Can We Ratchet Back the Reflexive Outrage Over Alcee Hastings’s Cultural Appropriation Just a Tad Bit?

Over the weekend, disgraced and impeached former federal judge and current member in good standing of the House Democrat Caucus Alcee Hastings made a joke that involved the death of President Trump:

.@AlceeHastingsFL warms up Democratic rally in Sunrise with a joke about the difference between a crisis and a catastrophe.
Crisis: if @realDonaldTrump falls into the Potomac River & can’t swim.
Catastrophe: If “anybody saves his ass.”

— Anthony Man (@browardpolitics) August 19, 2018

This is an example of the coverage it received:

Democratic Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings warmed up a rally with a joke about @realDonaldTrump dying https://t.co/mbGkK7qnvv

— The Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 19, 2018

Congressman warms up rally with Trump death joke… https://t.co/PNoAebo6L6

— DRUDGE REPORT (@DRUDGE_REPORT) August 19, 2018

Video shows Florida Dem Alcee Hastings making joke about Trump drowning in Potomac River https://t.co/FCwEucMRCq

— TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 20, 2018

Rep. Alcee Hastings’ Trump death joke draws big laughs at Democrat rally https://t.co/b2uyM4p44f

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) August 20, 2018

Just a little assassination humor to get the crowd whipped into a frenzy. “Dem Rep. Alcee Hastings Jokes About President Trump Drowning In The Potomac River https://t.co/0XkjpMNPW5 via @dailycaller

— Rich Zeoli (@Richzeoli) August 20, 2018

Don’t get me wrong, I like my partisan outrage at least as much as the next guy. Hell, I average about four posts everyday and I consider myself as a connoisseur of prime outrage. But let’s be serious. This is an old political joke. I was offended that it was greeted by cheers instead of groans and the slap of faces into palms.

The difference between a misfortune and a calamity is this: If Gladstone fell into the Thames, it would be a misfortune. But if someone dragged him out again, that would be a calamity.

Gladstone is British politician William Gladstone (1809-1898) and Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) who were famous political rivals. Hastings is no more original in his humor than he was in the crimes that resulted in his impeachment.

And yes, we know what would have happened if anyone had told this joke about Obama or “I’m With Her.” They’d have been hounded to death and then their corpses dug up and desecrated. Let’s not forget the poor rodeo clown who wore an Obama mask while performing.

But if I’m going to go full flashing siren on my outrage-o-meter I want it to a) be able to create some collateral damage on the other side (usually by making the target look buffoonish) and hopefully fire up my own “tribe” (full disclosure, I’m and out and proud tribalist and I take pride in that designation). This does neither. You can’t make a guy who was impeached for corruption look more ridiculous than he is. The Congressional Black Caucus isn’t going to censure Hastings. The Democrat Caucus is kicking itself that it didn’t circulate the joke as a talking point.

Guys, there is a lot out there to be outraged about. I’m talking about real stuff that might move the needle if enough of us start talking about it. For heavens sake, we have our own homegrown social media oligarchs banning political ads by GOP candidates. We have a sitting US senator advocating imposing what looks for the world like the Betreibsraten of Nazi Germany on US corporations. Alcee Hastings engaging in cultural appropriation of a hoary old joke is not worth noting.

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