Congressmen, whether hawks or doves, should be proud as peacocks of that noble American bird, the turkey.
Thus advised Rep. Peter W. Rodino, D.N. J. during the recent budget debate as, with tongue in cheek, he scorned the language of a colleague who branded eight budget statute proposals as “‘Turkeys.”
Rodino conceded the proposals were “as dead as dodo birds,” but didn’t think the wise owl lawmaker should have followed the show business cue of making the turkey synonymous with a flop or failure.
“In short,” he lamented, “The turkey has become something of a sitting duck-a clay pigeon, if you will-for lazy phrasemakers.
It was not always thus, Rodino cooed. “Not always did the original native of America wear this albatross. I would remind colleagues that Ben Franklin thought the turkey a much more respectable bird than the bald eagle to serve as our national symbol.”
In contrast to the show biz usage.” he argued, “turkey is still a sign of sone succuss – three straight strikes – among the 10-pin bowlers.” And the turkey remains “a source and symbol of joy and fulfillment and thanksgiving for our great holiday.”
Rodino’s parting shot came as he called for responsible action on the last three budget proposals: “Let us not act like silly geese and bury our beads, like ostriches, in the sand. And, above all, with regard to these proposals, let none dare call them turkeys.”