We are now convinced that ChimigangaGate has entered the realm of social media silliness, and in the case of Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank, we would suggest he go to his local Mexican restaurant and ask for a plate of humildad.
Milbank, who was the one who wrote the following line:
"The chimichanga? It may be the only thing Republicans have left to offer Latinos."
This was a reference to what Senator John McCain said during a Senate session about the confirmation of a Cuban American judge to the federal court system, in response what Senator Rand Paul was doing to stall the vote. The line then became the tweet of the day from Obama 2012 campaign manager Jim Messina and chimichanga silliness ensued.
We have pretty much stated our case about the social media gaffe from Messina, and we were giving Milbank the benefit of the doubt because we actually thought his column was a good one. But after reading his "response" today in The Washington Post, we are just asking: "Dude, really? You just can't say, hey, it was a line that didn't work for some? I am a columnist, I have opinions. My bad." Is it that hard to do?
Here are snippets of what Milbank had to say (the whole column can be read here and you can see that Milbank is taking umbrage with the Republican's demands for an apology, which, as we said, was perfectly legitimate in this case, especially since it is clear that Milbank truly has no clue about what he is working so hard to try and defend). This is what caught our eye today:
Holy mole sauce! The flap spread, to CNN, the Drudge Report, the New York Times,Comedy Central. “Chimichanga is the New Macaca,” said Michelle Malkin. Eventually, calls came from the blogosphere that “both Jim Messina and Dana Milbank should apologize.”
To those demanding my apology, I say: That’s nacho place. I flauta your demands. In the chimichanga wars, I will taco no prisoners — and that’s for churro.
His column ends like this:
As for the chimichanga apology, I’m pleased to report that Messina had a good answer to those demanding his contrition: Not so fajitas. A follow-up tweet said: “Tweeting someone else’s words caused a stir, but the GOP is on the wrong side of every Hispanic voter priority.”
In fact, I hereby demand that the RNC and conservative critics end this sorry episode by apologizing for demanding apologies. If they do, I would consider making an apology of my own: to the chimichanga, for bringing the innocent entree into this cauldron.
You are kidding us, right? Really, Dana, this is a joke, correct? You are missing the point: why are you stooping to tired stereotypical puns about Latinos? Because you are clever? Because we Latinos love a great Tex-Mex menu? Because you don't have a little decency to just admit you goofed?
Really? Saying, hey, I got the message (Republicans were not the only ones who called this whole affair dumb and stereotypical), my bad, is so difficult? Swallow your pride a bit. Focus on the real issues, which was your column that had done until a silly little ending throwaway and stereotypical line ruined it.
In other words, #NoMames.
