Oh ****, Do We Have To Listen To This **** Again?
April 7, 2009
by Contributor
It’s open season on Sarah Palin…again. The offenders are going to continue to get away with it for a several reasons.
I’ll begin by saying that I am a great admirer of Sarah Palin. I think she has real political talent. She can play that game like the best of them, and it is amazing to watch. I also believe that she has governed Alaska boldly and prudently. You can argue with me about that, but that is what I believe.
Palin is getting it from all sides right now, and the anti-Palin beat just gets louder and louder and louder. Every day wherever I turn, I see Palin bashing at its most disgusting, and the fact that she is female makes the attacks even worse. Honestly, you take sexism in this country, and it is like turning over a rock. The rock is the United States of America, the home of freedom and equality for all. Then you turn the rock over and all kinds of creepy-crawly things wiggle around. These are the maggots of sexism.
Where does one begin with today’s feast of misogyny? Let us start with the left and the Democrats, my former running buddies. They have completely lost their minds! Within the Democrat universe, Palin has become a favorite punch line. Well okay, some of that kind of behavior is expected whether you are male or female. Each party likes to pick an emblem from the other side to bash so it can rally its supporters. It’s ugly, but it’s business as usual. It reminds me of Sheryl Robinson’s piece about Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau and the cutout of Hillary—–that kind of frat boy behavior. However, the frat boy behavior directed at Palin by the Democrats has taken an even more sexist edge. In a conversation last week between Howard Fineman and Chris Matthews (him again?!!) on MSNBC, Palin was referred to as a mail-order bride.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: What happened between those two (John McCain and Sarah Palin)?
HOWARD FINEMAN: Uh, it was a lost weekend that didn’t go beyond the weekend.
MATTHEWS: He thought she was something special. He thought she was the genuine article.
FINEMAN: He had no idea. You know what? He had no idea, with all due respect to the senator, he had no idea what he was getting. They came into the convention, and I was covering it closely at the time…
MATTHEWS: Was she a mail-order bride? I mean, what do you mean he had no idea who she was?
FINEMAN: Practically, practically. He really didn’t know. He didn’t know her. They didn’t have any other good choices. They had a boring convention they were facing in St. Paul. They wanted to liven it up. They said, ‘Hey, let’s pick this conservative young woman governor from Alaska.’
I thought we had gotten through to Matthews about his big, fat, sexist mouth. You know, I have always thought that Matthews was a man who could be saved from himself, that he could learn about what is sexist and what is not. Now I’m not so sure. Like so many other men, (and women who feel that they have to go along with this stuff) they think it is just too cute—-don’t we have a sense of humor? Don’t we understand that they were just kidding? Just like it was funny laughing about Little Black Sambo and Aunt Jemima. Uh-huh. It’s not humor, Chris—-it is insulting.
But, my Republican friends, the story isn’t any better from the right side of the aisle. Although the Republicans stood up for Palin against the sexist assaults during the campaign, those days are history. She is now a threat to all of the men who have dreams of becoming President in 2012 and beyond. A low-level campaign is being run against her to take away her advantage and tarnish her charisma and popularity. Yes, of course, that is to be expected. The worst part is that it is so simple to make sexist and misogynist attacks against her because EVERYONE else is doing it. Why not? No one is objecting.
That brings me to the catch-of-the-day. Regularly offensive Eminem’s new track We Made You premiered today on MTV. As if the visual is not misogynistic enough, these are his lyrics about Palin.
Well I can be as gentle and as smooth as a gentleman
Give me my ventolin inhaler and 2 Xenadrine,
And I’ll invite Sarah Palin out to dinner, then Nail her.
Baby, say hello to my little friend.
Really?
No one is going to say anything because the Democrats are encouraging this kind of behavior. Palin is their favorite totem to keep the faithful in line (the Democrats—remember—-the party that protects women—as long as they are willing to bash another woman if necessary.) The Republicans aren’t stepping up to the plate and calling a foul either since a behind the scenes power grab is taking place, and it benefits them for Palin to be bashed. The Republicans—-the party of morals, but with a caveat—believe if you are a woman, you are always immoral, and so you deserve what you get. Well maybe they don’t actually believe it, but it’s a sellable point.
Please forgive me. I’m just SO tired of all of this. Who is going to stand up and say ENOUGH? Well, since everyone else is distracted by protecting their own political interests, I guess that leaves The New Agenda and its members, the women (and men) to fight 21st century sexism. Speak up loudly and clearly every time you hear ugly sexism. People need to be shamed into silence—they already know better.
Thanks Cynthia. When TNA was the first (and then ONLY) national women’s rights group to speak out for Gov Palin, this is what we said:
“Issues are fair game. Sexist treatment is no longer fair game.”
http://thenewagenda.net/media/.....andidates/
That was TNA’s first press release on August 31, 2008.
We will continue to speak out until that is the case.
And women of this country, if we as a gender want to advance, we need to support other women – starting TODAY!
I don’t watch media much, but the Democrat misogynist anti Palin drumbeat is making it through to me loud and clear. I haven’t heard the Republicans sexism yet, it seemed like they were taking it to her on issues rather than the Democrat mocking behavior. But if NOW wants their credibility back they need to stand up now and denounce this sexism. I belonged to NOW for years but now I am just offended that they have the word “women” in their title and dare to imply they speak for me. They don’t even seem to have a clue that they have so damaged their own credibility. They live in their own little Snow Globe. I am so disappointed.
P.S. And we wonder why there is such an alarming and escalating rate of violence against our teenage girls~! This rap star is pathetic – and THIS is what sells!
Nora O’Donnell et al reported last week on Sarah Palin’s “outrageous” response to her daughter’s ex-boyfriend, Levi Johnston’s appearance on the Tyra Banks show. The press had a field day- turning Palin’s daughter & granddaughter into nothing more than a teenage sex joke. (The day after Levi’s appearance Tyra’s topic was: Big Ones vs. Small Ones- as in breasts) The talking heads were appalled that Palin would respond so fiercely when she, by their account, had “used” her children during the campaign. They called it a dumb move politically- she should have been criticizing the lifting of the gay marriage ban in Iowa-now that would have been brilliant they posited rather than blasting Levi for his sexual revelations. I’d like to know, what politician hasn’t had their kids on display? Didn’t Barack Obama have a birthday party interview using his children during the campaign? What kind of mother wouldn’t have fired back in protection of her daughter and granddaughter? What would Joe Biden have done if Tyra had on the supposed friend of his daughter’s who shopped around the alleged video of her snorting cocaine?
Enough!
I could go on and on about the double standard and Sarah Palin. It is overwhelming. And the violation of privacy and total lack of respect for her daughter Bristol who is 17 years old and a single mom. Everyday there is a new violation and sexist / misgogynist comment or story.
I did note the past couple of days somethng new. Since they really can’t slander her for speaking out in support of the Missile Defense System, they just put her in the unimportant category and find other people to talk to about Alaska’s vulnerability to a ballistic missile attack from North Korea. She’s only the governor.
Cynthia is correct in that the Republican men are jealous as all get out and desperately trying to get more attention than Sarah.
I thought it was bad with Hillary, but the treatment of Palin is beyond belief. She is a remarkable woman. I don’t know how she does it. Just keeps on doing her job, working like crazy, and getting slandered regularly. God Bless her.
Ah yes, good ole Eminem. God forbid Haley should want to run for President some day. Doofus.
You are absolutely spot on, Cynthia. Myself, I have decided I am a Vagina Voter, which means every vagina on the ballot gets my vote. After that, it’s third party all the way unless and until both parties apologize for their atrocious behavior and take a stand.
I am also a Vagina Voter, LOL. I am seriously thinking of making a teeshirt that says exactly that and wearing it to my local candidate’s forum, a group made up entirely of men.
Eminem’s video is simply atrocious all the way through. The Palin bashing is terrible, but not only that, the entire video is demeaning and degrading to women. I want to smack him.
While I would never vote for Palin since we’re worlds apart politically, I am absolutely appalled by the way she and her family are being treated by liberals and conservatives alike. The attacks on Bristol are particularly disgusting. The idea that Bristol is “fair game” because Palin “used” her children during the campaign is beyond ridiculous, as Palin did nothing that other (male) politicians didn’t do too. Never mind the fact that if Bristol had been completely absent from the campaign trail, Palin would have been accused of being ashamed of her daughter and of having something to hide. As usual, women just can’t win, no matter what they do. Interesting that Sarah and Hillary were both accused of using their kids politically (”pimping” in Hillary’s case) in a way that none of the male candidates ever were.
You should do it, yttik!
Cynthia, thank you for this post. This is more of the same. The establishment Democrats teamed up with with the press to attack Hillary and now the establishment Republicans are doing it to Palin. It is no wonder that qualified women do not want to run for office.
I have reached the point of having zero tolerance for this kind of thing, especially from women. I too have had it.
So swell to see Fineman the Schmuck and Tweetie the $chei$$ playing aging frat rats. Swellest of all are the Republican males vying to see who has the biggest…uh..swellest er…you know…uh.. popularity. Swell also to see the rapper with his 5-second nasty drivel, doing what he always does so tastelessly and debased. Nice to see the short fame of Swell Levi the Boyfriend, encouraged by his parents, no doubt. Did he get a few bucks? Looks dumb as, well, ..you know what. Quite a spectacle and example to children, all of them.
Yet Palin speaks out and she’s the problem. We have to become ZERO tolerant of this now and speak out constantly.
Great work Cynthia.
But don’t fear, CNN and MSNBC’s ratings are both in the dumpster while, Fox News, which has steared clear of the Asley Biden scandal beats the pants off both other cable news networks combined. That means that even former Obama supporters must be watching Fox now.
The liberal media and so many “new democrats” have embraced third world misogyny. It’s become popularized in America by rap “music” and our children are completely desensitized to the horrors of it.
I watched as CNN’s Farid Zacari proclaimed the existance of a post USA world. That guy really gives me the creeps! He just loves to preach to us inferior Americans.
But where is our Madame Secretary, while Obama has nominated judge Harold “Shar-iah Law” Koh for a top position in the State Dept. This man thinks we should consider international law in US cases and said that he saw no reason why Shar-iah law should not be considered in determining some cases in the US.
I really believe that the Kool-Aide was laced with Taquiyya, and that as Obama said to George Stephanopolis-”John McCain has never question my Muslim faith.” Obama has not attended church in the eleven weeks since he became president. Wham Bam, thank you Christianity!
This third world misogyny that is all the rage must be defeated, and, this old school liberal democrat takes comfort in knowing that those at Fox News find it as vulgar and unacceptable as I do.
I take ever opportunity I get to remind the sheep who allowed themselves to be propagandized against Sarah Palin, that she just recently appointed a pro-CHOICE judge to the Alaska supreme court. That really irritates the Obamabots and of course they respond by calling me and or Palin names. Sarah Palin is infinitly more progressive than Obama. She and her daughter have both made the tough responsible choice concerning their pregnancys, and I think that really pisses off some on the radical left. Only about 40% of women who become pregnant with a child diagnosed with Downs Syndrom decide not to abort the pregnancy. I support their right to that decision completely but it seems to me that many people who call themselves pro-choice are really pro-abortion and have no respect for Governor Palin’s decision to keep her special child or Bristol choice to keep an inconvenient child.
Bill Clinton was oh so cool with some libearls because he was the worst kind of womanizer. I remember all of the libertine liberal’s demands to MOVE ON. Well, Rachel Maddow, Chris Mathews, Maurine Odonald and all the other Obama fallators, When will you Move On? Oh, and ‘hope you didn’t see Bill Moyers recent interview with William Black. Suckers!
And we wonder why women don’t want to run for office…and why the US is #84, yes 84 in the world in terms of women in politics. Yikes – who would want this crap bestowed no them and, worse yet, their family?
Yes, Amy. I think the media and political blasts on women are a very big reason why we don’t see more women in higher political roles. These attacks are personal – and they are out of control. Dignity and respect for other people (and their opinions) has been lost.
Thank you Cynthia and New Agenda for continuing to bring visibility to the pervasive sexism and misogyny that continually infects our society. Of course, what was done to Hillary is now being done to Sarah or any other strong woman or organization. Welp, it’s time to push back. Our group at Hillary’s Village are putting together a response team aimed at just this sort of bias. Anyone is welcome to pitch in on research, blogging, ect. Let’s boycott the S-O-B’s.
It’s enough already. Oh, and just to bring your blood pressure down a bit please take a look at this lovely piece. It’s food for the soul: http://blog.hillarysvillage.net/?p=1780
I am with Amy Siskind on this one. We wonder why women don’t run and then you see this video. Horrible for girls.
Geez! When will it end? When will the media realize that this is disturbing? When will parents realize this is disturbing?
The fanatical determination to crush Sarah Palin is perhaps an indication of how much she frightens the status quo. It shadows the equally fanatical determination to present Michelle Obama as a positive female role model – presumably because she denies she is a feminist and has no job, other than being “First Mom” and supportive wife. No threat to her husband: on the contrary, her well groomed and docile sexuality boosts his status as an alpha male. The lesson is two fold – transgress against your socially determined lot in life by pursuing a serious career and be attacked as Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin are. If you want to be celebrated – marry well.
If any woman wants her daughter, granddaughter or niece to feel empowered to aspire to any employment, political office or anything she sets her mind to, she need to put a stop to this treatment right now. This treatment of Sarah is the standard for women in positions of power. Do you like it? Is it right? No? Even if you disagree with Sarah on issues, you can still speak out against this treatment. Don’t let anyone disparage her in your presence and let your media outlet know of your outrage.
If you want to be celebrated – marry well.
Oh, Briar, if only it were that easy! Hillary Clinton married well, and she got smacked around for it by the press and third wavers alike. It was the fact that she married so well that was so odious to them. She didn’t have any accomplishments of her own, according to them, which wasn’t true at all, and they could have disabused themselves of that notion with 2 seconds worth of research, but of course they didn’t, because it fit their worldview: hostility against marriage until they marry. I so freaking hate the third wave sometimes–not that it does any good.
Did you see the latest comic book slamming Gov. Palin? If any woman on the left was drawn in such a degrading fashion NOW would be howling, along with the rest of the left, but since Palin is the object of degradation, they’re OK with it. I don’t see the GOP standing up for her either.
http://blogs.dailymail.com/don.....the-palin/
I’ve returned 4 RNC fundraising letters with the annotation that all my donations are going to SarahPAC.
The Sarah bashing is coming from both the left and the right. Republicans (Romney backers) are the ones who called Palin a diva and a nut job. Thank you Cynthia, for speaking up!
I think the Republicans are also at fault here – they are hanging Sarah out to dry. She is the new party leader, but we keep hearing from the likes of Bobby Jindal. I think Palin is a threat to the Republican establishment because 1) she is female and 2) she is against many of the policies that the Bush Admin supported.
The Republicans want to see her fail so she doesn’t run again in 4 years (Jindal is being propped up as the next possibility, not Palin). So the Republicans are very silent on these attacks.
I am glad that there are some groups like TNA that are supporting her as a woman (i.e., let’s keep the disagreements to the issues and not personality), and I am very saddened by NOW & Co. for not calling out the sexist attacks
I clicked through MSNBC this morning on my way to local news and noticed they had the Eminem video playing on half the screen while two of their sell out women news readers discussed the state of political discourse in the USA and how they thought it would be elevated by having Obama in the white house, but apparently not, he can’t cure all the evils of our society! What a convoluted load of typical NBC misogyny and BS. And where is NOW? Do they recognize misogyny when they see it? Oh apparently NOT.
Let them spill their vile disgusting speech.
The liberals are just showing everybody what they really are.
They are HATERS and in particular, they are Women Haters.
Sarah Palin is so far above these vermin, she can’t even see or hear them.
Hi Greg, welcome. I turn down fundraisers from the right and left as long as they don’t support women and forcefully reject sexism.
I doubt that national NOW under their current leadership would stand up against sexism affecting a left liberal woman.
agree with Anna belle. “marry well…” would not work. although when Hillary married, I thought they were at equal path in their carriers. So the marry well would not apply to her.
Yes. We do.
And again… and again… and again…..
And it only gets worse:
http://blogs.dailymail.com/don.....-the-palin
Oh, hi Greg!
I see you are already over here… passing along that awful comic book rendition of Sarah.
Welcome!
And good for you on the RNC fund requests. Keep hounding them!
While I agree that the press had taken a personal family issue and is having a field day with it, they’d be doing the same thing to any national candidate who was going through this situation.
Defending Palin by embracing the perpetual victim mentality hardly makes a strong case for her as governor or future candidate. The minute she decided to be the “family values” candidate, using her own family as an example, she opened the door to this type of coverage.
Please BKL give a quote on a speech she told or suggest her family is example to follow.
You are using the same Palin hater talking points. Just because Sarah brought her family to the convention we can trash her family.
Joe Biden and Obama did the same thing.
And I don’t see outrageous over Biden’s daughter using drugs. Or Obama aunt and half brother
The only victim mentality I saw during the campaign was the race card
Hi BKL—–I understand what you’re saying , I have heard that opinion expressed, but I’ve found that no one opens the door to be denigrated as a woman with sexist coverage.
It’s not about personal victim mentality. It’s about eschewing a politics that is sexist, racist, whatever. We’re better than that as a people and a nation.
BTW—since when did she become the “family values” candidate? I think that notion is a figment of the imagination when you look at the facts. She was the VP candidate promoting the platform of the Presidential candidate. She did her job exceedingly well under any measurement.
And what’s wrong with 21st century family values—things like loving your children and caring for them.? I hope your parents used that hated family value on you. The “family value” argument you are suggesting is old hat, old fashioned and worn out. Let’s look to the future and stop bashing women just because they are women. It’s a knee jerk reaction that is very damaging to the national psyche.
Have you seen this cartoon of Palin?
http://blogs.dailymail.com/don.....the-palin/
She is basically nude…this is completely outrageous.
This is so f****** sick. Sarah Palin is a freakin’ Governor!!
Bill O’Reilly just ran this on his program this evening. He had a feminist on the program (I can’t remember her name) and she was disgusted by it as well. When Bill asked her if any feminist groups had denounced this, she mentioned only one (Smart Girl Politics). They must not have known that The New Agenda spoke about this yesterday through this post. So I shot them a note with a link to this blog entry. I imagine this will be a continuing story in the days to come. Hopefully when he talks about it again, he’ll mention The New Agenda as one of the first to address this very important issue.
The woman’s name is Tammy Bruce, former President of NOW LA(I think) She too as a radio program here in LA. Oreilly made a big point, Courtney Martin and feministing.com made a big deal about Helen Thomas and Oreilly but made no mention of Palin’s appointment of a pro choice judge nor of this Emminem video… To me the feminist movt as a whole has taken on a very liberal biased where attacks on left wing women are decried but right wing women are never protected by them- not the movt I have supported for over three decades where the goal was to support and encourage women to take their rightful place as co equals in all matters in society-feministig.com and te other biased left wig women’s groups do the movt a major disservice and actually discredits the whole movt
Sorry about the typos above, my H is stuck- Tammy Bruce website is
http://tammybruce.com/
Thanks for clearing that up, Bruce…of course the double standards continue. How do we continue to allow this to happen? Any female who dares to have conservative values can expect this same treatment when seeking a higher office.
And to the poster above who stated that this particular blog entry defends Palin by embracing the perpetual victim mentality, I disagree. Is expressing outrage and encouraging folks to provide solutions to this ongoing issue considered the “victim mentality?” I do believe the MSM pulled her family into the spotlight and made it a focal point against her, my friend – her baby, her pregnant daughter, etc. And if you don’t believe that, then, well…I’m not sure what to tell you. Guess we weren’t watching the same campaign.
I’m posting this little ditty at the request of a fellow Hillary’s Village member. I’m not a world class poet, for sure. But, I got a kick out of taking a shot at the misogynist. Hope you like.
Who Did You and Little Emmy Make, Dude?
Hey EM where did you go, yo – been tryin’ to find your mo jo.
Daisy Mae on back-up – Ya’ll better fill your lexa-pro
It’s lame, man – been done to death, the woman hatin’ stuff.
Who wrote that crap? you got ***** slapped, Dog, you are outa luck.
Kim don’t care what you think about her ass – Dude, she knows you got a deficit of class.
Nailin Palin’? Word, Dude.You’ve only got your “little friend”, and she’s got balls of brass.
Say you wanna torture women, dog? Your weapon is your stealth.
The same old trash talk. Same old song. Dude, you bored us all to death.
Now let’s get to that little friend. Little Emmy fuels your rage.
Your tiny friend makes you act tough. Old story. Turn that page.
You know you were a legend once. Got money? Em’s got plenty
Sad thing about old Em, though – a man with penis envy.
© freespirit
Bill O’Reilly said tonight on his show that no feminist groups have have spoken out on the Eminem video. He needs to be educated about TNA. Someone needs to contact him and let him know we are out here. Press release??
I contacted both Tammy Bruce and Oreilly and gave them this site.
Thanks for posting that freespirit! I read it yesterday and laughed for 20 min. Boy it felt good! This is my favorite line…
“Kim don’t care what you think about her ass – Dude, she knows you got a deficit of class.”
Great catharsis!
Thanks bruce nahin! I’m going to do the same.
Thank you bruce. I would love to see Amy or someone else from TNA on O’Reilly.
oreilly@foxnews.com, is Bill O’reilly’s e mail
Marchelle, Bruce, Thia. You beat me to it – just heard Bill O’Reilly on the West Coast. Tammy Bruce stressed that there was only one organization nationwide that was putting ideology aside and speaking out for women. Clearly niether had heard of The New Agenda. We should all write and let Bill O’Reilly know about TNA.
Cynthia, great article! Sorry I was so motivated to inform Bill O’Reilly about TNA that I omitted to thank you for the post.
Although I’ve been reading here since TNA’s beginning last fall, this is my first post. So, hi to everyone, most of whom might recognize me from the comments at RL’s blog.
Just so you know, I’m not a viewer of Hollywood Whatever-it’s-called, either. However, the other night I had the tv on in the background and was struck by how the so-called journalists and reporters on the show were able to use the tabloid trash ex-boyfriend tells all on Tyra BS to once again misrepresent and even lie about Palin’s political stances. Expounding on Veritas’ comment above, I want to share with you some of what I heard.
From the show’s April 6 transcript, which can be found here: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRA.....bt.01.html
HAMMER: All right. Wait until you hear what Sarah Palin has to say about this, and you will in just a moment. But Carlos, should this dude be going on “Tyra” talking about their sex life? Come on.
DIAZ: Well, first off, somewhere, Matt Damon is laughing and saying, “I told you so.” But yes, secondly, you know, it`s the ultimate kiss and tell, dude. You don`t go on national TV and do any kind of kissing and telling.
Does it hurt national security at all? No, not at all. But it`s going to hurt this guy`s chances of getting any kind of girls in the future in Alaska where I hear pickings are pretty slim.
(snip)
(Okay, That first part wasn’t about Palin’s politics. I just included it because of the blatant misogyny of it. )
HAMMER:But wait, there is more. Adding insult to injury, Levi opened up to Tyra about his sex life with Bristol Palin. Let`s look at that.
(snipped video clip from Tyra.)
HAMMER: Now, there you go, Tyra. You got the answer you were looking for. So Carlos, add that to the heap of stuff that he shouldn`t be talking about, but really, at the heart of it, I think, for so many people, it has to add to the embarrassment for Sarah Palin who preaches abstinence.
DIAZ: I mean, she preaches abstinence all the time. Not some of the time.
(snip)
HAMMER: You said it, not me, Carlos. We didn`t hear from him, but we did get to see him. Because let`s not forget, last September, during the Republican National Convention, Bristol and Levi appeared together. And if you remember, and we`re looking at them here, it looked like everything was fine. Everything was terrific. Then, this past February, Bristol told Greta Van Susteren on Fox how great a dad Levi was. Let`s look at that.
(snip)
HAMMER: And again, back to the point of Sarah Palin having abstinence as such an important issue, I have to imagine, Leslie, and this is something I know you talked about a great deal on your radio show during the campaign. Can you imagine the fireworks going on in her head?
MARSHALL: One thing is, though, Bristol Palin, a lot people may not know, if you Google, she once had a little faux pas in an interview, talked about how abstinence isn`t always possible. And obviously, we know that. Obviously, with Levi, it wasn`t always possible.
But yes, it does hurt Sarah Palin. And actually, for Sarah Palin, it`s good there is not an election year and that American voters have short memories if she does run.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, Carlos, what do you think? Sarah Palin is probably looking back now at that whole deal where they trotted him out at the RNC as these poster children, thinking, “What the heck were we doing?”
DIAZ: And how can she not control this situation in an honest way? I mean, how can she not say, “OK, guys, listen. Hold on,” and be a mediator and try to bring these two kids together and at least so they can coexist so they don`t go on national talk shows and, you know, kiss-and-tell and dish-and-tell kind of a thing.
HAMMER: I have a feeling this isn`t the last we`ve heard about this. Carlos Diaz, Leslie Marshall, thank you both.
Marshall probably talked about ” Sarah Palin having abstinence as such an important issue” on her radio show. Most every other talking head did. The truth, however, is that Palin believes that teaching teens abstinence along with contraception products is the way to go. That is her political stance on teaching teens about birth control.
As for her family, yes, she stressed and promoted abstinence to her kids (or at least to her eldest daughter; the others might still be too young for that lesson) as the birth control method she, their mother, hoped each of them would/will choose for themselves. She also talked to Bristol about contraception products. Apparently, Bristol used contraception….most of the time. Like a lot of kids, she knew that without contraception, she could become pregnant. Like a lot of kids, she thought it wouldn’t happen to her. That’s not poor parenting on Palin’s part, nor is it a failure of Bristol’s education on birth control methods, including abstinence. It’s just another example of the poor judgment and wishful thinking of kids.
And the whole thing about Palin marching Bristol and her now-ex-boyfriend out at the RNC as poster children for anything is a load of crap. Bristol is her daughter, a member of her family, and she’d done absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, other than using her kid judgment. I think that Bristol and Sarah, along with the rest of their family, have handled Bristol’s early entry into motherhood very well. Bristol isn’t running for political office, so her poor judgment should have no negative impact on the USA. Palin wasn’t running for Mother of Perfect Kids 2008, so her daughter’s pregnancy should never have been an issue for the 2008 Elections. Unless, of course, she had tried to lie about it, hide her pregnant daughter, etc. That would have indicated a lack of honesty and loyalty, had she gone that route.
Sorry for the long posted comment. I blame it on Hollywood Whatever for getting me started.
Sarah is pretty tough and very courageous.
No GOP politician can beat her in the 2012 GOP Primary if she chooses to run.
The real test will be whether Obama continues messing up during his first term and in effect beats himself up like Carter, thereby giving the opportunity to the GOP and Palin to win.
All indicators so far are showing that Obama doesn’t have a clue, and with unemployment and inflation probably to be higher as we approach 2012, the shine will wear off and many voters will continue to regret voting for him.
Let’s face it, if Obama was not half black, he would have lost even to the inept McCain.
Thank you for this blog. The attempt to utterly destroy Sarah Palin by making it as painful as possibly for herself and her family is astonishing in its crudity. The flooding of Alaskan newspaper treads with hate-filled bilge is one aspect. Trying to bankrupt her by filing endless trivial ‘ethics’ complaints is another (some women are the worst filers). The silence and complicity of the feminist establishment is deafening. Sarah is important precisely because she won the hearts and minds of traditional, conservative America over to the idea of being led by a strong, competent women. Her destruction would be a terrible setback. (Full disclosure: I am (gulp) a man).
So if Eminem isnt enough, now a comic book comes out, this is the log line from their site:
The Democrat leader will appear as Barack the Barbarian “destined to save the great republic of America and dethrone the overpaid despots of the time”.
In the cartoon, the leader of Kickassistan takes on his Nemesis, former Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, who sports a cape made from wolf skin and her trademark glasses – and very little else.
This is not a joke, the site has pictures etc of their story board-
This is the website for the comic book publisher:
http://devilsdue.net/
[...] at The New Agenda, Cynthia Ruccia has an excellent post up about how common sexism has become in our society and how [...]
In my opinion Sarah Palin is one of the most important political figures of our generation. Despite her portrayal in the MSM, she is a highly intelligent, highly competent, centrist Governor. She manages this career while multi-tasking as a busy mother and wife. I am a conservative man, and I have nothing but profound admiration for Governor Palin. She was air-dropped into the middle of the Presidential campaign and proved her mettle day after day. Her stumbles in my opinion were minor and exaggerated by a media that wanted nothing more than to destroy her. The Republican party will suppress her candidacy at their own risk, as she has far more charisma and potential than any of the other major Republican candidates. She is our nation’s Margaret Thatcher and God knows we need her more than ever.
[...] at The New Agenda, Cynthia Ruccia has an excellent post up about how common sexism has become in our society and how [...]
To BKL
I defend Sarah Palin because the media and the new ” Urban democrats” told flat out lies about her and continuously misrepresented her and disrepected her for being a woman.
As for her family values, is it not valuable to have a family support system strong enough to give a woman the courage to choose life for an infant with Downs syndrom, or for a teenage woman to choose life for an inconvieniant pregnancy. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Of course Mohammed and the new democrats would say, bury them up to their shoulders before you start stoning them.
After working my but of f as a volunteer for the Hillary Clinton campaign, I have ended up respecting Sarah Palin much more than Hillary Clinton who, just as she decided to stay married to the worst kind of womanizer, gave up and gave in to the will of Barak Obama, the most corrupt, misogynic president in America’s history, who has more respect for Islamic terrorist than he has for women.
Sarah Palin is a progressive Governor who has taken on the intrenched and corrupt Republican politicains in Alaska and has endured their revenge with strengh and dignity. She has recently appoined a pro-Choice judge to the Alaskan supreme court. She has contracted what will be the United States biggest engineering undertaking in its history-the natural gas pipe line. She has gotten oil companies to share profits with the residents of Alaska, which is better than having our government go into Arab nations and exploit their resourses that will only bring profit to the oil companies. Lets not forget that Obama voted for the Bush- Cheney energy bill.
No governor gets a 90% approval rating without putting the interest of their constiuents above their own political future.
She is a pioneer woman. I wonder if those like Asley Judd know that there was once wildlife in the Hollywood Hills before all those fabulous movie stars started building their mansions there.
The new democrats have elevated hypocracy to an extreem sport.
Sarah Palin has my well earned respect, and as for women like Katie Couric and Tine Fey who exploit her and her family, I say- you are the worst kind of misogynists and a liability to your young daughters.
The woman’s name is Tammy Bruce, former President of NOW LA(I think)
Yes, Tammy Bruce is indeed the former president of NOW’s LA chapter. She left the organization after NOW’s national leadership censured her for remarks she made during the O.J. Simpson trial that they deemed “racially insensitive.” I was going to school in LA at the time this happened, and the way I remember it is that Tammy kept trying to get people to focus on the domestic violence aspect of the case while nearly everyone else was trying to make it about race. She also made it clear that she wasn’t buying the defense’s theory that Simpson was the victim of a racially-motivated prosecution, and when he was acquitted, she was outraged and organized a protest march. All of this got her in hot water with NOW’s national board under the leadership of then-president Patricia Ireland; they accused her of violating NOW’s commitment to anti-racism and she ended up resigning.
Since then Tammy has unfortunately drifted further and further to the right, often accusing liberals of waging a war on American culture, values, and free speech. Although she’s gay herself, she’s usually careful not to advocate for gay rights so as to not offend her conservative audience and has actually applauded the Boy Scouts of America’s anti-gay scout/scoutmaster policy on the grounds that it’s necessary to prevent child molestation. Most recently she made headlines for calling the Obamas, specifically Michelle, “trash in the White House”! Given her own statements about Michelle, I find it difficult to take her outrage over the treatment Palin has received as anything other than partisan posturing.
[...] at The New Agenda, Cynthia Ruccia has an excellent post up about how common sexism has become in our society and how [...]
just when I was staring to think that Eminem takes himself too seriously, he comes out with a video like this…
What I appreciate the most about bringing this to light:
1. As Cynthia expresses very well: not this AGAIN? The only positive spin I would give that is that the frequency with which it is done does weaken it.
2. HOWEVER – the frequency not only never ever makes it acceptable but runs the risk of making it more used and common. And that is my real fear and concern. This kind of sexist portrayal and treatment of women, ANY women, is so embedded in so many sectors of life in our culture – to me, that’s what feels like the Sisyphus challenge. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve pointed something out as being in my opinion sexist only to have others say, “No, that’s not sexist ENOUGH to be noted,” or,” you think that’s sexist? Why aren’t you complaining about THIS?”
It is true and I have been guilty of it if only because I am just one person who can only consume so much information and therefore chooses to focus on certain things: I do not always see, get or write about sexist behavior across the political spectrum. But I do care and support that it be stopped and called out.
Thank you for writing this post Cynthia – you are, as I know you know, evolved from where I am, in many ways. I feel lucky to have an eye into your motivations and thoughts as I read a post like this.
Bottom line, if it’s sexist, is it ever too small to note? That being said, no one of us can hear, find, see or be privy to every single incident. I rely on sources across the spectrum to find out what’s going on – The New Agenda absolutely adds to that. Thank you.
Hi Jill—Thanks for your kind words. You inspire me!!!! I think you are politically well-centered in the best possible way.
I’m going to steal my comment from another post concerning taking other people and dealing with them when you bring up the subject of sexism:
Try this method:
1) Listen to them—–get them to spew out all of the venom against Palin, in this instance, but other instances as well. Palin is not the only example, just the most visible. Keep asking leading questions so that they have spoken their mind. Bite your tongue until they have finished. This is hard to do, but remember we are on a mission—-a mission to help people see light instead of being venomous. They will be unable to hear anything until they have emptied their brain of its contents on this subject.
2) Say these words, “I understand the way you feel, and I know that alot of people have felt that way, but you know, I did some looking around, and I discovered that __________(insert the truth).
3) Finally, say, “You know, I heard so many lies over and over again that I have come to see that so much of it is sexist, misogynist bashing. I decided that I wasn’t going to take part in criticizing another woman until I had the facts. It is bad for the girls growing up in a country that treats its women leaders this way. We don’t need to join in with the people who are being vile just because we disagree.”
It’s alot of words to memorize, but take a minute and try it out and practice it a few times. Print it out and carry it around with you. Read it off a page if you must. You can explain to others that you get so upset when the subject comes up that you wanted to make sure from now on that you expressed yourself the way you wanted to. People will get that and it might even make the point you are making that much more powerful.
I keep thinking of two sayings: I am only one, but I am one. I can do something. The other is by Moses Maimonides—If not me, who? If not now, when?
I’m sure the use of “Democrat” as an adjective by Ms. Ruccia and some of the commenters on here, parroting the most insipid of Republican talking heads (see http://mediamatters.org/items/200701250010 , http://www.urbandictionary.com.....at%20Party ), is completely unintentional. I offer this friendly reminder: the correct adjectival form of the noun “Democrat” is “Democratic”. I’m sure no one here would want to be mistaken for the kind of person who employs such a juvenile taunt.
dmd76-
Just so you know, the correct form of “insipid Republican talking heads” is simply “Republicans” or “Republican pundits.” I offer this as a friendly reminder as I’m sure you wouldn’t want to be mistaken for the kind of person who employs such a juvenile taunt.
Thia, I would never tar all Republicans with such a broad brush, loathe as I am to engage in juvenile taunting. Only insipid Republicans persist in using “Democrat” when they mean “Democratic”. Mature Republicans, and I’m sure some exist, somewhere, know better.
Thank you, Cynthia! That method of yours is definitely something to keep up! ^_^ I am going to post it on a Puma community if you don’t mind.
dmd and Thia, I’m neither a Democrat nor a Republican but I’m sure I’ve used “Democrat” when I should have used “democratic” (an adjective isn’t capitalized unless it begins a sentence) and I’ve probably done it the other way around, too. I’m positive that I’m not parroting anyone because I don’t parrot others’ use of language when I correctly use “whom” where others use “who,” use “you and me” where others would incorrectly use “you and I,” try not to end sentences in prepositions, etc. So, since we know there’s no truth to it, let’s stop assigning political parties and maturity levels to others based upon nothing but their grammar mistakes. It makes us appear to be just as close-minded and self righteous as the staunch Republicans who show nothing but contempt for all Democrats and vice-versa.
Karen—-feel free to post wherever you’d like!!
CoolAunt and dmd76—–I believe both forms are considered acceptable by most language sources, dictionaries, etc.
CoolAunt, there actually is truth to it. Republicans, including G.W. Bush and Palin (see my links), have deliberately used “Democrat Party” instead of “Democratic Party” because Republicans think it’s some kind of slur to misstate the name of the opposition party. A quick Google search will provide you with more than enough evidence of this. You say you aren’t a Republican; quite obviously, then, my post is not about you.
Ms. Ruccia: There’s no two ways about it. “Democrat” is a noun, “Democratic” is an adjective. If you find a dictionary that tells you otherwise, I suggest you throw that dictionary away.
Of course, if folks here want to emulate Republican luminaries like Joe McCarthy, Tom Delay, and George W. Bush ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.....crat_Party ), who am I to complain?
dmd76- Do you realize that you are claiming that someone is using a slur by saying “Democrat Party” while at the same time you have repeatedly done the exact same thing you are protesting by making snide comments about Republicans? Go back and read the article and substitute “Democratic” if you wish, but please get back to the point of the article. Isn’t it at least a little silly in your eyes to argue about grammer rather than the substance of Ms. Ruccia’s article?
Also you might note that Ms. Ruccia let BOTH parties have it. It wasn’t a partisan article.
I had no idea Chris Matthews was a spokesman for the “Democrat Party”. Those bastards!
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