Posted on 02/05/2010 1:59:38 PM PST by presidio9
Sarah Palin's campaign against the derogatory usage of the word "retard" collided with her campaign to maintain her popularity with conservatives today, with confusing results.
A Palin spokeswoman seemed to back away from earlier criticism of conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. Yesterday, when asked for comment on Limbaugh's use of the "r" word in a recent broadcast, Palin spokeswoman told Greg Sargent of the Washington Post, "Governor Palin believes crude and demeaning name-calling at the expense of others is disrespectful." Today, Stapleton claims the statement was meant generally and she was not specifically referring to Limbaugh. Still, she declined to say that Palin believes Limbaugh's statements were acceptable. Sargent reprinted the email he sent Stapleton in which he specifically asked about Limbaugh's statement.
Palin's non-rebuke rebuke of Limbaugh comes after she called on President Obama, earlier in the week, to fire his chief of staff after using the word. According to the Wall Street Journal, Rahm Emanuel called liberal activists who wanted to run ads against conservative Democrats "f------ retarded" in a closed-door meeting at the White House. On her Facebook page, Palin likened Emanuel's "slur on all God's children with cognitive and developmental disabilities" to using the "N-word," something she deemed "unacceptable" and "heartbreaking." Emanuel later issued an apology to Special Olympics chairman and CEO Tim Shriver.
However, Palin's conservative cohort Rush Limbaugh took offense to people, presumably including Palin, protesting Emanuel's remark. On his radio show, Limbaugh lamented that "our political correct society is acting like some giant insult's taken place by calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards." That comment caused Greg Sargent to request a reaction from Palin's spokeswoman. It also caused confusion over whether Palin believes Limbaugh's public statements -
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
In 1983 James Watt said “cripples,” and he lost his job in the Reagan Administration. Which begs the question yet again, why are libs good at making people pay and conservatives aren’t.
I have no doubt that Palin and Rush are cool, I just think this is amateur politics. This will come back and bite her (or some other Republican) in the ass.
I think this is pointless, it serves no real purpose and it’s stupid. Or can people say “stupid” without offending stupid people too much?
I heard Rush and he overdid this sarcasm. Once maybe twice in the context of the story, but he said it maybe 10-12 times, sometimes only barely referncing the fact he was quoting Emmanual.
But Rush is not a politician nor is he major staffer to the president/congress. Still he overdid it this sarcasm, imho.
I know a family very well who have an 18 year old daughter with Down Syndrome. The word retard hurts them. She’s a wonderful, sweet girl and I would hate for anyone to hurt her or her family.
I doubt anyone is glad they have a child with DS but they love the child just as much as a “normal” child. It is hard, though. Lots of other health problems, too.
yawn
“Brett Michael Dykes, a blogger notorious for fake listings on Craigslist”
Good detective work. Brett Michael Dykes is also one of the denouncers and (preposterous) “fact checkers” of a mild, lame Saturday Night Live satire of Obama. Remember that? What a tool this despicable weasel Dykes is.
Documentation:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl942
Post 93: God, that is funny.
I agree without reservation.
To me, it's akin to banning books because one offends you. That slope is not only slippery, it usually is terminal.
There are many words I have never used; but I will resist without compromise any attempt to criminalize any word accepted in our language. Why?
Because they, who control language, control you.
Let's examine a few of the common words that are in the process of losing their clear and long-standing meaning:
Achievement.
Always.
American.
Bipartisanship.
Change.
Charity.
Citizenship.
Cooperation.
Corruption.
Education.
History.
Hope.
Informed.
Insurance.
Investment.
Job-Creation.
Never.
Patriotism.
Poverty.
Stimulus.
Treason.
Unprecedented.
Voluntary.
Welfare.
I will expand this list from time to time, and welcome additions.
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