“I’m Not A Witch” Picked As Quote Of The Year

According to a Yale librarian:

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Christine O’Donnell’s TV ad declaration “I’m not a witch” during her U.S. Senate campaign topped this year’s best quotes, according to a Yale University librarian.

O’Donnell’s quote is cited by Fred Shapiro, associate librarian at Yale Law School, who released his fifth annual list of the most notable quotations of the year. In the ad, O’Donnell was responding to reports of her revelations that she had dabbled in witchcraft years ago.

“It was such a remarkable unconventional quote to be a part of the political discourse,” Shapiro said.

The quote by O’Donnell, a tea party favorite running in Delaware, tied for first place with “I’d like my life back,” the lament made in May by BP’s CEO Tony Hayward after the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

The selection is somewhat ironic given the fact that O’Donnell’s second campaign ad started with the line “I didn’t go to Yale.”

Here’s the full list:

1. (TIE) “I’m not a witch.” Christine O’Donnell, television advertisement, Oct. 4.

1. (TIE) “I’d like my life back.” Tony Hayward, comment to reporters, May 30.

3. “If you touch my junk, I’m gonna have you arrested.” airline passenger John Tyner, remark to Transportation Security Administration worker at San Diego airport, Nov. 13, 2010

4. “Don’t retreat. Instead – reload!” Sarah Palin, Tweet, March 23.

5. “Chi! Chi! Chi! Le! Le! Le! Los mineros de Chile!” Chant at Chilean mine rescue, Oct. 13.

6. “I hope that’s not where we’re going, but you know, if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies. They’re saying: My goodness, what can we do to turn this country around?” Sharron Angle, radio interview in January.

7. “We have to pass the (health care) bill so you can find out what is in it.” Nancy Pelosi, speech to National Association of Counties, March 9.

8. “I’m going to take my talents to South Beach.” LeBron James, television broadcast, July 8.

9. “You’re telling me that the separation of church and state is found in the First Amendment?” Christine O’Donnell, Delaware senatorial debate, Oct. 19. (The Associated Press reported the quote: “So you’re telling me that the separation of church and state, the phrase `separation of church and state,’ is in the First Amendment?”)

10. “They should never have put me with that woman. … She was just a sort of bigoted woman who said she used to be Labour.” Gordon Brown, comments about a voter he met while campaigning for British general election, Apr. 28.

You will notice that O’Donnell made the list twice. Surely she can parlay that into an endorsement deal or something.

Personally, I’m disappointed that this guy didn’t make the list:

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Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Dave says:

    The LeBron James quote seems to be the only on this list that will have any sort of cultural relevance 10 years from now.

  2. DC Loser says:

    “But she turned me into a newt!

  3. Clovis says:

    Still think #7 should have taken the blue ribbon.