That Darn Bob! Outrageous and Happy to Be That Way

“Isn’t that a disgrace?”

“Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“Can you believe someone would do something like that?”

So goes the conversation about homeboy Rep. Bob Dornan and how awful he was in likening President Clinton’s anti-war activities 25 years ago to treasonous acts.

As someone who has knocked Dornan in previous columns, surely I must be outraged by his remarks about the President. Surely, I can’t wait to blast him again for an outburst so objectionable that he was exiled for 24 hours from the House of Representatives.

Nope. Not me.

What’s all the hubbub? I saw nothing wrong in his remarks. I found them well-considered and thoughtfully presented; maybe bland and a little redundant, but, on the whole, pretty ho-hum. To say they were outside the bounds of propriety is ridiculous.

What’s more, I’d object to any characterization of them as “bombastic” or “inflammatory.” Nor would I refer to Dornan as “combative” or “fiery,” as he has before. I would have referred to him as “subdued” and “lethargic in tone and substance.”

For those who missed Dornan’s remarks after the President’s State of the Union address, he accused Clinton, who avoided the draft, of giving “aid and comfort to the enemy” during the Vietnam War. The congressman said he was reacting to Clinton’s introducing of a Medal of Honor winner during his address Tuesday night. Dornan was also upset that the medalist was seated next to Hillary Rodham Clinton.

When Dornan came in Wednesday and voiced his criticism of the President on the House floor, Democrats reacted. “I think the gentleman from California owes the entire institution, the Congress and the President an apology,” said Rep. Vic Fazio of California.

If ever there was a half-cocked statement, it was Fazio’s.

“Hell no,” replied Dornan. “Hell no. I will not withdraw my remarks. I will not apologize. I will accept the discipline of the House.”

Once again, I must say I find Dornan’s reply to Fazio completely decorous, even if a tad on the timid side.

Appropriately, Dornan wouldn’t apologize, and Fazio carried the day when the Republican who was presiding when Dornan made his remarks slapped him with the 24-hour sanction.

That was unfortunate, because I can’t stress enough that Dornan’s comments were not the least bit offensive. The worst you could say about them was that they were borderline dull.

Oh, what’s the use. . . .

I don’t know when the revelation came to me, but it apparently hasn’t visited itself upon Dornan’s political opponents. They haven’t learned that reacting angrily to Dornan’s remarks is exactly what he wants. The more they spew at him, the more he likes it.

They treat his intemperate remarks as if they think they’ve caught him at something. Instead, it is Dornan who has caught them, for they’ve played right into his hands.

The more outrageous they say he is, the better it is for Bob Dornan, for he’s carved out his money-raising and public-image persona precisely by saying things like that. Indeed, he has to say things like that to keep his identity alive.

Look what happened: he blasts the President, the Democrats get suckered into responding, and the next day Dornan is on CNN. He gets some air time and no doubt makes a few more bucks from mail-in contributions and public notoriety.

As for why he sounded off this time, who can say for sure? Maybe he’s worried that in the early days of the new Republican Congress, others are getting more pub than he is. Christopher Cox has gotten some air time, and Dana Rohrabacher has been in the news fighting the arts. Maybe Dornan got antsy.

I decided sometime back not to play his game. Others can rail about him and get outraged about his well-planned public broadsides, but not this cookie. I’m not going to do PR for him unless he puts me on paid staff.

The Bob Dornans of the Mass Media Age--whether they’re named Madonna or Roseanne or Farrakhan or Deion--thrive on being outrageous. That’s how they get their gigs on CNN or wherever. If they’re not riling people, they run the risk of being mixed in with the crowd of others who do what they do. Another singer, another comedian, another TV preacher, another good football player. Just another of 435 congressmen.

So, if you want to keep Bob Dornan around, keep calling him outrageous and controversial. When he says something that sounds offensive, be shocked and demand an apology. Better yet, demand that he be thrown out of the House and announce that you’ve never seen such despicable behavior.

Believe me, nothing would make him happier.

Dana Parsons’ column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Readers may reach Parsons by writing to him at The Times Orange County Edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626, or calling (714) 966-7821.