Pander Bear (pander + panda bear)
Former Massachusetts Senator Paul Tsongas (1941-1997) called Arkansas Governor < href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton">
Bill Clinton a “pander bear” (pander + panda bear) during the campaign for the 1992 Democratic presidential nomination. A “pander bear” (or “pander-bear”) is someone who panders to each constituency.
The term “Pander Bear” had also been cited in print in 1979, when it referred to someone on a school board who allegedly pandered to pressure groups. “Pander bear” has also been used to describe politicians other than Bill Clinton. “Well, this year, we have a new pander bear: Sen. John McCain,” said Human Events in 2007.
Wikipedia: Paul Tsongas
Paul Efthemios Tsongas (/ˈsɒŋɡəs/; Greek: Παύλος Ευθύμιος Τσόνγκας; February 14, 1941 – January 18, 1997) was a United States Senator from Massachusetts from 1979 to 1985. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 1992 presidential election. He previously served as a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts’s 5th congressional district (1975–1979) and held local political office.
28 March 1979, The Evening Star (Washington, DC), “Sort of a Press Release,” pg. DC-1, col. 1:
“A Pander Bear has been seen in the county lately,” said the photocopied “press release.” It described the “bear” as “an overweight, pale-faced, human-looking animal, with an inexplicable tendency to kiss the buttocks of any pressure-group attending meetings of the (school) board…”
New York (NY) Times
THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: Democrats; Saying Clinton Is Cynical, Tsongas Goes on the Attack
By RICHARD L. BERKE,
Published: March 7, 1992
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 6— Paul E. Tsongas unleashed his harshest attack yet tonight against Bill Clinton, assailing his Democratic rival as a “pander bear” who “will say anything, do anything to get votes.”
Taking the offensive four days before Florida’s high-stakes primary on Tuesday, Mr. Tsongas landed here after campaigning in the West and immediately declared that “we’re going to take the gloves off.” He went on to say “the American people are going to find out how cynical and unprincipled Bill Clinton is.”
7 March 1992, Boston (MA) Herald, “Ex-Mass. senator ready for ‘real battle,’” pg. 4, col. 2:
“So from today on he’s ‘pander-bear.’ P-a-n-d-e-r B-e-a-r.”
(Paul Tsongas speaking on Bill Clinton.—ed.)
Google Books
My Life
By Bill Clinton
New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf
2004
Pg. 391:
He (Paul Tsongas—ed.) called me a “pander bear” For proposing the tax cuts. He said he’d be the best friend Wall Street ever had. I shot back that we needed a New Democrat economic plan that helped both Wall Street and Main Street, business and working families.
Google Books
Public Speaking:
Concepts and Skills for a Diverse Society
By Clella Jaffe
Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth
2007
Pg. 90:
“Pander-Bear” is a term for leaders who tell one crowd one thing and another crowd something different.
Human Events
John McCain, Pander Bear
dpatton1 | Tuesday Feb 27, 2007 3:01 AM
Political junkies will recall the 1992 Democratic presidential primaries, when the late Sen. Paul Tsongas, speaking in that Massachusetts accent he had, called Bill Clinton a “pander bear.” Clinton, of course, was just that: a practiced professional pol trying to be all things to all people, with a penchant for sticking his wet finger into the political wind to determine what his position should be when addressing a crowd.
Well, this year, we have a new pander bear: Sen. John McCain.
Urban Dictionary
pander bear
A candidate running for political office who shamelessly attempts to lure in votes by making patronizing and empty concessions and shows of support for particular special interests.
Observer 1: OMG did you see how John McCain has started hanging out with that crazy guy who runs a megachurch in Georgia to try to get the evangelical vote?
Observer 2: yeah, what a Pander Bear.
by chrlz qr March 24, 2008
Twitter
Alexei
@Vr0nsky
The Presidential election cycle is gearing up. Or as I like to call it: pander bear season.
2:33 PM - 14 May 2015