Republican Governor of Texas Greg Abbott sent Twitter lefties into a fit last night when he responded to a supporter who jokingly asked him what he’d do to solve a big problem: Whataburger was out of Dr. Pepper.
Governor Abbot responded with a joke that referenced an old salsa commercial that was popular throughout the 80s and 90s:
“Get a rope.”
That joke didn’t play well with a crowd that might watch Stranger Things on Netflix, but never actually experienced the 80s first hand. Abbott was referencing a classic Pace Salsa commercial starring Burton Gilliam (from Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles). Abbot isn’t even the first Texas politician to make this reference. He’s not even the first one to make the reference this year. It’s quite popular.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, be sure to catch the two clips embedded below.
Get a rope. https://t.co/wlEl1icZ8c
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 14, 2019
Apparently, the reference was a bit dated for the overly sensitive Twitter crowd, since it flew high above the heads of angry internet activists who launched a series of whining Tweets ranging from demands for apologies, to condemnations of racism, and eventually to outright accusations that the Governor of Texas was proposing murder over a lack of soda.
Who are you planning to murder?
— Wetterschneider (@Stretchedwiener) December 14, 2019
Even a Daily Caller millennial seemed to express confused disapproval
Sheesh
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 14, 2019
Greg Abbott eventually responded:
“Lighten up dude. It’s a line ripped off of the Pace Picante Get A Rope Commercial,” he responded while quoting one agitated e-activist that wasn’t versed in his salsa promotional history.
“Put a smile on your face. Go to Whataburger & order a double with cheese & jalapeños. Be sure to choose the spicy ketchup! Tell them Dr. Pepper sent you,” Abbott retorted.
Lighten up dude.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 14, 2019
It’s a line ripped off of the Pace Picante Get A Rope Commercial https://t.co/VZvIGFYCf1 via @YouTube.
Put a smile on your face.
Go to @Whataburger & order a double with cheese & jalapeños.
Be sure to choose the spicy ketchup!
Tell them @drpepper sent you. https://t.co/EBnh9ZvmcZ
Here’s the commercial with the line Abbott was referencing:
This isn’t the first time a Texan has made a reference to the Pace Salsa commercial either
Texans still love the “tongue in cheek” Pace commercial even to this day as ValueWalk noted in 2015. Or, if that’s not good enough, as the New York Times noted in 2013.
Just last month, for instance, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller read a Facebook post about a Veteran’s Day parade in his hometown of Stephenville denying entry to a Confederate group. His response? “Get a rope.”
And the “get a rope” comment was popular among Republican candidates from Texas during the 2016 election, too.
In 2016, when the feud between President Donald Trump and Ted Cruz was at its zenith, Rick Perry was asked about comments Cruz made concerning New York liberals. He had this to say: “I would hope there’s enough humor in that person to understand that, hey listen, we all make fun of New York. I mean, come on, ‘New York City? Get a rope.’ Remember that ad, for the picante sauce?”
And Ted Cruz? He made references to the Pace ad twice while campaigning: once in January and once in February that same year:
CRUZ: You know, there’s an old — old Pace Picante ad, if you remember about —
KELLY: They know what you’re talking about.
CRUZ: Talking about where this picante sauce comes from and they look at the can and say, New York City? New York City, get a rope!
For what it’s worth, Robert Hirsch, the New Yorker who took over Pace’s marketing in the late 90s attributed the slogan to the company’s brand recognition throughout the country.
“I think the biggest strength of the campaign was the memorabilia, everybody remembers: ‘New York City! Get a Rope,'” Hirsch said.
Pace followed up their commercial with one that shows precisely what that rope was used for:
Here’s some more outrage, if you’re into that sort of thing:
A failed Texas candidate for Congress had this to say:
How many people are comfortable making jokes like this?
— Mike Siegel (@SiegelForTexas) December 15, 2019
We’re close to flipping Texas, and it can’t happen soon enough. https://t.co/pMeB90eSkk
A Democrat candidate for state legislature even tried to weigh in
Not ok, Greg. Not.ok. https://t.co/GzygAf2hL6
— Dr. Eliz Markowitz (@ElizMarkowitz) December 14, 2019
Then there were all these bright folks
Racially insensitive much?
— Nick Harpster – Activist (@picknick2018) December 15, 2019
The governor of the State of Texas: https://t.co/n4Yw45v4Y4
— SIVA VAIDHYANATHAN🗽🤘🏽 (@sivavaid) December 14, 2019
governor suggesting we hang people over soda? or am I missing something here?
— Phillip Abramo (@PHILLIPABRAMO) December 14, 2019
Hahaha…..lynching are always HI-larius….thanks Guv.
— kris sloan (@KristobolSloan) December 14, 2019
Wow. I’ll bet you, or at least half of your followers, gave 16yo @GretaThunberg hell for her attempt to talk in 2 languages, as she is able to do, earlier today, yet all ius Texans know exactly what you meant with this jargon and you should apologize, now
— Scheleen (@ScheleenTX) December 15, 2019
Really? Jesus man, it’s 2019.
— Doog (@emdee90) December 14, 2019
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: this man is a bad man https://t.co/nF5Lunrm4S
— Charlie Bonner (@CharlieKBonner) December 14, 2019