Breaking News: It’s Ok when Bill Maher is a misogynist. But I’ll let him explain: Bill applies misogynist language to women who happen to be politicians, while Rush Limbaugh attacked a ‘civilian’*.
I had the feeling someone sooner or later would excuse Maher’s conduct towards female conservative politicians in this manner. In fact, I’m surprised he didn’t do it himself earlier (I guess he’s starting to feel the heat of Alinsky Rule 4 now).
But this isn’t much of a defense or excuse, as far as such things go. After all, what Maher is ultimately getting across here is that there are circumstances under which misogynist hate is perfectly acceptable (and – unfortunately and evidently – many a Leftie would agree).
Then again, that’s precisely what is implied by his conduct towards Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann – and by anyone who’s ever given Maher a pass for it: it’s ok to hate some women.
Contrast with the reaction to Rush and one can only conclude that all the Fluke vs. Rush brouhaha is not about respect. It’s about silencing dissenting voices.
In other words, it’s not a double standard. It’s the party line.
*I’ll leave the implications of distinguishing people in militaristic terms for others to ponder; but, if I remember well, Lefties frown on the use of violent imagery in political rhetoric…except when they don’t.
UPDATE: David Axelrod is also feeling the heat of Alinsky Rule 4. The result is about as non-sensical and pathetic as Maher’s excuse. You could say the ‘War On Women’ has jumped the shark…
Cross-posted at The Rhetorican.
why do we let them get away with this stuff? Why aren’t we overtalking them on every interview, sating over and over again, “That’s not what I asked you, and while you’re explaining what about telling the truth? Do you guys ever?”
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If he wants to apply the “it’s different argument”, two can play that game. Limbaugh’s use of “slut” was reprehensible, but Maher’s was much worse. After all, Rush’s “slut” comment was directed against the idea that women should have their contraception publically funded. It was not an attack whose purpose was to destroy Fluke’s image and career as a politician especially since Fluke is supposedly not interested in politics.
Maher, OTOH, and many, many others, have attacked Palin with words of sexual innuendo in which the attack has no relation to any idea of Palin’s. Their words are nothing but hate, and their purpose is none other than to harm Palin in her calling as much as possible.
To make this simple: Rush was attacking an idea with intent to harm the idea. Maher and the others were attacking a person with intent to do harm to the person.
Misogyny is misogyny, whether it is part of the emotional equipment of conservatives or liberals. When there is a serious public discussion of this issue, I will know that feminism has made some inroads. See http://clarespark.com/2009/10/23/murdered-by-the-mob-moral-mothers-and-symbolist-poets/, for starters.
And on the particular case of Limbaugh vs. Fluke, see http://clarespark.com/2012/03/03/sluts-and-pigs/. I quote Alexander Hamilton on the necessity of telling the truth, and that it is not slander or libel if the speaker is accurate. The progressives argue that there only “useful truths” so we are embroiled in a debate that goes far beyond how this fracas is covered by media, left or right.
So if Rush had called Nancy Pelosi a slut it would have been ok?
It would have been false. Sluts aren’t sluts for selling themselves, but Nancy Pelosi did and does. It’s a different word for that.
Since Mr Limbaugh did not call anyone a slut, your question is meaningless. Unless one is to interpret you words as implying that “I fully support Bill Mayer and think he’s the most wonderful person in the world; let me bear his children”.
Cheers
rush did say she was a slut, then he considered the fact that she wanted us to pay for her sex, so she was a prostitute and we were the pimps. Then corrected himself again and said we were not the pimps since we were the ones paying.
But his point was that she was wanting the taxpayers to pick up her $3,000 tab to have sex.
Hey, we all have our personal standards. Maher likes to call right wing women who talk about personal responsibility “cunts” and I like to call lowlife lefties who try and get the government to force to me to pay for their birth control pills, at the point of a government held gun, “sluts”.
He’s offended by the idea of people paying their own way, and I’m offended by people who try and use the government to steal.
To each his own.
In the full Tapper interview Maher compares himself to George Carlin. It does seem that many second- and third-rate comedians feel that liberal use of the Seven Words makes for a funny routine. Carlin’s humor was much more profound and complex than that; he had his multiple characters, voices and facial expressions as well. All of those served to point out the absurdities of everyday occurances in American life. Still, his often blue language did add something (come on, you know it…). By comparison, Maher is just a boor preaching to the “in” crowd.
I think I understand. It is OK to aim hateful words at women if they dare to go into politics? Pitiful, Maher, pitiful. Your mother must be so proud.
1%’er Bill Maher provides himself all the pride he needs, fed the privilege by the 99%’ers who gladly pay him for the opportunity to grovel at the alter of his own filth. I’ve never heard him mention his mother.
People like Maher are why I’ve gladly cancelled cable. Take note AT&T…
Bill Maher is a nasty, snarly, sour, and arrogant man. I think he and Olberman were separated at birth. And, Maher’s not funny – except when we’re talking about his looks.