Origin of the "kitchen sink" analogy?

[mamalone]

I was in a discussion in another thread about the origin of the "kitchen sink" analogy. The accusation was that this was an example of sexism by the Obama campaign and I maintained that this analogy actually originated with a Clinton staffer. As I understand it, earlier in the campaign the Clinton staffer was asked what the strategy was going to be against Obama, and she/he replied "Kitchen sink"... meaning that they intended to throw everything at him. I was called on it and (rightfully) asked for substantiation.... which I sadly do not have....

...help... anyone?



also, as an aside, this is my first OP ever, so please be gentle with me;)

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

1. I believe you're correct

I don't have a link, but I remember it originating from the Clinton camp. It's not Obama's style to come up with stuff like that anyway.

[AtomicKitten]

2. Her campaign announced "the kitchen sink" as the strategy de jour & on that they delivered.

[MadBadger]

3. They announced the strategy to the NY times.

[futureliveshere]

4. Here is your link from an NYT aticle

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/politics/26clinton.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=kitchen+sink+hillary&st=nyt&oref=slogin

snip

After struggling for months to dent Senator Barack Obama’s candidacy, the campaign of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is now unleashing what one Clinton aide called a “kitchen sink” fusillade against Mr. Obama, pursuing five lines of attack since Saturday in hopes of stopping his political momentum.

Candidate Topic PagesMore Politics NewsThe effort underscores not only Mrs. Clinton’s recognition that the next round of primaries — in Ohio and Texas on March 4 — are must-win contests for her. It also reflects her advisers’ belief that they can persuade many undecided voters to embrace her at the last minute by finally drawing sharply worded, attention-grabbing contrasts with Mr. Obama

end of snip

[rug]

5. Here's one interesting explanation.

Everything but the kitchen sink - comes from World War Two when everything possible was used to contribute to the war effort...all metal was used for the U.S arsenal. The only objects left out were porcelain kitchen sinks. Does anyone still have a porcelain sink?

http://www.meghan-mccarthy.com/articles_sayings.html

There are others.

[BlooInBloo]

8. I hate you.

:P

[rug]

14. Here's a lovely model for you.

Shipping not included.

:hi:

[BlooInBloo]

15. heh!

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Oxford English Dictionary dates it back to 1948 or earlier

1948 PARTRIDGE (Dictionary of Forces' Slang) Kitchen sink, used only in the phrase indicating intense bombardment: ‘They chucked everything they'd got at us except, or including, the kitchen sink.’ ‘The kitchen stove’ was also used.

That could have come from the 'contribute to the war effort' - or it could be the other way round.

It's a common phrase in the UK these days, with no connotations of sexism at all.

[rug]

16. I've also heard it refer to weapons and cars. "It's got everything but the kitchen sink."

I don't think it's sexist, just trite.

[TechBear_Seattle]

17. I heard that it came even earlier, out of the Dustbowl era

Through much of the 1930s, severe drought hit the plains of the US and Canada. Because of the lack of rain and poor agricultural practices, fierce prairie winds would pick up top soil more than a mile into the sky and carry it hundreds of miles in great "black blizzards."

These conditions forced many farmers off their land into the cities to find work. Hundreds of thousands of families packed up everything they could carry and relocated, typically to the west where farmlands were still productive. (Read The Grapes of Wrath for a fictionalized -- but still very authentic -- account of typical life for the "Arkies" and "Oakies.") The "everything" was often that, and could even include panes of glass from the windows.

Homes that had a sink were not common; real sinks were expensive to buy and usually had to be shipped from back east special-order at great expense, and anyway, indoor plumbing was not all that common. Thus, many kitchens used the same galvanized tub to wash dishes and clean vegetables that got used on laundry day. Those that did have sinks often had to leave them behind: the space they took up could be used for other things, and there was no guarantee that living space at the other end would have the plumbing required to make use of a sink.

So "everything but the kitchen sink" got its start as meaning everything except what absolutely could not be included.

Edited for clarity.

[rug]

18. That's interesting. I hadn't heard that. Thanks.

[skooooo]

6. sexism??

WTF is wrong with people who see sexism in everything under the sun?

[BlooInBloo]

7. Apparently it comes frrom WWII - nothing remotely sexist about it at all...

http://www.meghan-mccarthy.com/articles_sayings.html

"Everything but the kitchen sink - comes from World War Two when everything possible was used to contribute to the war effort...all metal was used for the U.S arsenal. The only objects left out were porcelain kitchen sinks. Does anyone still have a porcelain sink?"

[Adelante]

9. February 26, 2008

Mind you, this is the same time frame the Clinton campaign was first pushing the Ayers' story and the photo of Obama in Somali costume appeared on the Drudge Report, he claimed coming from her campaign.

After struggling for months to dent Senator Barack Obama’s candidacy, the campaign of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is now unleashing what one Clinton aide called a “kitchen sink” fusillade against Mr. Obama, pursuing five lines of attack since Saturday in hopes of stopping his political momentum.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/politics/26clinton.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[redqueen]

12. And there it is.

There is nothing to idiotic to be manufactured and spun as poutrage around here.

Nothing.

[lisa58]

10. you're right...

...that's how it started

[Writer]

13. I don't know about it's origins, but Obama repeated it constantly until Texas/Ohio. n/t

[mamalone]

19. THANK YOU all!

I just *knew* that I couldn't have imagined it:blush: Thanks especially for the links!

and thanks for being so nice too:)