"dog whistle"

[Jonathan Lighter]

>From CNN just now.

Rick Perry delivered remarks on what seems on the surface to be just
standard Republican support for Israel, with sharp criticism of Obama, of
course.

CNN's correspondent, however, ventured the opinion that Perry's remarks, as
a whole, were also "a dog whistle to conservative Christians."  Why? Because
Perry also noted in passing that he was specially obligated "as a Christian
conservative" to stand up to Israel.

Many Christian conservatives of a Tea Party bent believe that the integrity
of Israel is 100% crucial to God's plan.

Politics aside, as a metaphor, this subtextual "dog whistle" business (a
public statement worded to be understood fully by just the targeted few)
seems creepily apt.

JL
--
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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