I Know You Are but What Am I? in Politics Debate

Remark made by Lloyd Bentsen in 1988

"Senator, y'all're no Jack Kennedy" was a remark made during the 1988 United states of america vice-presidential debate by Democratic vice-presidential candidate Senator Lloyd Bentsen to Republican vice-presidential candidate Senator Dan Quayle in response to Quayle'south mentioning the proper name of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United states. Since so, the words "Y'all're no Jack Kennedy," or some variation on the remark, take become a office of the political dictionary every bit a manner to deflate politicians or other individuals perceived as thinking too highly of themselves.^[1] Michael Dukakis (the Democratic presidential candidate) and Bentsen later went on to lose the 1988 U.s. presidential election to George H. W. Bush and Quayle, who thus became Vice President of the The states.^{[2] [3]}

Context [edit]

The debate was held on October 5, 1988, at the Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska.^[four] One of the moderators, Judy Woodruff, prepare the phase by addressing the audition: "Based on the history since Earth State of war Two, at that place is virtually a 50–l hazard that one of the ii men hither tonight will become President of the U.s.."

From Martin van Buren in 1836 up to the time of the contend, no sitting vice president had been elected president. Republican George H. W. Bush hoped to become the first.^{[v] [6]}

After Quayle became Bush's vice-presidential running mate, questions were raised in the press about his age (he was 41 at the fourth dimension); his limited term of service in the Senate; his grades in college; his National Guard duty (which Democrats claimed helped him avoid serving in the military during the Vietnam War);^{[vii] [8]} and his overall power to atomic number 82 the nation in the case of the incapacitation of the president, which became a central event in the 1988 debate.

Quayle had routinely been comparing himself to Kennedy in his stump speech.^[ix]

In a mock debate with Dennis Eckart, Bentsen used the casual remark "you're no Jack Kennedy and George Bush-league is no Ronald Reagan."^[ten]

Quayle did not directly compare himself with Kennedy in terms of accomplishment, but in terms of length of Congressional service; Quayle served for 12 years while Kennedy served for 14. When Kennedy successfully sought the Democratic nomination in 1960, he had less experience than his main opponents, almost of whom had more seniority in the Senate. While information technology was a statement of fact, some of Quayle'southward advisors suggested that this comparing could cause trouble.^[11]

Transcript [edit]

The relevant portion of a transcript of the 1988 vice-presidential debates from the Commission on Presidential Debates:

Tom Brokaw: Senator Quayle, I don't hateful to beat this drum until it has no more sound in it. Merely to follow upward on Brit Hume's question, when you said that information technology was a hypothetical situation, it is, sir, after all, the reason that nosotros're hither this night, because you are running non just for Vice President—(Applause)—and if you cite the feel that you had in Congress, surely you must take some programme in mind about what you would do if information technology fell to you to become President of the United States, as information technology has to then many Vice Presidents but in the last 25 years or so.

Quayle: Let me try to answer the question 1 more time. I think this is the 4th fourth dimension that I've had this question.

Brokaw: The third time.

Quayle: Iii times that I've had this question—and I volition try to answer it again for y'all, as clearly as I can, because the question you're asking is, "What kind of qualifications does Dan Quayle have to be president," "What kind of qualifications practice I have," and "What would I exercise in this kind of a situation?" And what would I practice in this situation? ... I accept far more than feel than many others that sought the office of vice president of this country. I have every bit much feel in the Congress equally Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency. I will be prepared to deal with the people in the Bush administration, if that unfortunate upshot would ever occur.

Judy Woodruff: Senator Bentsen?

Bentsen: Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy. (Prolonged shouts and applause.) What has to be done in a situation like that is to call in the—

Woodruff: (Admonishing applauders) Please, delight, again you are only taking time abroad from your own candidate.

Quayle: That was really uncalled for, Senator. (Shouts and adulation.)

Bentsen: Y'all are the 1 that was making the comparison, Senator—and I'm one who knew him well. And frankly I call back you are so far apart in the objectives y'all choose for your country that I did non recollect the comparison was well-taken.^[12]

Aftermath [edit]

Quayle's reaction to Bentsen's annotate was played and replayed by the Democrats in their subsequent television ads as an announcer intoned: "Quayle: only a heartbeat away." It proved sure-laugh provender for comedians, and more and more editorial cartoons depicted Quayle as a child. Saturday Night Live used a child histrion to portray Quayle in several sketches.^[13]

Fugitive going caput-to-head with a seasoned Bentsen, Quayle had spent the argue criticizing presidential nominee Michael Dukakis as also liberal.^[14] Quayle felt that he had successfully got that message beyond since Bentsen did not defend Dukakis.^[xi]

The Bush–Quayle ticket defeated Dukakis–Bentsen in the presidential election past a margin of 8% of the pop vote and an balloter landslide, with the Democrats winning simply ten states.^[fifteen]

Legacy [edit]

United states of america [edit]

Four years later on at the 1992 Republican National Convention, Ronald Reagan answered claims by Bill Clinton's campaign, while poking fun at his own age, by proverb, "This beau they've nominated claims he's the new Thomas Jefferson. Well, let me tell you lot something. I knew Thomas Jefferson. He was a friend of mine. And governor, you're no Thomas Jefferson."^[16]

At the 1992 US vice presidential debate during his opening argument, Democratic nominee Al Gore took a humorous shot at Dan Quayle over the Jack Kennedy comparing. Quayle was running for re-election and trying to make upwardly for his performance in the 1988 argue. Gore was likewise taking a shot at President George Bush'due south comparisons of the accomplishments of his administration to that of Harry Truman. Gore said to Quayle, "I'll make you a bargain this evening. If yous don't attempt to compare George Bush to Harry Truman, I won't compare you to Jack Kennedy." The audition reacted with laughter.^{[17] [18]}

In 2008, Ronald Reagan's daughter Patti Davis paraphrased the quotation in reference to a number of presidential candidates invoking her father'southward name during the 2008 United states of america presidential campaign, "Where is Lloyd Bentsen when yous need him? 'I knew Ronald Reagan ... senator (or governor), you're no Ronald Reagan.'"^[19]

At the 2012 U.s. vice presidential debate, Vice President Joe Biden made a similar statement in reaction to Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan'due south citation of a policy taken past President Kennedy. Biden quipped at Ryan, "Oh, at present you're Jack Kennedy?" to laughter.^[twenty]

At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, old Reagan administration official Doug Elmets, referencing the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, stated, "I'm hither this night to say: I knew Ronald Reagan. I worked for Ronald Reagan. Donald Trump, you are no Ronald Reagan."^[21]

On Nov 25, 2017, White Firm Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders posted on Twitter, comparing herself to the character C. J. Cregg from The West Fly on an incident involving a situation where the White House was receiving one of the White Firm Thanksgiving turkeys set to be pardoned by President Donald Trump. After her tweet, thespian Bradley Whitford, who portrayed White House Deputy Principal of Staff Josh Lyman on the evidence, replied saying "I know C.J. Cregg. C.J. Cregg is a friend of mine. You're no C.J. Cregg." Actress Allison Janney, who played C.J. in the series, also replied, thanking Whitford for his sentiment.^[22]

Elsewhere [edit]

In October 2012, at the U.k. Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Foreign Secretary William Hague made a response to a speech that Labour leader Ed Miliband had given at his own political party briefing in the previous calendar week, in which Miliband compared his political party with Benjamin Disraeli's 1 Nation Conservatism ideology. Hague said, "To borrow a plough of phrase, we were led by Disraeli, our predecessors knew Disraeli, Disraeli was a Bourgeois through and through, and, Ed Miliband, you are no Disraeli."^[23]

In June 2017, subsequently the Taoiseach of Ireland Leo Varadkar nominated former attorney general Maire Whelan as a estimate to the Court of Appeals and was accused of pressuring President Michael D. Higgins to sign off on her confirmation, he claimed appointments like this have precedent such as in the cases of Frank Clarke, Adrian Hardiman and Donal O'Donnell. Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin claimed it "stunk to high heaven" and quipped "with the greatest of respect, Máire Whelan is no Frank Clarke, is no Adrian Hardiman, and is no Donal O'Donnell."^[24]

On June x, 2019 Canadian thespian Kiefer Sutherland, grandson of erstwhile NDP leader and Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas, posted a argument on Twitter, directed at Ontario Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford and responding to Lisa Macleod, a Government minister in Ford'south government, comparison their authorities'south provincial budget to Douglas'southward fiscal record. The argument included the phrase, "I knew Tommy Douglas and you Sir, are no Tommy Douglas".^[25]

Parodies and pop media [edit]

References to and parodies of the famous quotation have oft appeared in popular culture.

• On an episode of Sabbatum Night Live, several candidates for the Democratic nomination for President of the United states of america were debating each other at a time when President George H. W. Bush was enjoying enormous popularity in the polls. All of the candidates tried to make the other ones await skilful since no one wanted to face Bush in the ballot. At one point, Bentsen, played by host Kiefer Sutherland, remarked, "I knew Jack Kennedy, I worked with Jack Kennedy. I am no Jack Kennedy."
• In the Disney picture show George of the Jungle, during the hymeneals, Ursula's mother (Holland Taylor) — pouting over multiple appearances of gorillas — complains to her husband, "Arthur, I wish y'all could do something about these monkeys. I experience similar Jane Goodall". Ape (voiced past John Cleese) replies, "Madam, I knew Jane Goodall, and you lot are no Jane Goodall."
• In the Night Court episode "This Onetime Man", Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), while running for the New York Country Assembly, spends the dark with a wealthy adult female who claims to have (for similar prurient reasons) donated a large sum to John F. Kennedy's campaign; the adjacent morn, Dan is outraged to receive a pittance in the mail, along with a notation: "Dear Dan, you're no Jack Kennedy."
• In the thirty Rock episode "In that location'due south No I in America", Jack Donaghy tells Liz Lemon in a presidential-style debate: "Miss Lemon, I know Scottie Pippen. I own a Fuddruckers with Scottie Pippen. And y'all, sir, look like Scottie Pippen."
• In the Ugly Betty episode "Giving Upward the Ghost", while chewing out Amanda, Sheila tells her, "I knew Fey Sommers. I worked with Fey Sommers. I once made out with Fey Sommers. You lot are no Fey Sommers." (Fey was the late editor of Mode, the magazine Betty worked for.)^{[26] [ better source needed ] [27] [ improve source needed ]}
• On the episode "Undercover Society" of Justice League, The Flash attempts to interrogate a thug by dangling him off the ledge of a building. The thug jibes, "Who do you think you are, Batman? Look, buddy, I know Batman, I once ratted out a counterfeiter to Batman, and believe me, you are no Batman."
• In the 2001 film Black Knight, Martin Lawrence's grapheme Jamal gives a speech criticizing one of the film's antagonists, maxim, "King Leo. He thinks he's Rex Arthur. Well I know King Arthur. And you, Male monarch Leo, are no King Arthur!"
• The Megadeth song "I Know Jack" from the album The Organization Has Failed contains the soundbite.^[28]
• In the Rugrats episode "Spike Runs Away", Tommy says to Chuckie, "Chuckie, I knew Spike, Spike was a friend of mine. And let me tell you, that poodle is no Spike!"
• In the 1999 moving-picture show Olive, the Other Reindeer, Olive compares herself to other reindeer, causing her friend, Martini, to utter "Listen, Olive, I worked with reindeer. Reindeer are friends of mine. You, Olive, are no reindeer"
• In the 2002 film The Santa Clause ii, later on the Tooth Fairy is caught past Scott Calvin, who is trying to render to the Northward Pole, Scott tries to tell him that he is Santa. The Molar Fairy replies, "I know Santa. Santa is a friend. And you sir, are no Santa."
• In The Goldbergs episode, "Information technology'southward All About Comptrol", Beverly Goldberg says during a debate, "I know Dodd Wembley. Dodd Wembley is a friend of mine. Y'all, sir, are no Dodd Wembley." Her opponent, Dodd Wembley, responds, "I literally am Dodd Wembley."
• In the Netflix testify "Large Oral fissure (TV series)" episode "A Very Big Mouth Christmas" Santa Claus says "I know the Easter Bunny, I work with the Easter Bunny, and you, sir, are no Easter Bunny!"

Notes [edit]

1. ^ "Quayle's Unwelcome Analogy". Fourth dimension . Retrieved September 19, 2018.
2. ^ "Presidential Election of 1988". 270toWin.com.
3. ^ "'Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy' near didn't happen. How it became the biggest VP debate moment in history". Los Angeles Times. 2016-10-04. Retrieved 2020-06-04 .
4. ^ E. J. Dionne Jr. (October 7, 1988). "The Vice Presidential Contend; Bentsen and Quayle Assail on Question of Competence to Serve in the Presidency". The New York Times. p. ane.
5. ^ Mianowany, Joseph (nine November 1988). "Bush-league defeats Dukakis to become 41st president". UPI.
6. ^ Apple Jr., R. W. (xviii August 1988). "THE REPUBLICANS IN NEW ORLEANS: Man in the News; A Self-Effacing Nominee: George Herbert Walker Bush". THE NEW YORK TIMES.
7. ^ Isaacs, Arnold R. (2000). Vietnam Shadows. JHU Press. p. 43. ISBN0-8018-6344-nine.
8. ^ East.J. Dionne, Jr. (August 23, 1988). "Reopening an Old Wound; Quayle's Guard Duty in Vietnam War Era Puts the Focus Once again on". NY Times.
9. ^ "'Senator, y'all're no Jack Kennedy' well-nigh didn't happen. How it became the biggest VP debate moment in history". Los Angeles Times. October iv, 2016.
10. ^ Germond & Witcover 1989:440.
11. ^ ^{a b} "Vice President Dan Quayle Interview - Debating Our Destiny". www.pbs.org. PBS. December 2, 1999. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
12. ^ "CPD: October 5, 1988 Contend Transcripts".
13. ^ Kroll, Katy (Baronial 18, 2014). "Public Meltdowns and Profane Dames: 20 Off-the-Hook Emmy Moments". Rolling Rock . Retrieved September 19, 2018.
14. ^ Goldstein, Joel Yard. (January 17, 2017). "A reassessment: Dan Quayle as vice president". Indy Star . Retrieved September nineteen, 2018.
15. ^ Due east. J. Dionne Jr. (November ix, 1988). "The 1988 Elections; Bush is Elected past a six-5 Margin With Solid G.O.P. Base in Due south; Democrats Hold Both Houses How the Poll Was Taken". The New York Times.
16. ^ Toner, Robin (August xviii, 1992). "In Their Own Words: The Overview; Bush-league Vows A Tough Campaign As G.O.P. Opens Its Convention". The New York Times.
17. ^ "THE 1992 Campaign; Excerpts From the Contend Among Quayle, Gore and Stockdale". The New York Times. Oct 14, 1992.
18. ^ "CPD: October xiii, 1992 Debate Transcript". www.debates.org.
19. ^ Broder, John M. (January 20, 2008). "The Gipper Gap: In Search of Reagan". The New York Times . Retrieved September 19, 2018.
20. ^ O'Brien, Michael (Oct 11, 2012). "Biden plays aggressor in debate every bit Ryan makes GOP case". NBC Politics . Retrieved September 19, 2018.
21. ^ Easley, Jonathan (July 28, 2016). "Former Reagan official to Trump: 'You are no Ronald Reagan'". The Hill . Retrieved September 19, 2018.
22. ^ Sinclair, Harrietr (November 25, 2017). "Westward Wing Cast Hits Out At Sarah Huckabee Sanders: 'You lot're no C.J. Cregg'". Newsweek . Retrieved September xix, 2018.
23. ^ "Conservative briefing: Miliband no Disraeli, says Hague". BBC News. October vii, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-10 .
24. ^ O'Regan, Michael (June 20, 2017). "Taoiseach defends new judge amidst Micheal Martin criticism". Irish Times . Retrieved September 19, 2018.
25. ^ "End using my grandpa'southward name, thespian Kiefer Sutherland tells Doug Ford | CBC News".
26. ^ "Ugly Betty [2006]". Quotes . Retrieved October 22, 2016.
27. ^ "My Favorite Quotes From "Ugly Betty". Ugly Is The New Beautiful . Retrieved October 22, 2016.
28. ^ "I Know Jack | Megadeth.com". Archived from the original on 2013-10-19.

References [edit]

• Germond, Jack W.; Witcover, Jules (1989). Whose Broad Stripes and Vivid Stars: The Trivial Pursuit of the Presidency 1988 . New York: Warner Books. ISBN0-446-39187-5.

External links [edit]

• Holley, Joe (May 24, 2006). "Lloyd Bentsen; Texas Senator, Vice Presidential Candidate". The Washington Post. p. B06. (Obituary.) {{cite news}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
• "You are no Jack Kennedy". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. A video excerpt from the 1988 vice presidential debate.

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senator,_you%27re_no_Jack_Kennedy

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