I AM a scumbag. (So sayeth Teresa Heinz Kerry)

[CVX]

I'm also an idiot too. Teresa Heinz Kerry, you can shove it yourself!

THE CANDIDATE’S WIFE

by JUDITH THURMAN

Teresa Heinz Kerry is an uncharted element on the road to the White House.

Issue of 2004-09-27

Great read. Take a few minutes to view:

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040927fa_fact

Despite her linguistic prowess and her worldliness, Heinz Kerry has, at times, a deaf ear for the nuances of slang, code, condescension, and vulgarity in English—for the emotion of the language. “There are these bizarre moments that make you shudder,” the Kerry adviser said. “Like calling herself African-American to black audiences.” She dismissed voters skeptical of her husband’s health-care proposals as “idiots,” and, in a television interview with a Pittsburgh anchorwoman, employed the word “scumbags” to describe some of her detractors. I doubt that she knows the literal meaning of “scumbag,” but perhaps, after forty years in America, nearly thirty of them as a political wife, observing how the flaws and contradictions of a personality as complex as hers are melted down for ammunition by the other side, she should have learned it.

[gmc]

scum // n. & v.

n.

1 a layer of dirt, froth, or impurities etc. forming at the top of liquid, esp. in boiling or fermentation.

2 (foll. by of) the most worthless part of something.

3 colloq. a worthless person or group.

v. (scummed, scumming)

1 tr. remove scum from; skim.

2 tr. be or form a scum on.

3 intr. (of a liquid) develop scum.

scummy adj. (scummier, scummiest).

[Middle English via Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schum from Germanic]

scumbag // n. slang

a contemptible or disgusting person.

This must be one of those words whose meaning is changing.

[Bill Sikes]

gmc wrote: scumbag // n. slang

a contemptible or disgusting person.

This must be one of those words whose meaning is changing.


I'm mystified! What does it mean in the U.S.A.?

[Tombstone]

Are you implying that disagreeing with the wannabe First Lady makes it perfectly okay to be accussed of being an idiot or scumbag?

[Paula]

Language i am shocked Political people spoke? wow, they want in that bad to speak such words, is it to impress half breeds to vote for Kerry? If this woman becomes the first lady, oh my god, are we in for trouble. Potty mouth at home depot is different than [people running to lead a country]! :-6 :-6

[gmc]

A scumbag (it's other meaning) is a semen filled used condom.


Suspected something like that. It's an american usage so remember, if somebody from the UK calls you a scumbag they are not being as insulting as you think they are.

[Bill Sikes]

Loopie> A scumbag (it's other meaning) is a semen filled used condom.

gmc wrote: Suspected something like that. It's an american usage so remember, if somebody from the UK calls you a scumbag they are not being as insulting as you think they are.


How extraordinarily strange. I wonder whether this is common usage, or niche.

I don't think there's anything like it in the UK.... perhaps u.c.l.e. would help!

[LottomagicZ4941]

The vice president also cussed. As well as Nixon. I curse and try to avoid it. I have to admit to haveing called people scumbags in the past. Though it did not occure to me that I was calling them sperm in a condom. Calling someone sperm in a condom would actually be funny.

Why can't people debait the issues with out resorting to calling people names. Can't remember what it was that motivated me to call someone a scumbag.

They did something rude so to me a scumbag is mainly a person who is rude.

Lotto

http://www.flalottomagic.net/cgi-local/ ... elcome-344

MagicZ4941

[Paula]

Scum Bag to me is a low blow, i never use that language, i would rather say a loser verses a sum bag. Heinz not impressed with to begin with. Glad she is gone...