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Another week, another opportunity for Bo Hines to prove how woefully unprepared and unqualified he is to go to Congress.
The 26-year-old who has never had a real job is under fire this week for calling to defund the FBI – and for apparently confusing the term “banana republic” with the clothing store run by Gap Inc.
“It’s starting to seem like the 26-year-old who has never had a real job might not be qualified to serve in Congress,” said DCCC spokesperson Monica Robinson. “Bo Hines’ call to defund the FBI is ignorant, dangerous, and an insult to law enforcement who put their safety on the line every day.”
WRAL: Was it ‘banana republic’ or Banana Republic? Hines’ comments draw international attention
By Laura Leslie
August 17, 2022
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“The Republican nominee for North Carolina’s 13th Congressional district gained international attention this week after seemingly confusing a political term with a popular clothing chain. His campaign spokesman says it was a joke, not a gaffe.”
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“Political scientists say it’s a textbook example of why more candidates are avoiding unscripted situations.”
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“Fredricks asked whether Hines would support defunding the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service if elected. ‘We have to,’ answered Hines, who is endorsed by Trump. ‘I mean, we’re at a point in our country now, we have an unregulated fourth branch of government that’s targeting middle-class Americans on a daily basis. I mean, it’s unbelievable.’”
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“The term ‘banana republic’ is typically used in political science to refer to developing countries with unstable governments, often with few civil rights. They are often run by dictators friendly to businesses. Banana Republic, by comparison, is a national clothing retailer owned by Gap Inc., whose stores are run by managers.”
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“In a video of the conversation, Hines, a 26-year-old Yale University graduate who has never before run for state or federal elected office, wasn’t laughing or smiling as he made the comment. The host initially smiled, but he stopped as Hines continued his explanation.”
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“Nickel, a state senator, pounced on Hines’ response to Fredericks’ question about the IRS and FBI, calling his apparent acquiescence to the notion of defunding the agencies extreme, outrageous and ‘disqualifying,’ due to the fact the comments come at a time when FBI agents are facing more threats. ‘It’s a slap in the face to all the hard working members of law enforcement,’ Nickel told WRAL News.”
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“Political scientists say the incident shows why more campaign consultants are keeping candidates out of situations like the one Hines found himself in — open-ended discussions that could go awry if the candidate doesn’t stick the landing on a response.”
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“The Banana Republic comment, McLennan says, underscores Hines’ inexperience. That could be a difference-maker to some swing voters in a tight race for the district, which includes southern Wake County, all of Johnston County and portions of Wayne and Harnett counties.”
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“For now, though, Hines is at the mercy of media outlets that picked apart his comments, publications such as The Hill in Washington, D.C., The Daily Mail in the U.K. and others, including at least one that worried about the ramifications for other Gap brands if Hines is elected.”
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“‘Hopefully he doesn’t send Old Navy to war,’ quipped the New York Daily News.”
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