David Axelrod shared an anecdote this morning from an “old Chicago pol” to help explain presidential politics and polling. Presidential candidates are like monkeys, you see:
An old Chicago pol I know once told me: "The higher a monkey climbs a poll, the more you see his ass." That's presidential politics.1/2
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) October 30, 2015
Many immediately thought the “monkey” was Ben Carson:
I wouldn't use a monkey analogy for Ben Carson's rise in the polls if I were you. https://t.co/qrKpuOiXWM
— Chris (@4cchild) October 30, 2015
Hack of racist party of slavery, Jim Crow, KKK, & blocking Civil Rights Act calls Ben Carson a 'monkey.'
FU AXELROD. https://t.co/GQPyUPMaKG— RufusKings1776 (@RufusKings1776) October 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/coff33loveit/status/660151533577850880
https://twitter.com/OrwellForks/status/660135474670002176
But Axelrod was actually calling Marco Rubio a monkey, not Carson:
.@ScottWalker climbed the poll & America didn't like the view. @marcorubio is about to get his turn. Can he pass the test? Stay tuned.2/2
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) October 30, 2015
This will now be called David Axelrod’s “monkey butt” test, and it’s Rubio’s turn:
OH WAIT. You called Marco Rubio a monkey, not Ben Carson. Do you usually call latinos "monkeys" Dave? https://t.co/x5mVHikudu
— RBe (@RBPundit) October 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/RobProvince/status/660125081708961797
With the above in mind, now check out this just released email between Hillary Clinton and Sidney Blumenthal, specifically the subject line. It’s more Axelrod “monkey butt” imagery, but this time directed at Newt Gingrich:
gah!! pic.twitter.com/GGnZVnskyq
— Jim Newell (@jim_newell) October 30, 2015
You see, Axelrod isn’t racist. He compares all presidential candidates to monkeys. Probably even Hillary Clinton at one point…
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