Heh. “….Sarah Palin can take her crocodile tears for the families of the disabled and dip some tea bags in ‘em. Apparently, those folks will swallow anything.”

No kidding.

Wow, Tommy. Don’t hold back.

Satire, like nuance, is a lost art in America. Rush has not rediscovered it. Rush lacks the acumen to use satire, and he is too entrenched in the political establishment to even try.

P.T. Barnum would have just loved teabaggers!

roxsteady says:
February 9, 2010 at 10:18 am

P.T. Barnum would have just loved teabaggers!

—

I like that.

Tommy, keep swallowing and everything will come out just fine.

Tommy Christopher doesn’t know what the word satire means, or the word journalist, or the word writer. Tommy Christopher just like to run nasty things about Sarah Palin.

I’m not so sure, Jim W. Mr. Christopher seems to have just demonstrated a fine understanding of satire.

As for writing “nasty things” about the Drop Out Governor of Alaska, those “things” really write themselves, don’t they?

Wow, looking at most of these first comments, talk about a circle jerk. Think of all the tingles going down their collective legs!

Jim W, as I told another commenter on another thread, there’s no way you could have known this, but I have consistently defended Palin against unwarranted attacks:

http://dailydose.us/tag/sarah-palin/

That’s as opposed to warranted attacks, you see.

‘I’ve been getting pretty frustrated with the usually reliable Keith Olbermann’s’

Are you seriously arguing that Olbermann is ‘reliable’ in going after hypocrisy when public figures engage in it?

I’ll certainly agree that Palin and Limbaugh are complete frauds on this topic. Scientists can spend years measuring who is a bigger joke – Limbaugh or Palin. But Keith Olbermann is certainly not a ‘reliable’ person to expose it.

Really, does your sycophancy for Olbermann have any limits, any at all?

Rush was using satire when he ran the “Barack the magic negro” song. The slogan originated in L.A. and was picked up by Al Sharpton, who used it to point out Obama’s lack of “street cred”. Rush picked it up and made a song about it to point out the left’s hypocrisy. Then, of course, the left took it out of context and said “look at that racist Rush Limbaugh, calling Obama a negro.

Advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — the preferred terms to describe individuals with these impairments — said they aren’t surprised by Emanuel’s use of the epithet since the word is regularly used in a negative way to refer to things that are “different” or “not the norm.”

But Kirsten Seckler, spokeswoman for the Special Olympics, told ABC News that people need to realize the word packs a punch even if it’s not meant that way. The group is leading the charge to eliminate the term in casual conversation with its Spread the Word to End the Word campaign at http://www.r-word.org.

“We aren’t trying to ban a word,” said Seckler, “but the pejorative in casual use — especially used by kids in schools and in the classroom — is isolating and it hurts.”

“People think, ‘Well, I’m not directing it to a person with intellectual disabilities’ but that transcends and has deeper meaning to people who have spent their lives trying to fight the civil rights challenge of being accepted and conceived as equal,” she said. Emanuel was quoted in the Journal last week making the comment during an August meeting with some liberal activists who were threatening to run TV ads against conservative Democrats hesitant to embrace President Obama’s approach to health care reform. “F**king retarded,” was his response to the plan, witnesses told the Journal. He later called Special Olympics head Tim Shriver to apologize.

Several advocates for the disabled noted that just as derogatory terms for African-Americans, Jews and gays are often associated with periods of oppression and prejudice in the country’s history, the word “retarded” can elicit an equally emotional and visceral response.

So, according to Mediaite (“Look, it’s a free country, you’re allowed to say “retard’”), and Stephen Colbert, it is ok to use the term retarded, and to laugh and cheer when used. A word that is just as derogatory to some, as other unmentionable words are to African Americans, Gays and Jews…

So…. I guess people are now free to use words like n*gger and f*g freely, and without repercussion? I assume since it is ok to disparage one group of people, it is ok to disparage them all.

Satire: Although satire is usually meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humour in itself so much as an attack on something of which the author strongly disapproves, using the weapon of wit

Juvenalian satire: Named after the Roman satirist Juvenal, this type of satire is more contemptuous and abrasive. Unlike Horatian satire, Juvenalian satire seeks to address some evil in society through scorn, outrage, and savage ridicule. Characteristics of this form are irony, sarcasm, moral indignation and personal invective, often with less emphasis on humour. This form is often more pessimistic in tone.

Sounds like Rush was using satire to me.

*As I said in the original posts about this, I don’t think Rush should have launched into that diatribe, but I understood what he was doing. I also didn’t think Rahm should be fired, but he should have been called out. Palin also gave a laundry list of reasons why Rahm should be fired, not just over this. I also believe that Rahm should be held to a hire standard than a loud mouthed shock jock. Rahm, like it or not, is forever now a part of our history books, and we don’t need someone as high profile as Rahm, running around calling people names that are derogatory to certain members of the population.

What would happen if Andy Card had called members of Congress of bunch of f*cking n*iggers? You know he would have been fired. And you know that the very people who would have demanded his firing would be the very same people who use the word themselves.

Perhaps Palin realized, in demanding Rahm’s firing, she opened up a whole can of worms. It is a word that many people use freely apparently, and she can’t be the word police. Her spokesman said, “Governor Palin believes crude and demeaning name calling at the expense of others is disrespectful.”

If you still don’t think there is a difference between the Chief of Staff to the President of the United States, and the message that sends to the people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, than Rush Limbaugh, then I don’t know what to tell ya. (Especially following Obama’s insensitive remark about the Special Olympics.) I would think any mother of a child with Downs, to hear the Chief of Staff use that word, would be hurt and/or offended.

And as Rush said, his using the term would become a much bigger story than Rahm using the word. From the same show, he also said, “But our politically correct society is acting like some giant insult’s taken place by calling a bunch of people who are “retards,” “retards.” I mean these people, these liberal activists are kooks. They are Looney Tunes. I’m not going to apologize for it. I’m just quoting Emanuel. It’s in the news. I think the big news is that he’s out there calling Obama’s number one supporters “F-ing retards….I was trying to focus attention on, once again, a loose lipped Democrat. These guys get away with insulting people left and right, they’re never called on it, and so if Rahm Emanuel can say it, I’ll just jump in to highlight the fact that another Democrat, this time the president’s chief of staff, is out there talking this way….You’ve got to know that I know that that’s a pejorative comment. It’s the reason I kept repeating it is to never let people forget that it was Rahm Emanuel who said it. It’s like Harry Reid and the Negro dialect, I kept talking about that, “Yeah, he’s light-skinned and he doesn’t speak with a Negro dialect except when he wants to.” And sure enough the next day I caught grief as though I had originated the comment. That’s the way the press works.”

Writer: satire is a question of intent on the satirist. You can certainly claim that Rush was using satire. In my opinion, Rush was employing a tactic well known by rightist Republican operatives: fear. And, rightist Republicans love nothing more than to be in fear. In this instance, the fear was to be that of having an African American president. Given the target audience, racist cracker Christian fundamentalist Republicans in the Republican heartland, the South, it worked well in a several places, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, notably. No, it most assuredly was not satire. Nor was the “r” schpiel.

Once again we agree, Royal. When Al Sharpton used that “Barack the magic negro” line, which was where Rush originally heard it, Sharpton was clearly exhibiting his racism. Believing that a black man can’t truly be a black man unless he comes from the “streets” is the worst form of racism. Sharpton should be ashamed.

Of course, Writer, you read selectively, once again. Satire is intent. The Rev. Mr. Sharpton intended to satirize? I very much doubt it. To what end? To appeal to African Americans who would not vote for an African American? Looks like you have some work to do.

Palin likes to bend down and be grabbed by the ankles by Rush Limbaugh.

(Now that’s satire)

now i see what all this blather is about.

sarainitaly explained it much better than any of the wannabe pundits writing here.

tis just more hypocrisy from hypocrits…amusingly, this time its about hypocrisy itself …

wow! the irony of it all!

—

hillary2012 -we told ye so!

This is why I like Sarah Palin. Listen, I know terms like “stupid” and “ignorant” have been used and over used to describe Palin and her hand-o-prompter. But does anyone know if “dumb as a hairball” has been used yet? And if I say I’m using satire does it necessarily mean I am? Think about it.

Sara,

that is clearly NOT what I’m saying, and I’m shocked you would characterize it that way. I said it’s a free country, where you can say offensive things, but where I’m also free to denounce them. As it happens, yes, you are also allowed to say the other epithets you bring up, but nothing in what I wrote can be construed as approval of that.

Even if some people are not able to understand that Rush was responding to Rahm Emanuel’s insensitive comments in a satirical way, perhaps you can understand that Rush Limbaugh is not an elected official and has not been appointed by Barack Obama. If Rush did anything wrong at all then it is clear that Rahm Emanuel should step down or be fired.

I think it frustrates some people that they cannot trick Sarah Palin into bashing Limbaugh. She appears to be aware of the tactic of people taking things out of context and looking for her to condemn it. That to the dismay of the far left.

“The usually reliable Keith Olbermann?” You know you are going to get an unbiased writeup when an article begins that way. Lol. With Olbermann’s ratings there are a couple people out there who feel he is reliable, so you are not completely alone.

m says:
February 9, 2010 at 1:54 pm

Palin likes to bend down and be grabbed by the ankles by Rush Limbaugh.

(Now that’s satire)

No, that’s nonsensical drivel.

Tommy Christopher says:
February 9, 2010 at 2:58 pm

Sara,

that is clearly NOT what I’m saying, and I’m shocked you would characterize it that way. I said it’s a free country, where you can say offensive things, but where I’m also free to denounce them. As it happens, yes, you are also allowed to say the other epithets you bring up, but nothing in what I wrote can be construed as approval of that.

—

Very well-reasoned and well-stated, Mr. Christopher.

Royal, my saying that Sharpton is racist was satire. I’ve learned from reading the left’s comments on here that only white southern men can be racists.

Tommy Christopher says:
February 9, 2010 at 2:58 pm

“As it happens, yes, you are also allowed to say the other epithets you bring up, but nothing in what I wrote can be construed as approval of that.”

- You posted this video because Colbert finally launched an attack on Palin that you approved of. Something Olby and Stewart couldn’t do to your satisfaction. And what did Colbert do? He called her a f*cking r*tard.

- So, do you think if Andy Card called members of Congress f*cking n*word, he would have kept his job? Or if someone on here called Obama the f*cking n word the post would stay?

“I said it’s a free country, where you can say offensive things, but where I’m also free to denounce them.”

- You mean like Palin tried to do with Rahm? (by the way, you said you could call them a gutless jerk, not denounce them)

You are trying to attack her for her hypocrisy, but you are not honest about what Rush was actually saying. Did you read the entire transcript? I can’t believe you did, if you came to the conclusions you did. She denounced Rahm, something you said you should be free to do. And she was correct that Rush was using satire.

Kirsten Seckler, spokeswoman for the Special Olympics said that word is just as derogatory as words used against AA’s, Jews and Gays.

How many times has r*tard been included in a headline on Mediaite this week? And did you just not write, “Look, it’s a free country, you’re allowed to say “retard’”? And did you not just post on mediaite, a video showing that when used to attack the mother of a Downs baby, the word f*cking r*tard is funny, and acceptable?

But this term is just as derogatory to special needs people as the n word is to African Americans. So, I assumed by the apparent approval of the word r*tard as used on this site, other derogatory words must be acceptable as well. Like I said, if you are free to use derogatory terms against one group, they must all be acceptable, no? Or is it only ok to insult certain groups?

It might not have been your intention, but it was certainly implied.

And no, I don’t actually believe you believe it is ok to use those words Tommy…but I think this statement is quite crass: “I’m also allowed to say that Sarah Palin can take her crocodile tears for the families of the disabled and dip some tea bags in ‘em. Apparently, those folks will swallow anything.”

Do you really think that the families of special needs children are not hurt and offended when someone uses a term as derogatory as the n-word?

Stephen Colbert is a F***ing No-Talent Jerk-off.

Well folks I think we’ve all learned a very valuable lesson from two of Americas intellectual heavyweights, Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh. And that is this; you can say anything you please and offend anyone you wish just as long as you claim its satire. Thank you Sarah and thank you el-rush-bo for being…who you are.

In my ideal world, a person with mental disabilities would not be immediately be assumed to have a lower quality of life or be devalued as an individual in society. This person would just be different, in the same way that shy people differ from outgoing ones. In other words, the value judgment that I think is currently intrinsically married to the concept of people with disabilities would be eliminated.

If you agree that this would be an ideal, then the question becomes how best to bring it about. Obviously, using the word retarded when you really mean bad, low-quality, inferior, or lesser in any way would be counter-productive. But what if you use the word retarded to mean something that is stupid, or “less intelligent than average”? I think the problem with saying that people should not use the word retarded if they mean ‘stupid’ is that it implies (whether intentional or not) that being less intelligent than average is inherently bad. Taking for granted here that the word retarded has been co-opted from its original meaning of slow growth to be a catch-all for people with mental disabilities, if we weren’t making this value judgment, then why would calling something retarded, if you mean stupid, be wrong? Wouldn’t it just be the case that some things are less intelligent, on average, than other things, and to state this would be a matter of fact, like pointing out the speaker’s tie was green?

This is a difficult concept to wrap one’s head around, because there are a lot of people whose value systems are built around the concept that intelligence is a fundamental good and stupidity is its opposite. I’m not sure if this is something that could ever change, but I do think that considering the assumptions that are inherent in what makes you uncomfortable is important. If you don’t like people saying something or someone is retarded, why don’t you? What exactly is it about the word that makes you uncomfortable? Is it the concept of people with mental disabilities in general?

I’m not suggesting that we should all use the word retarded when we mean stupid or refer to people with mental disabilities as retarded. As I have throughout this post, the language preferred by those with disabilities is ‘people first’, which I’ve come to see as a brilliant way of changing the script and in turn altering our perception of those with disabilities. It’s outlined beautifully on the website, “Disability is Natural”. What I’m saying is sometimes we are uncomfortable about the use of a word because of underlying assumptions we are making about the group we want to defend. And examining these assumptions in ourselves is as important as demanding the word’s demise in society….fullobaloney.blogspot.com

I think they learned it from Olbermann.

Sara,

of course I do. My point is that Palin doesn’t give a rip about those families, or she’d call Limbaugh out.

Sara, you’re not making any sense. You don’t think gutless jerk is a denunciation? What I said about Colbert was not that he launched an attack on Palin that I approve of, but that he understands the meaning of satire, and used it.

Facebook Use, I agree with this statement: “In my ideal world, a person with mental disabilities would not be immediately be assumed to have a lower quality of life or be devalued as an individual in society.”

But I think you’re missing the point. Sarah Palin is a perfect example of this. Even with her mental disabilities, many sat and watched her speak, using her hand to reNember hard words. Then they paid her A LOT of money, so that she would not be devalued in our society. I think what the TeaBaggers did was great.

Tommy Christopher says:
February 9, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Sara,

“of course I do. My point is that Palin doesn’t give a rip about those families, or she’d call Limbaugh out.”

Then you still don’t understand, or didn’t read, the entire transcript. There was nothing to call Rush out for.

And she is one of those families, Tommy.

Tommy Christopher says:
February 9, 2010 at 4:53 pm
What I said about Colbert was not that he launched an attack on Palin that I approve of, but that he understands the meaning of satire, and used it.

Be honest.

And no, gutless jerk isn’t what I would call a denunciation. I would call what Palin did a denunciation. Yours just sounds like more name calling, if and when you think it is necessary. But considering how many times retarded appeared on this web site, and that you posted this video doesn’t make me think you have a problem with someone using the word. Nor have I ever seen you denounce the ugly name calling that happens on this site. (if you have, i’ve missed it) Look at tjl right above my post….making fun of Palin as someone with mental disabilities…. And considering you are a huge fan of Olbermann, I wouldn’t really expect to hear any denouncements any time soon.

“Palin’s nonsensical, cowardly weaseling out of being a concerned special needs mom?” – Really?

I keep hearing what Olbermann, Matthews, Madcow, and the others are saying in their efforts to slander and marginalize conservatives. The vitriol never seems to end and their hatred is blatant. But this is not the real issue driving their hatred; it is driven by the fact that the vast majority of people do not consider them to be the “enlightened” icons that they envision themselves to be. This realization gnaws at their innards; they are therefore angry, they are full of hate for those of us who do not worship them and cling to their every word. They are sad people. I pity them because they are disillusioned. It must surely be awful to be these people.

SarahinItaly: Suggesting that the word root word for retardation is outrageous at best, even in social noms. To belittle the word retard and imply that its something awful is what is wrong. A person with mental retardation is an actual diagnoses, and is listed in state and federal computers which allocate funds to persons with disabilities.

Also, those who are mentally retarded, their family, and friends also know that persons with cognitive impairments aren’t stupid. The base root of the word retardation means to slow, to lengthen, etc. Retardation just is a discriptor for that person. We also know that retardando is another use of the Latin root that many are complaining about to signify a slow down in tempo on sheet music.

So stating that the root of these words are the equivalent to the N word is absurd. I would take much more offense to a person stating a mom is a special needs mother. You really just avoid the problem of addressing the issue and allows for wide varient of the person who are disabled. You see what I have stated? People take a look at how persons should be called. You put the noun first and then the adjective.

They aren’t retarded people. They are persons with mental retardation.
They aren’t families of special needs children. They are persons with a disabilities’ family.
They aren’t deaf or blind people. They are people who are deaf or blind.

You should always put the person before the adjective. Most (not all) on here have even failed to do that. It clearly shows that people on this board, along with the majority of Americans are ignorant. Also its easy to identify people who never had to work in these fields, as they use this language nonstop. A person is a person first and foremost.

Stop crying about this, when you could have spent the same time donating to one of the many NPO who give directly to person with a disability. For making such a fuss over this, I would love to see one person who even has had that thought to donate to these valuable institutions. If this shames you I hope it does. Stop turning this into a political deal, that’s for hacks. Go donate, go give time, do something besides crying about what the blogosphere and media decide to make issues that are deeply individualistic and impacts the lives of so many people.

Yeah…all yall please grow up. This isn’t about any talking head. Its much more important than that. Yet you want to argue about semantics of a word.

Everyone knows that Rahm Emanuel has an extremely foul mouth. I am interested, however, in who the Democrat is that spoke to the WSJ; I would not like to be that person when Emanuel finds out. The other stuff is just PC police (as Rush likes to say) and media martyrdom.

marcus.lewis says:
February 10, 2010 at 12:17 am

You need to give your lecture to Kirsten Seckler, and the advocates for the disabled.

But Kirsten Seckler, spokeswoman for the Special Olympics, told ABC News that people need to realize the word packs a punch even if it’s not meant that way. The group is leading the charge to eliminate the term in casual conversation with its Spread the Word to End the Word campaign at http://www.r-word.org.

Several advocates for the disabled noted that just as derogatory terms for African-Americans, Jews and gays are often associated with periods of oppression and prejudice in the country’s history, the word “retarded” can elicit an equally emotional and visceral response.

Yeah…all yall please grow up. This isn’t about any talking head. Its much more important than that. – that is the point I was trying to make Marcus.

Tommy Christopher says:
February 9, 2010 at 4:53 pm

Several advocates for the disabled noted that just as derogatory terms for African-Americans, Jews and gays are often associated with periods of oppression and prejudice in the country’s history, the word “retarded” can elicit an equally emotional and visceral response.

I’m curious, did you denounce Rahm’s comments?

And also, I am wondering why Obama and Sharpton aren’t calling on Rush to be fired?

They were behind the firing of Imus, and he didn’t even use the n*word. In fact, Imus was actually repeating words that his producer or a guest actually said first – kind of like what Rush did.

So, why aren’t they demanding Rush be fired? Why aren’t they on TV denouncing his use of such a derogatory word?

This is what Obama said about Imus:
“but I would also say that there’s nobody on my staff who would still be working for me if they made a comment like that about anybody of any ethnic group. And I would hope that NBC ends up having that same attitude.”

So…seems to me he should be calling out Rush, and firing Rahm. Or is it because Imus is a conservative, and if they were to denounce Rush, they would have to admit that Rahm was wrong as well? Where are all the people calling for Rahm’s firing, or at least denouncing his use of the word?

Because you know dang well that if Andy Card called members of Congress f*cking n*word, he would have been fired and there would be a massive uproar.

So…there is a lot of hypocrisy flying around, but it isn’t coming from Sarah Palin.

Imus as a conservative? No, not really. Eclectic, to be sure, conservative, no.

It is amazing to me that people, men in particular, still use the basest of language when it comes to describing their feelings about women. Colbert needs a good smack down. Who does he think he is? A comedian? You gotta be kidding. He is just another Uberlefty BDDer with a hatemonger stripe down his back that is yellow!! After all, he is in the Rahm camp, is he not? Idiots just slime their way into our paths….careful don’t step on ‘em.

What is a BDDer?

—”In satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, irony, or other methods, ideally with the intent to bring about improvement… the purpose of satire is not primarily humour in itself so much as an attack on something of which the author strongly disapproves, using the weapon of wit…”—

Limbaugh apparently used the Emanuel episode to make a number of distinct points, at different moments of the show in question, but in the specific sequence that has gotten the most attention (starting with “Our politically correct…” and ending with “summit at the White House…”), the object of Limbaugh’s disapproval, ridicule and scorn is, very clearly, political correctness. Not Rahm Emanuel. Not the Democrats who supposedly all talk this way. His target is political correctness. His idea of improvement: the end of political correctness. His weapon is not wit, but militant defiance: he subversively flouts the rules of political correctness precisely by using the r-word repeatedly, with the utmost seriousness, with the definite intent to imply that — contrary to the ridiculous demands of political correctness — there should be no outcry from his doing so. Whatever Limbaugh may have said afterwards, the intent of his usage of the word in this particular sequence is incontrovertible. Palin certainly didn’t see it in any other way, as she responded to Rush by saying that she is not one of those ridiculous politically correct people that Limbaugh so correctly (accordingly to Palin) satirized.

Therefore, Palin effectively argues that it is blameworthy to use the r-word in a private meeting to say “Running advertisement x is a bad idea” (Emanuel), but perfectly legitimate to use the r-word on the radio to say “Political correctness is a bad idea” (Limbaugh). One can certainly call for a double standard (Limbaugh is a ‘shock jock’, Emanuel is an administration official), but many would find that questionable as well, hence the negative connotation of ‘double standard.’

Sarainitaly writes that “Perhaps Palin realized, in demanding Rahm’s firing, she opened up a whole can of worms. It is a word that many people use freely apparently, and she can’t be the word police…” Indeed, it seems Limbaugh too had second thoughts about his outburst of ‘satirical’ self-righteousness. After being challenged later by a mother of a developmentally disabled child who called in to the show, he first insists that he was making a point that is in fact entirely different from the one he actually made (“just found it funny that [Rahm] compared liberal activists to r—d people and then apologized to the r—d people for doing that as though it’s an insult to be called a Democrat”), then begs to be given the benefit of the doubt (though there’s no doubt in the first place), insisting that it’s simply impossible for him to have been so insensitive as to use the word in an insensitive way, and that therefore he simply must be found innocent of the charge of insensitivity:

http://mediamatters.org/limbaughwire/2010/02/03
“Later, Rush spoke with a caller who said her child is developmentally disabled and challenged Rush on his repeated use of the word ‘retard’ today. After a few minutes of conversation, Rush attempted to defend himself: ‘You’ve gotta cut me some slack — you got — you’ve got — I’ve been here 20-plus years. You’ve got to know that I don’t — that I know that that’s a pejorative comment. It’s — the reason I kept repeating it is to never let people forget that it was Rahm Emanuel who said it.’ “

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