2) If you do proceed, please note that up until the November, 2010 midterm elections I had never voted for a Republican for national office in my life (I am 59 years old). Thus, remember that I am not a life long, die hard Republican or conservative as you read through the following paragraphs.
Over the past two weeks, both sides in the political spectrum have been debating whether a secular government and political class in a democracy such as ours can trample on religious and speech freedoms to extend a political cause. In this case, it was whether the Obama administration could force religious organizations to ignore their sacred tenets and provide free birth control options to people under its influence.
We will save the debate and discussion on this trampling of rights for another day. Today we will focus on ignorance, hypocrisy, and silence. The ignorance comes from conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh and his insult of a female college student from Washington D.C. These two people, one famous, and one not, ended up on opposite sides of the free the birth control issue discussed above.
Unfortunately, this is where the ignorance of Limbaugh comes into play. If we are to believe in our democracy and its freedom of speech, each of these two people should be entitled to their personal opinion on this and any other issue without being degraded and slandered for having that opinion. This does not mean we cannot disagree vehemently, but respectfully, with each other's opinion, that is how democracy should work.
But this is where Limbaugh crossed a line, calling the young lady a slut on his national radio show for having an opinion contrary to his. This is not a mature, adult debate of issues, it is just playground name calling. And this name called is degrading and unnecessary.
As this issue unfolded, however, the hypocrisy from the left came spewing forth. I came across a number of Facebook friends that wanted me to speak out against Limbaugh by "liking" those that were now in a full rant against his name calling or wanting me to sign a Facebook petition to have him removed from the air. I also received numerous petition emails urging me to sign in order to get Limbaugh canned.
Why hypocrisy? Where was the left, the Democrats, and the liberals when other women were being degraded, slandered, and called names that were at least as bad as "slut?" Why did this single incident encourage such outrage when there had been dozens of other assaults on individuals' rights, lives, respect, and female body parts over the past few years?
Oh wait, those assaults on individuals' rights, lives, respect, and female body parts had been on Republican and conservative Americans, the exact opposite of Democrats and liberal Americans. That is where the hypocrisy comes in. When Democrats and liberal people demean and slander non-Democrats and non-liberal types, there is no outcry to get someone kicked off the air, there is no outrage at the language used to belittle, there is no notice of childish behavior. That only happens when one of their own is insulted in some way.
Consider the following atrocities of behavior that have occurred over the past few years that is similar to the insult to the Washington college student that somehow went unnoticed by the left:
- HBO show host Bill Maher called Sarah Palin a "tw**" (with Maher using the full degrading word, not the shielded version I am using) last year on television and there was no outrage from such degradation from the left, the Democrats, and the liberals. Various women-centric organizations and others, however, did call Maher to task:
- Yana Walton, Vice President of Communications at Women's Media Center: “Widespread sexism in the media is one of the top problems facing women, and seriously affects women in politics. A highly toxic media environment persists for women candidates, and discourages all women – irrespective of political persuasion - from running for public office. Despite the fact that women make up half of the population, we're only 17 percent of congress. Bill Maher's misogynistic comment about Sarah Palin hurts all women, not just Palin, and not just conservative women. By insulting her gender, rather than her platform or stance on issues, he insults women as a group.”
- Terry Dougherty, editor of Women magazine: “[Maher's] choice of words shows an enormous lack of respect for women. If his preceding joke had been about a man, I can't imagine him using an equally derogatory term to describe a male. That type of language shows a lack of consideration toward women."
- Matthew Vadum, Senior Editor at the Capital Research Center in Washington DC: "Bill Maher feels he can get away with such jaw-droppingly offensive verbal attacks on Sarah Palin because virtually the entire media-academia-entertainment complex agrees with him. Clinging to their political correctness and disdain for her quintessentially American values, the left-wing cocktail circuit regards Palin as a punch line."
- John Ziegler, creator of the documentary "Media Malpractice: “If a conservative used that language to describe Hillary Clinton, we wouldn't be hearing very much about Japan or Libya. If they said it about Michelle Obama, the media would be going 24/7 with the story.”
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/03/22/maher-calls-sarah-palin-female-vulgarism-stays-mum/
- The above article also reminded me of an incident from the recent past where a high ranking staff member working on Governor Jerry Brown's California governorship campaign called his female opponent, Meg Whitman, a "whore." Rather than debate Whitman on issues, Democrats on Brown's campaign staff decided to revert to vulgarism and call a political opponent, another American, a whore. Totally insulting, totally, demeaning, and totally ignored by the left, the Democrats, and the liberals. Details of this incident are included in the above site.
- Back to Bill Maher, his insults of women and other Americans who do not line up with his political views continue in the situation posted in the following website. On his HBO show back in September, Bill Maher was degrading then Presidential candidate Rick Perry for his bad performance in one of the debates. No problem so far, identifying and discussing a perceived poor Presidential debate performance is fair game.
But then Maher degrades himself as he grossly degrades Sarah Palin again when he says on air, referring to Rick Perry: "Sarah Palin was watching and she said, 'If only he was black, I'd f**k him.'" How much more disgusting can you get on live television? Degrading not only another woman, another American but also another race?
Where was the rage on the left and their organized attempts to get Maher kicked off the air like they tried to do with Limbaugh? In my opinion, this comment is far worse than Limbaugh's slut comment, both in content, in context, and the fact that this is not Maher's first offensive remark. But the hypocrisy continues, the left, the Democrats, and the liberals somehow ignored this disgrace. Details and live video of Maher's remarks can be found at:
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2011/09/24/bill-maher-sarah-palin-would-f-k-rick-perry-if-he-was-black
- One of the most outrageous and most ignored women-demeaning actions in recent history was an extensive Playboy online article entitled "So Right It's Wrong." The author of this article wrote extensively on why it was necessary to "hate rape" ten conservative women, columnists and politicians, and how to do it. Disgusting beyond belief.
One would have thought that the concept of "hate raping" ten different American women would have gotten the Limbaugh hating crowd in a dither. No, there was no reaction at all from the left, the Democrats, and the liberals in this case either. Details can be found at numerous non-mainstream media sites including the following:
http://www.whale.to/a/reisman56.html
- Michele Bachman is a Minnesota Congresswoman who unsuccessfully ran for President. What the mainstream press seemed to ignore, along with the left, the Democrats, and the liberals, is a concert that a rap artist gave a few years ago that was billed as "F**k Michele Bachman 2010." The rapper did not use the cleaned up version seen here, he used the full vulgarity.
There was no outrage against this performer from the left, the Democrats, or the liberals like they had against Limbaugh. How demeaning is this for Bachman's family and friends to see the extensive advertisements and promotions for this concert in full public view? What if the concert had been billed as "F**k Michele Obama 2010" or "F**k Hilary Clinton 2010?"
I would bet there would be the predictable outrage in these hypothetical cases from the left, the Democrats, and the liberals but not in the case of Bachman, a caring mother of not only her own kids but numerous foster kids. Details can be viewed at the following site:
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2010/06/fck_michele_bac.php
- Staying with Michele Bachman, consider another talk show host, Montel Williams, and his behavior. He came out publicly against Rush Limbaugh's comment, which is his right to do. But this is the same Montel Williams who previously had publicly hoped that Michele Bachman would commit suicide by decapitating herself.
How despicable to want the death of someone whose political views do not line up with yours, an action that was somehow ignored by the left, the Democrats, and the liberals. Where was the outcry to get Montel thrown off the airwaves? Details can be found at many online sites including the following:
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2012/03/10/montel-williams-defends-suicide-wish-bachmann-after-decrying-limbaugh
- Okay, one last example, an example where the Limbaugh's word "slut" is the subject. Ed Schultz, an on air personality for MSNBC, last year was suspended for the following slur directed at Laura Ingraham, an employee at a different TV network:
“President Obama is going to be visiting Joplin, Mo., on Sunday, but you know what they’re talking about, like this right-wing slut, what’s her name?, Laura Ingraham? Yeah, she’s a talk slut. You see, she was, back in the day, praising President Reagan when he was drinking a beer overseas. But now that Obama’s doing it, they’re working him over.”
Ms. Ingraham is a woman trying to do her job, there is no reason for her to be demeaned and slandered like Rush Limbaugh did to the college student, by being called a slut. Now, Schultz was suspended for the remark but not because the the left, the Democrats, or the liberals were outraged, they were again silent when another American woman, not one of their own, was being degraded. Just another hypocrisy day in their world. Details can be read at:
http://www.salon.com/2011/05/25/ed_schultz/
The hypocrisy also extends to President Obama. While he called and talked to the college student who was called a slut, he was silent when Republican, conservative, and other American woman were called "tw**s", sluts, targets of hate rape, and other slurs. But this should be expected from this President, given his track record of silence:
- When Democrat Nancy Pelosi questioned the patriotism of many Americans when she said those opposed to Obama Care were un-American, Obama was silent. Americans should be able to have an honest difference of opinion with their leaders without being designated as unpatriotic.
- When Democrat Charles Rangel said those opposed to Obama Care were no better than the racists from decades ago, Obama was silent. Americans should be able to have an honest difference of opinion with their leaders without being designated as racists.
- When Obama czar Van Jones called all Republicans a**h****s, Obama was silent. Americans should be able to hold contrary political stances from their leaders without publicly being called a**h****s.
- When Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson called Republicans knuckle dragging Neanderthals, Obama was silent.
- When Democratic Congresswoman Shelia Lee Jackson said that all Tea Party members were racists, Obama was silent.
- When Democratic politicians Henry Waxman, Michael Doyle, and Joe Biden called all Republicans terrorists, Obama was silent. Americans should be able to hold contrary political opinions in this country without being grouped with fanatical people that blow up innocent civilians.
- When Democratic Vice President Joe Biden called Republicans barbarians, Obama was silent.
- When Democrat Howard Dean called Tea Party Americans racists for their honest desire to reign in government power and out-of-control government spending, Obama was silent.
The list goes one and one. Americans, both men and women, being degraded for having contrary opinions to those in power. No American should ever have their patriotism questioned for having a contrary view, no American should ever be called a racist, an a**h***, a slut, a terrorist, a Neanderthal, a barbarian, a Klan member, a hate rape target, etc. just for having a difference of opinion.
But this is exactly what the political class wants. As we attack each other and slander each other, the political class goes about their business, staying in office, enriching themselves while not solving any problem facing the country. Consider some words from a previous post we did which focused on how Big Brother used the same type of divide and conquer tactics in George Orwell's novel, "1984:"
"This is not to say that either the conduct of war, or the prevailing attitude towards it, has become less bloodthirsty or more chivalrous. On the contrary, war hysteria is continuous and universal in all countries, and such acts as raping, looting, the slaughter of children, the reduction of whole populations to slavery, and reprisals against prisoners which extend even to boiling and burying alive, are looked upon as normal, and, when they are committed by one's own side and not by the enemy, meritorious."
This was the original quote from the novel. Now consider the same quote with a few words changed to describe the political horror we are currently enduring:
"This is not to say that either the conduct of politics, or the prevailing attitude towards it, has become less bloodthirsty or more chivalrous. On the contrary, politics is continuous and universal in all parts of the country, and such acts as name calling, personal degradation, accusations of unpatriotism, sexual degradation, verbal assaults, the reduction of whole groups of fellow citizens with opposing views to idiocy and reprisals against common Americans with opposing views, are looked upon as normal, and, when they are committed by one's own side and not by the enemy, meritorious."
Orwell's Big Brother used the tactic of attacking one's enemy in whatever way possible as part of an overall strategy of diverting attention way from the government's oppression and incompetence. That is the Orwellian horror we are living through our political system today: it is okay to call the "other side" degrading names and insults, it is not okay for them to do the same to us. In our outrage we fail to notice how poorly our politicians serve our country, our democracy, and ourselves.
Until we start respecting the diversity of each other and each other's right to have contrary opinions, we will never solve the problems facing this country. We will continue to be the gladiators that destroy each other while the political class goes on their current track unabated up in the Coliseum stands.
Three thoughts in closing:
1) Dante once said: "The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality." If you are outraged when those of your political ilk are insulted and degraded but remain silent when those of a different political ilk are insulted and degraded, then Dante was talking about you.
If you are outraged when someone who agrees with you is called a slut but remain silent when someone who disagrees with you is called a slut, a whore, a target for hate rape, etc., then Dante was talking about you.
If you are silent when another American is called an a**h***, a racist, a barbarian, a terrorist, or un-American for simply and honestly having a difference of opinion, then Dante was talking about you.
2) Actor Michael Douglas, in his depiction of the American President in the movie of the same name, provides a similar conclusion on freedom of expression to the Dante comparison in the following film clip at the 1:30 to the 2:10 time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUxGqU6LwVI
America, and its freedom and democracy, is not easy, as Douglas's character points out. It cannot only be an outrage when a person of your political conviction is insulted or has their freedom of expression questioned and ridiculed. That outrage must extend to all Americans of all political viewpoints. Otherwise, the politicians win and we lose.
3) How is Limbaugh different from all of the other people listed above? He apologized for his transgressions. Until Obama, Maher, Biden, Grayson, Lee, Williams, Playboy, Rangel, Pelosi, and the others above apologize for their transgressions, their slurs, they will be worse than Limbaugh, lower than low.
Until these people, the left, the Democrats, and the liberals, apologize, please keep your Rush Limbaugh Facebook posts and your email petitions to yourself. Your selective silence is deafening.
We invite all readers of this blog to visit our new website, "The United States Of Purple," at:
http://www.unitedstatesofpurple.com/
The United States of Purple is a new grass roots approach to filling the office of President of The United States by focusing on the restoration of freedom in the United States, focusing on problem solving skills and results vs. personal political enrichment, and imposing term limits on all future Federal politicians. No more red states, no more blue states, just one United States Of America under the banner of Purple.
The United States Of Purple's website also provides you the formal opportunity to sign a petition to begin the process of implementing a Constitutional amendment to impose fixed term limits on all Federally elected politicians. Only by turning out the existing political class can we have a chance of addressing and finally resolving the major issues of or times.
Our book, "Love My Country, Loathe My Government - Fifty First Steps To Restoring Our Freedom And Destroying The American Political Class" is now available at www.loathemygovernment.com. It is also available online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Please pass our message of freedom onward. Let your friends and family know about our websites and blogs, ask your library to carry the book, and respect freedom for both yourselves and others everyday.
Please visit the following sites for freedom:
http://www.cato.org/
http://www.robertringer.com/
http://realpolichick.blogspot.com/
http://www.flipcongress2010.com/
http://www.reason.com/
http://www.repealamendment
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