Quote:

I would consider "tar-baby" to be offensive because, except in the Uncle Remus story, I have only heard it used as a racial slur. After decades of it's being used to offend I am surprised that an American politician would expect it to be taken any other way.



Sure thing, Zed, if you don't mind rewriting history for the sake of cowardly politicians and disregarding conventional meanings on the outside chance that it might offend.


http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19990212