by Naftali Bendavid
Halloween is here–that fun-filled time of adorable costumes, fanciful pumpin carvings, boatloads of candy–and juvenile Halloween references from political operatives.
Every year we’re treated to comments like, “Halloween may be spooky, but what’s really scary is Candidate X’s position on Social Security.” It’s the political world at its most hackneyed.
This year is no different. Take a statement today from the Senate Democratic leadership. “As children across America go out trick or treating tonight for Halloween,” it declares, “the Bush administration’s policies should scare them more than ghosts and witches.”
Yes, kids across America will no doubt be thinking not about how many Snickers bars and M&M bags they can score, but the merits of increasing the staffing of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus used the holiday to address the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. “At 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, President Bush is having what he calls SCHIP Halloween–it’s all trick, no treat,” Emanuel said.
Republicans are seizing on Halloween references with equal zest. The Illinois GOP yesterday went after Sen. Dick Durbin’s position on immigration with a tortured image. “Tomorrow American communities will decide who has the scariest costume for Halloween,” it said. “Another that could easily be given amongst the scary ghosts and goblins is the award for the scariest position in America. Hands down, Dick Durbin should claim the prize.” Yes, that’s easy to imagine–a contest in small towns across the country for the scariest policy position. Sounds fun.
Then there’s the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which attacked Democrat Andrew Rice, who is challenging Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) in the upcoming election. “When Andrew Rice dresses up as an extremist liberal, it isn’t just for Halloween,” the Republicans observed. That resonates, because “extremist liberal” costumes are flying off the shelves in stores across America.