‘Noble’ Sarah Palin Explains To O’Reilly Why She Gave Limbaugh A ‘Retard’ Pass

by Glynnis MacNicol | 8:40 am, February 17th, 2010

» 15 comments

Fox News analyst Sarah Palin continued her tap-dance-like rationalization about who can and cannot use the word ‘retard’ last night on The O’Reilly Factor. “I want to give you a chance to clarify something I’ve been getting a lot of mail on,” said Bill O’Reilly. Alas, I’m not sure clarification is what he ended up getting but here’s part of what Palin had to say (video below).

First Rahm Emanuel who represents the most powerful man, the leader of our free world, called people, a group of people who he disagrees with F-ing retards. Quite inappropriate and on my Facebook I said there, too. I don’t think he should be part of our president’s inner circle making decisions that affect every single one of us…I thought that that was very insensitive, and not just for that reason, his terminology, his coarse language, but I think he’s given our president some very bad advice in a whole realm of different areas.

So basically, she doesn’t like Emanuel (or Obama, or the Dems), and the three month old “retard” quote just happened to be a great hook to express that! As for Rush Limbaugh‘s use of the word, it’s ye old satire argument again. Bill O’Reilly is slightly more skeptical of this than Chris Wallace was a few weeks ago…but only very slightly.

“But just to be clear, you didn’t come down on Mr. Limbaugh, because you felt that, what, he didn’t have any ill intent in what he said? Why didn’t you come down on him a little harder.”

He was using satire! And with that O’Reilly just sort of lets it drop. At some point someone needs to ask Sarah Palin to define “satire.”

Palin also defends charges of hypocrisy by noting that she called Fox program “Family Guy” out for their depiction of children with special needs (video of that below, also). O’Reilly eventually tells Palin he thinks she’s “noble.” I think she may be the savviest media person on the planet. Videos below.

Bill O'Reilly, Family Guy, fox news, Rahm Emanuel, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin

same2u

These people are so sickeningly twisted with their self-adulation and hypocritical reasoning. Shame on anyone who allows themselves to be suckered into this web of deceit.
parakeeta

^ Very sick — tres sick, dontchaknow. I can see why the former half-term governor dislikes the word retard: it fits her.
m

Palin is the gestapo of political correctness. It’s incredible how those who crusade against it on the right are completely silent right now.
The Real Royal King

If the Drop Out Governor and her political advisors at FOX, particularly Ms. Van Susteren, had a lick of sense, they would stop talking about this. There is no logical explanation, and it makes her and FOX seem illogical and silly. Is it possible for the Drop Out Governor to just say, “No further comment.”

The same advice would go to Senator Reid. Stop explaining away the Landrieu healthcare “buy out”. It can’t be done other than to say “Politics, as usual.”

What is the old saying. “When you’re already in a hole, stop digging.”

That would be good advice for the Drop Out Governor and for FOX.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

At some point someone needs to ask Sarah Palin to define “satire”.
And ask her to name some of the other advice, she thinks Emanuel has given.

(Seriously. He’s done such a bad job in my opinion, I’d like to know how he’s helped)
hatehavingtodothis

Palin nailed it here- it wasn’t about using “the r-word”, as it will never be called after this month. It was about her disagreeing with choices that he’s made in the past and wanting to see him gone. Just admit that it’s was a political maneuver so we can move on!

Also- let’s be clear on what Rush’s use of “satire”. The satire seemed to be more of a critique of Palin or, in general, anyone who would ever try to prevent him from saying anything he wants, because that’s what his job is, and he’s damn good at it. Let’s also make sure we’re all aware that Rush also called a group of people he doesn’t like “retards”. He was agreeing with Rahm. Palin missed a chance to be wholly true to her principles, maybe for the first time, because the right hasn’t had many chances to oppose anything else she has said (such is the benefit of platform constructed from vague, right-wing talking points).
hatehavingtodothis

Just watched the second video-

O’Reilly and Palin have so far refused to base their anger on anything besides politics.

HOW did the Family Guy episode “make things harder for kids with special needs?” It didn’t. That is a groundless claim.

“I look at Trig and I see perfection. … he has a heart of gold.” No one ever, ever, ever, claimed otherwise. I can’t imagine Seth Macfarlane would ever, ever, ever, say otherwise. By saying things like this, she is assigning false motivations for the actions of her opponents, and then telling her side what they are. Thus- she is using this situation as a chance to score herself some political points. That’s it and that’s all. I wonder If she has actually seen the episode, which she “heard about”, and if she had, I wonder if she would still be saying what she is.
tjl

She’s an idiot.
Ted

Family Guy was satire and therefore, according to Palin, acceptable. End of story.
TruthHurts001

Family Guy was unfunny, intended only as a personal attack. It wasn’t satire, it was excruciatingly idiotic.
Ted

If Limbaugh done the same thing, it would indeed be satire and very funny.
TruthHurts001

If Obama did the same thing he’d win the Nobel Peace Prize.
rudehern

Why wasn’t the whole Stephen Colbert “Sarah Palin is a F*cking Retard” brought up? Colbert specifically said THAT was satire.See, she can’t address it because she can’t even FAKE a response for it. She has no idea whether to defend or protest it. She has no idea PERIOD!
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

You LIBS make me SICK with your attacks on the brave and beautiful Mrs. Palin!!1 You are so PETRIFIED of this political JUGGERNAUT that all you can do is spew HATE at her!!1 If you think you’re mad NOW, libs, just wait until this brilliant woman is in the WHITE HOUSE!!1 2012 can’t come SOON ENOUGH!!1
Facebook User

Please, please, please run for president in 2012…