Origins Of 'Terrorist Fist Jab' Revealed

Slate's Christopher Beam has reflected on how the Obama fist-bump meme has grown from a simple celebratory gesture between Barack and Michelle Obama to the diabolical central psychological gesture from yesterday's cover of the New Yorker. And, for what it's worth, he's taking responsibility for it:

It's often asked, "Where does stupid stuff on the Internet come from?" In this instance, I think probably it came from me. Although I didn't originate the conceit, I'm pretty sure that I'm the one who put it in circulation. Er, sorry. Like The New Yorker, I never intended anyone to take it as anything other than a laughable example of ignorance.

The morning after Obama locked up the nomination, I was writing a "Trailhead" item that mocked the media's difficulty in figuring out what to call the now famous gesture. "Fist-pound," "knuckle-bump," and "fist-to-fist thumbs up" were among the funnier examples, but one of them--"Hezbollah-style fist jab"--was particularly risible. It came from the Web site for Human Events, a hard-right weekly. Unfortunately, I failed to note that its provenance was not the magazine itself but a reader comment posted below an unrelated column by Cal Thomas. I linked the phrase to the column but didn't explain that the words weren't Thomas'.

...

When I realized the confusion I'd helped cause, I posted a correction. But it was too late. Liberal bloggers from all over had already seized on the phrase. Time and Politico misreported that the words were Thomas'. Then, fatefully, Fox News anchor E.D. Hill jauntily paraphrased "Hezbollah-style fist jab" on air as "terrorist fist jab." Hill wasn't endorsing the phrase, but she failed to make clear that she was citing someone else's characterization. She apologized the next day but lost her show anyway.

It's a nice gesture, and a great post, from Beam, but he needn't feel all that bad about what happened to E.D. Hill, who characterized the situation, in her apology, by saying, "I mentioned various ways the Obamas' fist pump in St. Paul had been characterized in the media," which makes it sound as if the "terrorist fist-jab" meme had garnered a lot of media attention at the time, when in reality, the only person in "the media" who had used the term prior to Hill appears to have been Beam.

Comments

[Puddin]

This has to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of. This is the first time in my adlult life that I have been engaged in the political process. I have always voted but never really paid much attention to the process. I see, I didn't miss anything This stuff is so stupid. I cna't tell if most of you people are adults or not. Young children make more sense than most of you people (these comments). Grow up and act like a human being, not some "mineless/souless" animal!

[shengirl]

So this is the first time in your adult life you've actually participated in politics, and you think that somehow makes you fit to sit in judgement of all the rest of us?? BTW we may be "mindless", but I doubt any of us have "mines." Welcome to the process.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Hey...my best friend has a mine. She became the owner, (with her two sisters) when her father died six months ago. LOL.

[UkieOlie]

You voted, but "never really paid much attention to the process"???? And what did you base your voting on?

[firewmn]

Back in 1993 we did when we got off the river after runnng BIG Rapids... we called it the "Pound." We did it after work when we all hooked-up in the bar for a few cold ones..
Shoot, Beavis and Butthead did it too.. Who cares.. it's been around a lot longer than people know...

I now do it with my grandkids.. they laugh and love it..

[1will]

I don't care where it started. It's still funny.

[saun8934]

You still sound very ignorant!

[enyapjeff]

This is a non-issue. Please spend some time bring attention to the imploding economy, which is a bi-product of the BU$H policies.

[springsm]

Good heavens, my 9 year old grandson was using this fist bump on his sports teams LAST summer. It beats that chest bump. What in the world is all the fuss. I like it. How about HIGH FIVE...good grief. Small minded people worry about the damndest things.

[mlaiuppa]

Gee. Howie Mandel has been a terrorist all of this time and no one knew it.

[MsLiz]

Awww, I thought Fox News coined the term.

[TheLar]

Haha. So now I know. I've been thinking to myself, Terrorist Fist-Jab... Where Did This Come From?

Viral Cynicism (or, In Search of the Original Terrorist Fist-Jab)
http://www.larrynocella.com/2008/07/viral-cynicism-or-in-search-of-original.html

Larry Nocella

[DasBoot]

Mmh, so another attempt to insert irony into the political discourse backfired. Lesson learned? American politics is an irony-free zone, especially when it comes to candidates with "exotic" (read: anybody but a corn-fed white guy) backgrounds.

[Americanium]

Get a real job

[BARRISTER]

When the McCains fist-jab, (dops it is called), Cindy gets it in the jaw!!

[MsLiz]

DAP, dignity and pride.

[Cynth]

Now you done it....

[larry278]

You mean that it isn't a way to say that both of them want to fist each other or am I thinking of Laura & W?

[Hagrid]

Whatever happened to E.D. Hill?

[4wehttam]

Who the hell cares! Wherever she is I hope LimpBalls, Insanity and O-LIE-ly join her soon along with all the other PAID hatemongers.

[nowRnever]

Pleeeeeeeeeze! Enough already!