2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forum"...the president explained that his reaction was driven by thoughts of his own daughters."
Posted with permission.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/06/10593529-obama-comments-on-limbaugh-controversy
Obama comments on Limbaugh controversy
By Steve Benen
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Tue Mar 6, 2012 2:41 PM EST
President Obama held his first press conference in a few months this afternoon, and while the bulk of the discussion was focused on Iran and international affairs, two reporters inquired about the controversy surrounding Rush Limbaugh's recent misogynistic remarks.
Video @ link~
The president didn't want to address the decisions of advertisers that are fleeing Limbaugh's program, or the sincerity of the host's so-called "apology," but Obama was willing to talk about what prompted him to reach out directly to Sandra Fluke.
In short, the president explained that his reaction was driven by thoughts of his own daughters.
Obama added, "I wanted Sandra to know that I thought her parents should be proud of her, and that we want to send a message to all our young people that being part of a democracy involves argument and disagreements and debate. And we want you to be engaged, and there's a way to do it in a way that doesn't involve you being demeaned and insulted."
The response reminded me of something Connie Schultz told Rachel on the air last night: Limbaugh's outrageous verbal assault, deliberately or not, ended up attacking millions of women, not just one law student who wanted to speak on behalf of an ailing friend.
As Schultz put it, "He went after my girls. He went after the girls of mothers all across this country regardless of their politics. And that is what he has completely underestimated.... He called her a slut because she wanted to be responsible about birth control. They have no idea yet it seems to me, what's been unleashed, but they are about to find out. There is no going back on this one."
Limbaugh has picked a lot of fights over the years, but even he may not have been prepared for the righteous anger that comes with an attack on Americans' daughters.
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)for not wanting to bring children into this world that they don't want, or cannot afford, whether they are single or married. If some RELIGIONS want to condem that as defeating the "purpose" of sex, then so be it. We are not required to live by THEIR relligious views. Being a good, responsible CITIZEN of the USA matters more.
russspeakeasy
(6,539 posts)exboyfil
(17,865 posts)but what will he say when his daughters ask him about his SuperPAC taking $1M from someone who called one of his political opponents a c***? I guess his answer could be the enemy of our enemy is our friend (ala the Soviets in World War II).
Not giving Rush cover but trying to hold Maher accountable.
DFab420
(2,466 posts)head who makes money off of writing books called Demonic: How the Liberal Mob is endangering america or Godless: THe CHurch of Liberalism...
Ann Coulter doesn't deserve our respect or our time worrying if its ok to call her a cunt. Seriously. Very different things.
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)so Bill Maher has said it about two women on a public stage? Of course it is not a problem until, with great hoopla, he gives $1M to Obama's SuperPAC.
Sorry no one should use that word about a woman. You may disagree with them politically, but did Palin or Coulter call Maher a c****er which I guess Carlin would consider the equivalent.
I am surprised that more women are not outraged. You can do clean devastating humor about both of these individuals without resorting to such vile names.
Some day Maher may find it humorous to mock your daughter with the c*** word. Just because you disagree politically does not open up use of such words.
I agree that Coulter makes for a much better target for the word. I do not think the misogynistic reaction to Palin was called for, and it was not the Left's finest hour.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,237 posts)I realize the Ditto's are making this comparison, but it's really apples and oranges. You have every right to hold Maher to a higher standard, but Rush is just getting the same treatment now that Maher got when the rightwing shut down his ABC show, Politically Incorrect. The free market decided in Maher's case, and the free market is still working just fine in the case Limpbo.
And as you pointed out, Bill Maher donated to a SuperPAC, not the Obama campaign. Maybe you should sit down and write a long, agonizing letter to the director of the PAC.
babylonsister
(171,079 posts)exboyfil
(17,865 posts)Birds of a feather flock together.
What Rush did was far worse, but Bill Maher is also clueless when it comes to using hurtful comments about others.
Is Fluke a private citizen? She has been an advocate for women's reproductive health for some time on a smaller stage. She readily has embraced the opportunity for a larger platform. Rush's assault in many ways is the best thing for her career. Even if she had been a candidate for Congress what Rush did was wrong - horrible in fact. He handed her a sword, and I think she will be able to use it effectively, and I hope that she does.
Again the problem comes with taking Maher's tainted money. Is there something someone would say that would mean you would no longer take the money?
Tarheel_Dem
(31,237 posts)with the SuperPac. What is it you don't understand about that? You're either willfully obtuse, or woefully misinformed. If Maher had donated to the "OBAMA CAMPAIGN", I might agree with you. Don't you get the difference? It's against the law for Obama to be telling any SuperPac what to do, and whose money to take and/or refuse.
CONTACT THE SUPERPAC!!!!!
fugop
(1,828 posts)... I agree on the use of the c word. Here's the difference in this situation, which I think was pointed out in the original post: When Maher insults Palin or Coulter, yes, there's going to be a group of people who are offended. I hate that discourse stoops that low.
On the other hand, this situation IS different, because while Maher was namecalling to well known public figures, this young woman is more anonymous to most of us. As the original post noted, Rush's comments feel more like a blanket statement for ALL young women. So while some people may have felt offended on behalf of Sarah Palin and Ann Coulter, Rush's statement feels like an insult to all young women everywhere, all the Sandra Flukes out there who are trying to do the right thing.
It's just more offensive because it feels like he's talking about all of us and all of our daughters. People take things harder when they feel more personal. This feels more personal. It's the best explanation I have.
phleshdef
(11,936 posts)She insinuates we aren't real Americans. She accused Obama of palling around with terrorists and accused him of creating death panels. She has supposedly said racist things about Obama in private, "Sambo beat the bitch" anyone?
So I guess he could tell his daughters that when you go around acting like a hatefilled pile of shit, you open yourself up to being treated like one. Bill Maher doesn't need to be "held accountable" for anything he has called Sarah Palin. He never said anything about her that suggested she was bad because she is a woman. He didn't need to. She is bad because she is bad.
And the word "cunt", as nasty as it sounds, and as distasteful as I personally find it to be, is not sexist, no matter how much you want it to be. If a female comedian called a man "dick", that also would be not be sexist, its no different. Period.
Loudmxr
(1,405 posts)He stood up for his daughters and all women.
And a little message to those lurkers and trollers.
Don't ever be in the same room with me. You will feel the righteous Irish anger for the things you say about women and little girls.
"Sasha and Malia are just looking forward to their first abortion"-FReeper comment.
You have got me angry. And you don't want to get me angry.. it does have bad results.
Not that I had anything to do with it Really it just happens.
IndyJones
(1,068 posts)such a vile insult toward a woman.
babylonsister
(171,079 posts)do the right thing. Very telling.
Bake
(21,977 posts)Rush, you are an idiot. Your time is over.
And, as always, congrats to the President for being so eloquent and RIGHT.
Bake