Hillarys Deplorables? What About Hillarys Generalistic?

By Larry Elder This political season means full employment for pundits opinion givers strategists and soothsayers on cable television and via social media. Its interesting to watch the catch phrases verbal crutches and tics speakers and writers use which often when examined make little or no sense. We all do it. Donald Trump is fond of saying That I can tell you. Does that mean hes sitting on the real bombshells? Hillary Clinton in her broadside against half of Trump supporters whom she said were a basket of deplorables actually invented what appears to be a new word -- generalistic. Clinton said You know to just be grossly generalistic you could put half of Trumps supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist sexist homophobic xenophobic Islamophobic -- you name it. Hey deplorables we get. Waters wet the sky is blue. Republican politicians -- and their supporters -- are racist sexist and homophobic and they smell really really bad. Clinton added: And unfortunately there are people like that. And he has lifted them up. He has given voice to their websites that used to only have 11000 people -- now 11 million. He tweets and retweets their offensive hateful mean-spirited rhetoric. Well before Trump arrived on the political scene then-Al Gore campaign manager Donna Brazile now interim chair of the Democratic National Committee said the GOP has a white-boy attitude. Rep. Barney Frank D-Mass. accused then-President George W. Bush of an intentionally sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina because he wanted blacks to leave Louisiana to ensure it remained a red state. Frank called it ethnic cleansing by inaction. Again Democratic Politics 101. But generalistic? Inventing new words? Good Lord! That just takes the normal political vitriolic combat to a new low. Now weve come to expect verbal sloppiness from Trump. But Clinton is an Ivy-League-educated lawyer and shes set the bar higher while consistently accusing Trump of lacking the temperament judgment and knowledge to be president. Now Trump in the opinion of his detractors has demeaned Mexicans a captured veteran women Muslims the handicapped and others. But he has scrupulously avoided the use of the word generalistic. For that alone he might carry a few swing states. Now while were at it do we need a presidential executive order from our next president to address following: Why do people say In other words? How about getting it right the first time? Why do people say Not to change the subject and then proceed to change the subject? Why do people say they could care less when they really mean the exact opposite? Why do people say Let me be perfectly honest? Did I stop you? Why do people say If you will? Does it mean theyd shut up if you replied Now that you mention it no I believe I wont? Why do people say Heres what I think? I certainly hope its what you think. After all I am talking to ... you. Why do people say Ive got good news and Ive got bad news? Doesnt everybody? Why do people say Well thats what you think! Of course it is. Does it look like Karl Rove is standing here feeding me lines? If I were giving you your opinion -- one of us wouldnt need to be here. Why do people say they dont mean to interrupt and then proceed to interrupt? Why do people start a sentence with the words I mean? Can we stipulate that you do in fact mean it -- because the person whos speaking is ... you? Why do people say At the end of the day -- as opposed to at the end of the month year or decade? Is it a matter of short attention spans? Why do people say Let me be candid? What did a judge place you under a restraining order? Permission granted! Why do people call television the boob tube and then gripe moan and whine that they cant find anything good to watch? Why do people say Let me be as clear as I can? Permission granted but I want 10 pushups if you fall short. Why do people say Hes getting on my last nerve? And just where exactly is that? On second thought never mind wed rather not know. Why do people say He was lying through his teeth? As opposed to what? Lying through his butt cheeks? Why do people say Silly me. Im a complete idiot? And you have to restrain yourself to keep from saying I was just thinking the same thing. Is it November yet?