Definition
The repudiation of an extremist position or person where it is feared there might otherwise be a damaging perceived association. During the 1992 presidential campaign, black hip hop MC Sister Souljah made some provocative racial comments. At the risk of alienating some of his core black voters, Democratic candidate Bill Clinton publicly disavowed the comments so as to maintain support with centrist voters. Similarly in the 2000 presidential campaign, Republican candidate George W. Bush has his S.S.M. when he disavowed a book written by the jurist of the religious right, Robert Bork.