Great Political Insults: Part 3 Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "His lips are so thick": who insulted an Irish politician with these words?

Answer: Ian Paisley

It's rare for an insult so crude to get into the public domain, but during an election launch - within the sight and hearing of journalists - Ian Paisley, then leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, spoke about the then Irish foreign minister Brian Cowen in these words: "Somebody told me the other day the reason his lips were so thick was that when his mother was bringing him up he was a very disobedient young boy, so she used to put glue on his lips and put him to the floor and keep him there. That has been recorded in his physical make-up."

2. Gore Vidal, one of the most acid-tongued political commentators of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, once described a US presidential hopeful as: "A phoney, a little Torquemada." Who was he speaking of?

Answer: Bobby Kennedy

Vidal was equally scathing of the scion of the Kennedy clan, Joseph, describing him as "a crook - should have been in jail". [Sources: British TV's 'The South Bank Show' and 'The Sunday Times', May 2008.]

3. All the news that's fit to print? "We did not conceive it possible that even ----- would produce a paper so slipshod, so loose-joined, so puerile, not alone in literary construction, but in its ideas, its sentiments, its grasp. He has outdone himself." Who, and what, was being commented upon in these words in a leading newspaper?

Answer: Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

The Chicago Times said it in 1863. The [London] Times was equally scathing, noting: "Anything more dull and commonplace it would be hard to imagine." Still, Abe was gracious towards 'The Thunderer', commenting: "The London Times is one of the greatest powers in the world - in fact, I don't know of anything that has more power - except perhaps the Mississippi."

4. " ________ was brilliant to the top of his army boots." Which British soldier was dismissed with these words?

Answer: Douglas Haig

David Lloyd George (1863-1945) made the remark on the British field marshal who commanded the 1st Army Corps in the British Expeditionary Force in France at the start of WWI. Haig's military insight was, er, interesting; commenting at one stage: "The machine gun is a much over-rated weapon" He did not think that tanks would catch on, either.

History has not been kind to Haig's leadership of the British Army.

5. "A crafty and lecherous old hypocrite whose very statue seems to gloat on the wenches as they walk the States House yard" Which US leader was being described in these words?

Answer: Benjamin Franklin

William Cobbett (1763-1835) said it of Benjamin Franklin (1706-90), the politician and inventor. In political life, Franklin was 6th President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania; 23rd Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly; and was US 'Minister' to Sweden and France. William Cobbett was born in England and served in the British Army, but when he tried to expose corruption among his peers, was forced to flee to France and then America to escape Court Martial.

He returned to England where he thought the system of government was "near perfect".

He sided with the ordinary people, largely through his newspaper "Political Register". More criticism of the military earned him a two-year jail term for seditious libel. He fled to America once again, but England drew him back and he became a Member of Parliament.

6. A newspaper once summed up an American politician in these words: "Filthy Story-Teller, Despot, Liar, Thief, Braggart, Buffoon, Usurper, Monster, Ignoramus, Old Scoundrel, Perjurer, Robher, Swindler, Tyrant, Field-Butcher, Land-Pirate." Who was being talked of?

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

That was the 'Harper's Weekly' verdict on Abraham Lincoln. I'll bet he cancelled his subscription.

7. Of which European politician was it said: "The Prime Minister clings to data the way a drunkard clings to lampposts, not for illumination but to keep him standing up"?

Answer: Silvio Berlusconi (Italy)

Romano Prodi said it of Silvio Berlusconi. Born in 1936, Silvio Berlusconi was a three-times Italian Prime Minister (1994-1995; 2001-2006 and elected to the post again in 2008). He was also a very wealthy media mogul. Romano Prodi, born in 1939, was twice Prime Minister (1996 to 1998 and 2006 to 2008).

He was also President of the European Commission from 1999 to 2004. The two were political rivals.

8. "New Zealanders who emigrate to Australia raise the IQ of both countries": which Kiwi politician delivered this damning put-down to his nation's nearest neighbours?

Answer: Rob Muldoon

Sir Robert David ("Rob") Muldoon, (25th September 1921 - 5th August 1992) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. Muldoon was a domineering figure within his own party and cabinet. He sought to intervene in just about every aspect of New Zealand public life, but he enjoyed popular support for keeping the promises he made at election time when he came to power.

9. Oops! In a Canadian election, one political party sent out a fax to the media that contained the following: "- -: He's an evil reptilian kitten-eater from another planet." Who was that 'alien'?

Answer: Dalton McGuinty

Dalton McGuinty, Jr (born 19th July 1955) was the 24th premier of Ontario. McGuinty was a Liberal, and the insulting press release was sent out by his opponents during the 2003 elections. McGuinty still won.

10. "How can they tell?" was the quip attributed to Dorothy Parker when she was told of the death of a US President. Which president?

Answer: Calvin Coolidge

Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) made the comment on hearing that the 30th President, Calvin Coolidge, (1872-1933) had died. In fact Coolidge, who served from 1923 to 1929 was a popular president and was regarded as a safe, if dull, pair of hands. A biographer noted: "That he did represent the genius of the average is the most convincing proof of his strength." The poet and writer Dorothy Parker was well known for her caustic wit. Examples include: "She runs the gamut of emotions from A to B." (of Katharine Hepburn). "If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to." "This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly.

It should be thrown with great force" (in a book review).

Source: Author darksplash

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Seconds out; round three, and the gloves are off for some of the meanest political insults ever.

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