Sam Dealey

Terry McAuliffe, Huckster or Hustler? The Washington Post Weighs In

May 27, 2009 RSS Feed Print

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By Sam Dealey, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

In an editorial last week endorsing state senator R. Creigh Deeds in Virginia's upcoming Democratic gubernatorial primary, the Washington Post had this to say of opponent Terry McAuliffe, the former Democratic National Committee head and Clinton advisor: "Mr. McAuliffe would be an unpredictable choice, a self-described 'huckster' who has vacuumed millions from donors as a Clinton confidante and former head of the Democratic National Committee."

The Post continued:

That's not meant as a dig: Mr. McAuliffe fills a room, and it's easy to imagine him jawboning businesses to move to Virginia or lawmakers to support his agenda. He has proved that he's a quick study who can rattle off facts and figures about the state. Yet, Mr. McAuliffe's promises have been as expansive as his personality, and he has offered no realistic way to foot the bill. It's also unclear whether voters will give Mr. McAuliffe a pass for showing no interest in state politics or governance until setting his sights on the governor's mansion.

Alas, in today's "Corrections," the Post rights a great wrong:

A May 22 editorial on Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial primary incorrectly stated that Terry R. McAuliffe had described himself as a "huckster." In his autobiography, Mr. McAuliffe described himself as a "hustler."

According to Collins Essential English Dictionary, a huckster is "a person who uses aggressive methods of selling." A hustler, on the other hand, is defined as "a person who tries to make money or gain an advantage from every situation, often by immoral or dishonest means."

Kudos to the Post for setting the record straight.

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