper's they're green-lighting comments like this one:

This race parallels the nomination race as the one HRC picked lost to Obama's pick..now the only question remaining - since HRC will finish second to Obama - should she be put down because she is broken down, lying old hag?

Comments

[Judith]

If one wanted to be "classy" one wouldnt make a joke at all at the death of that beautiful animal, not just make a joke and then disavow it. Shame on Digby, frankly.

[glen]

Digby's been a weird disappointment through this whole thing. Having said that, making a joke about that beautiful animal dying is the sickest goddamned thing yet.

[Mutaman]

Al Giordano made the same "joke". What a bunch of absolute classless morons. Taking a tragedy like this and making a stupid political joke out of it.

I like Obama, but a lot of his supporters really are jerks.

[Jake Tapper]

Truly tasteless. Don't know how the monitor missed that. I'll have it taken down asap.

[Pepper Spray]

I knew the minute I heard this on the news that this would be used as a cruel bludgeon against Hillary. I'm a Hillary suporter, but I would be for Obama if he is the nominee -- if it wasn't for his internet supporters who are every bit as mean-spirited and hateful as any right-winger you can name. Maybe it's not fair to hold his supporters' hatefulness against him, but I can't separate the two. I won't vote for Obama.

[mmakana44]

Her winning on Tuesday will be a perfect metaphor for the fact that karma can be a real bitch.

[Tom W.]

I'd point out that Digby was arguing against making a joke of the horse's demise...

She argues: "Resist the impulse to be cute about this."

[Tom W.]

And thanks, Jake - it really was tasteless.

[carissa]

When I saw the picture last night of the filly crumbling on the track, the last thing in my mind was politics. What sort of sick people are these idiots?

[ghost2]

I think Obama had picked 'Big Brown' to place third, but it placed first. His first place pick finished 8th.

Just to get the record straight.

Her trainer said that the filly had had the race of her life.

[James Wolcott]

If I were an Obama supporter, I'd spend less time making jokey parallels about yesterday's Kentucky Derby and more time trying to defend/explain away the startling, unflattering contrast between Hillary and Obama on the Sunday morning talkshows: She, so commanding and "up" on ABC's This Week; he, so slumped forward, beleagured-looking, and low-energy on NBC's Meet the Press. Because he sure isn't carrying himself with the aura of a winner.

[Tom K]

I dunno, Tom.

While I agree that these sorts of statements are tastless and inexcusable, my first thought upon hearing that a Philly had put down on the infield after an injury was one of concern for Chase Utley. I suspect you and other Met fans would have a hard time summoning as much concern for him as for the horse.

[Jude]

I was heartsick over Eight Belles. As I watched the whole thing unfold before my eyes yesterday, I saw the one picture next to the other - one owner of the swift and lovely horse who won the race cheering joyously -- and the deep sorrow upon seing the other beautiful animal laid low..broken and dying...

..it was a bit too much for me. I'm passionate for all horses. Once I'd learned Eight Belles had died, I could no longer join the others in sincerely cheering for the winner.

I am sad to see these comparisons being made to the Democratic candidates. It could, however, be a foretelling, that when one of them wins (bear in mind it's going to be inevitable) and we hear the cheering throng, there will be the other passionate half among many of whom will be turning the whole thing off as I turned off the overwhelming and strange emotional spectacle yesterday.

The only remedy to turning off the passionate supporters of either candidate that I can see is a situation where the losing Democrat gets the chance that poor Eight Belles will never have...to be resurrected as a running mate for the winner.

If only Eight Belles had gotten the opportunity to rise once more to claim life once again...the fact of having lost the great race notwithstanding.

[Judith]

Tom W - what is this?

<<>>

[Judith]

Sorry - retry

Tom W , what is this:

"maybe the metaphor will be perfectly fulfilled next week as Clinton comes in second and breaks both her metaphorical ankles and is metaphorically euthanized right on the metaphorical track"

To make this comment and then say - oooh but let's not go there - is cowardly, imo. How 'bout not going there at all?

[SweetSue]

If these are the kind of supporters that Obama is attracting, I hope to God that Clinton can claim the nomination.
Did most of Ron Paul "Lord Of The Flies" self esteeming college frat boys drift to Barak Obama?
No thanks.

[pebird]

Remember there are a lot of College Republicans with time on their hands that have nothing better to do than to post comments on sites as if they were Clinton or Obama supporters. They just want to stir up shit.

Don't take blog comment posts too seriously, you don't know who/why is making them.

[No Blood for Hubris]

True enough.

[Ralph]

Why are supporters confused with what the candidates would say or do? Seems a bit idiotic to me. People are always gonna make lame political jokes out of anything that gets media attention. Yawn. Can we move on to something important now?

[Vnd]

I was horrified by the Eight Belles tragedy and immediately thought of the comments that would be forthcoming. But I also realized that millions of people were watching this talented filly run an extraordinary race and some of them might decide that what happened at the end of the race is NOT going to happen to Hillary Clinton. The tragedy of Eight Belles may act like a cautionary tale and some voters may realize now that it's up to them to make a difference.

[Josh E.]

Oh noes! Random commenters on blogs said something mean about Hillary Clinton!

[Slappy]

Am I the only one who thinks the horse deserved it?

[Dirk]

Kind of reminds of the phrase: 'Eff you and the horse you rode in on!'

From Al Giordano. You can't tell me if it wasn't Hillary's "pick" for the Derby he would have uttered this crass statement. How miserable you have to be get pleasure from this would be hard to measure.

By the way Tom I love your writing and your blog, it's nice to some people haven't completely lost their minds.