The freepers are freaking over Elizabeth and Teresa!

[senseandsensibility]

Last night, I happened to read over my husband's shoulder as he posted on the AOL forum. I NEVER post there, or even read it, because I have a low threshold for emotional pain. What I saw froze me in my tracks. It was like a train wreck. I couldn't look away!

I saw repeated brutally sexist and misogynous comments about Teresa Hines Kerry and Elizabeth Edwards. There were disgusting comments about Elizabeth's weight and perceived "ugliness". It was just so nasty and cruel. The comments about Teresa were even cruder and bordered on the pornographic. One that stands out is that she uses ketchup as a * during sex. I'm sorry to repeat that, but I had to give you an idea of how bad these comments were. They were not just about physical appearance, but there were many, many of those. Obviously, these freeper males are extremely threatened.

I left the room and tried to forget about it. But suddenly it came to me, and I called out to my husband, "How come the people on the left, even the "crazies", never abuse Laura like that?" I was serious. I have read rude comments about Laura on DU, and most of the time I try to avoid those threads. But nothing like this. And I think the answer is obvious. Democrats respect women, and Republicans don't. What do you think?

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. miracle you didn't puke

I agree completely. I think that T & E will give it back to them handily, though.

[LynneSin]

2. Because Elizabeth & Teresa are NOT Stepford Wives

They have careers of their own and are smart & intelligent women. This frightens some men out there especially those who support people like Bush. We don't want to have women who could have sucessful careers that make money. We want them to sit back and let the husband 'wear the pants' aka Laura Bush.

[West Coast Democrat]

3. Most people on the forums are 14-year old boys....

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[arcane1]

4. repuibes are obsessed with the sexuality of liberals

hence I call them repubes.

they all need a life

[R3dD0g]

5. I don't think it's about women.

I think it's the simple fact that Rs hate all that is not them. The fact that they're dissing 2 women is irrelevant, the relevant fact is that they're dissing 'not them'.

At least that's my theory.

[Liberal Veteran]

6. Freeper are...well....freepers. No sense getting upset over them.

If they want to engage in sophmoric and misogynistic behavior, it's just a reflection on them and it comes as no surprise to those us who truly think they have an abiding ugliness in the depths of their souls.

Pity them, but don't let them upset you.

ON edit: since was not the right word...sense was.

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. Republicans are obsessed with sex.

They get off on being as crude as they can against perceived enemies.

Democrats comment on the substance of the individual more than the image.

Simply put...Republicans favor image over substance and Dems respect substance over image. :)

[Pillowbiter]

15. Funny

"They get off on being as crude as they can against perceived enemies."

Someone here the other day said they finally got through to a few freeper types by being as crude as he could muster and then going further. Something along the lines of GWB was using them as toilet bowls.

Normally I would say don't sink to this level, but sometimes humility involves compromise, and right now it is very important to get through to as many people as possible.

PB

[Norquist Nemesis]

54. Sometimes the only way to talk to juvenile mentality

is by using their language. :)

[LuminousX]

8. Republicans hate.

[Generator]

9. I know this is an over-generalization

but it seems to me all the Repukes have is hate and fear.

Fear and bullying, they are all nasty frat boys, or teenage boys. Adolescent and mean. Resorting to violence as a means to solve things, resorting to the F word when challenged.

Repukes, the party of the adolescents, Democrats/Independents are the adults. Look at how juvenile * was with foreign leaders. I tell ya, it is embarrasing to be led by the lowest common denominator.

[donhakman]

13. Stepfordites

[Mike Daniels]

10. The FReepers would freak over the sun rising in the west

Anything that goes against their core beliefs or impressions of how things should work in the world instigates their anger.

It's not worth delving into their psyche any more than that.

[Forkboy]

14. Shit,if the sun rises in the west I'm freaking out too

:)

[PragMantisT]

11. Freepers are scum

They huddle around their monitors wanking to pictures of Nancy R and Babs. When they can't get pictures of Limpballs and Smudge to wank to, they're on their knees in the men's room at rest areas along I-40.

[DinahMoeHum]

12. Let's face it: 'Pukes and freepers are pigs - they like it that way.

n/t

:evilfrown:

[donhakman]

16. d

[DinahMoeHum]

21. EEeewwwwww!! That ugly thing on the right should be

burned at the stake for the practice of bitchcraft.

:evilgrin:

[Melsky]

41. Isn't this the same thing we are complaining about

the right wing saying about women?

I dispise barbara bush, but she is also a human being.

[smirkymonkey]

47. Umm...Actually, she's not.

Human beings are warm-blooded and don't have forked tongues.

[Melsky]

50. Actually she is human

While I am all for critizising people based on their actions and words, saying that someone is not human or deserves to be burned at the stake for "bitchcraft" brings us to the level of the freepers.

[smirkymonkey]

51. I was kidding...

it was a joke, kind of. I still think she's an evil bitch, though.

[Melsky]

53. glad you were kidding

I do think she's evil, esp. after that beautiful mind comment she made.

[Th1onein]

17. AOL is an example of the lowest common denominator.......BUT

I applaud your husband for posting on the AOL forums. I think that it is very important that people like us go into these dens of inquity and post the liberal point of view. Here, on DU, we are simply preaching to the choir and have very little chance of actually changing anyone's minds. It is places like the AOL forums that the battles for the hearts and minds of Americans are taking place.

[senseandsensibility]

22. Yes, he has

the patience for it. I don't. I admire him. He'll seek out one "not so bad" poster, and try to reason with him/her. He's happy when he thinks he gets through to someone, but it rarely happens. :loveya:
And, he's not a sexist! Few Democratic males are, in my experience.

[Lavender Brown]

18. It will backfire

Elizabeth and Teresa look like they could be anyone's mom. Let the Limbaugh-fan nutjobs say what they want, I think these two will end up charming a lot of people.

[senseandsensibility]

45. I think you're right!

There's a poll on AOL right now asking if people like Elizabeth Edwards, and it's something like 44% yes, 44% don't know enough about her, and the rest "no."

[TrogL]

19. We've done our fair share of Laura bashing

• called her a "Stepford wife"
  
• criticized her clothes
  
• criticized her relationship with her husband
  
• criticized her passive nature
  

[senseandsensibility]

25. Yes, I mentioned that

in my post. I'm not proud of some of things that have been said, but none of them reached the depths that I saw last night. Most of those kinds of comments about Laura include a bit of "humor" or are strictly about her clothes or her lack of independence. Not great, but nothing like what I saw about Teresa last night. There's no comparison in my opinion.

[FredScuttle]

28. Don't forget

She totally fuckin' killed her high school boyfriend.

Oops! Did I lower the discourse?

[senseandsensibility]

30. Exactly.

If we wanted to bash her, we could really bash her with FACTS, not sexit BS. But we don't. Good point.}(

[Retrograde]

33. but is it bashing

to say that the spouse of one of the most - if not the most - powerful people on the planet, who is making appearances on our dime and supposedly representing our country get a wardrobe advisor with some fashion sense?

Or to point out, when one hears claims that she is a "former librarian and teacher", how little time she actually spent as one? Or to point out her apparant lack of any accomplishments as first lady?

Commenting on things she can do nothing about - her looks, her basic personality - that's bashing. Commenting on things she does have control of - I call that holding her the high standards set by Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, Eleanor Roosevelt and all the other First Ladies who used their intellects and position for the benefit of the country.

[senseandsensibility]

34. Yes!

THOSE kinds of comments are legitimate. I don't disagree with them at all. In fact, I've posted many times about Laura's lack of response when Rod Paige called teachers "terrorists". She couldn't speak up, as a former teacher herself?

[thecrow]

36. who is making appearances on our dime

did i just hear you right???
pickles? on a dime???

[Misinformed01]

20. That's partially why I posted the

institutionalized sexism thread.

I KNEW when I saw Mrs. Edwards that the Republicans were going to be all over her. I had no idea that they were going to call Mrs. Kerry #2.

My God, it's disgusting. And..it's women.

Jesus, what a country we have become.

[senseandsensibility]

27. I know

That's a great thread you started, and I agree with you. I have female relatives who seem to think that way too, and they just close down emotionally when you try to discuss it with them . But it does make me angry. Thanks for starting that thread. Even on a liberal site like this,I don't think we discuss womens' issues enough.:thumbsup:

[Manix]

23. ...welcome to the Republican mindset....Rush's dittoheads

[seabeyond]

24. what did your husband says,.......the left, never abuse laura like that

and what was he typing. defending these women, telling them men what pigs they are
\
yes this is the outrage i have with the right, that tell me i am subordinate, that tell me family values, christianity as they and fox suck up the porn and degrading women. how their white asses keep the power.

i will say again,.........reporters in '88 what do you and father talk about when you dont talk politics

pussy

will not get that outta my head

[senseandsensibility]

26. My husband's not a freeper

He's a DU member, a Kucinich supporter( in the primaries), and more liberal than I am, which isn't easy. He has the patience to try to reason with these "individuals" on the AOL forum. I don't. Thanks for mentioning that lovely quote from *. The sexism really does come from the top, doesn't it?:puke:

[seabeyond]

44. my husband has the patience too

i do not either, lol lol. i'd be in their face

[TexasSissy]

29. It's the "Rush" effect. They're not smart enough to attack on the

facts or policies, so they attack on the obvious: appearance and personal quirks. I am guessing that they're usu. arrogant youngish guys who are mad as hell that others don't automatically believe the way they do, or do what they say (does that sound familiar?).

[guitar man]

31. This is great!

I've been noticing this for awhile. All they have is personal attacks which means when it comes to the issues, they have NOTHING!!

[Scairp]

32. AOL is the worst

And they don't really give a shite what the sickos post on their forums. You should have seen the stuff that was written about Elizabeth Smart after she was recovered safely. You'd think people would have been so happy for her family to have her back, and some of them were. But many, many more said horrible things about Elizabeth, her parents, her siblings, and anyone else they could think of. She was fifteen, and AOL cared and did nada. I complained and complained and they just let it go on and on.

[geniph]

35. I've been noticing this on a number of issues

when you try to debate actual issues with wingnuts - I'm not talking about actual conservatives, I'm talking about people who think W was anointed by GAWD himself - because they so rapidly run out of justification for their bizarro-world beliefs, they resort to the worst kind of juvenile bullying humor and ad hominem attacks. My husband ran into that with his family email list, for heaven's sake - one of his cousins started posting right-wing talking points forwarded from wherever depths of hell they originated. John countered them (cc'd to the whole list) with refutations of the myths and outright lies and reasoned argument of the disputable issues. His cousin responded with more right-wing bullshit, which John again countered, still in a reasonable and adult manner, but not tolerating any promulgation of nonsense. His cousin then started calling names and making fun. John called him on the ad hominem attacks and asked if he could actually counter anything with his own documentation. His cousin responded with actual nastiness. John's apparently been taken off the family distribution list, as he's no longer getting any email from any of them. Oh darn. Those troublesome damn liberals, trying to use FACTS and LOGIC instead of just repeating crap - we can't have that, now can we? The wingnuts have gotten so accustomed to liberals being either too timorous or too apathetic or too polite to argue that when we do stand up for our beliefs and call them on their bullshit, they get vicious.

Their tactics smell of desperation to me. They will get even uglier in the next four months. Expect them to start using threats of violence to try to intimidate anyone who doesn't go along with their agenda. Don't knuckle under.

[AgadorSparticus]

37. boy, are they threatened or what??

scared shitless. they are so desperate right now. and since it is more difficult to control (key word, here)factors outside of their sphere of existence, they are focusing inward. let that be a reminder to the little republican women: don't be gettin any idears.

they should be scared. the masses are waking up.

[union_maid]

38. That's great

They should get all over Elizabeth Edwards about her weight. It'll bite them in their own fat asses. Oprah would never have risen to the force she's become if she didn't struggle with her weight like ordinary women do. Women don't need social x-rays to make them feel even less comfortable in their own skins than they already do. The heartland is full of women who don't like to look at the scale in the morning. Teresa Heinz Kerry is a totally different kind of figure. She's certainly odd when measured against most political wives, but she seems to have her own kind of charisma and people seem to like her a lot.

[Dees]

39. Because they out class the phony classy Rethugs.

Only good republican women come from class and money. Dems are supposed to be daughters of chimney sweepers. It just drives the country clubbers insane to see Dems carry themselves with dignity and class. I'll put Dem president's (Jackie, Lady Bird, Ros and Hillary)wives up against Betty Ford, Pat Nixon, Nancy Ray-gun and Pickles any old day.

How could I have forgotten ol' Babs.

[progressivebydesign]

40. May I offer two words in rebuttal: BABS BUSH. 'nuff said. N/T

[NewYorkerfromMass]

42. Ketchup bottle? But I thought that was why Laura's nickname was

Pickles.

[devinsgram]

43. When people are scared and threatened

knowing they are going down in flames these are the kind of tactics we will hear and see. They can't come up with anything intelligent so they resort to calling names. Just like children do when they can't be the center of attention. My saying is "their pathetic."

[GreenPartyVoter]

46. I didn't realize Elizabeth Edwards was "cuddly". Cool! :^)

[sandraj]

48. I think her smile

is as sunny and genuine as her husband's. I hope Larry King interviews the two of them together soon. I am enjoying the Kerry interview tonight and very interested in what Teresa has to say. I'd love to hear Elizabeth speak too.

[sandraj]

49. Elizabeth's bio from JohnKerry.com

http://www.johnkerry.com/about/elizabeth_edwards.html

Elizabeth Anania Edwards is the daughter of a decorated Navy pilot, and was born on July 3, 1949. In her early years, she attended school in Japan, where her father was stationed with a reconnaissance squadron, flying missions over China and North Korea.

As an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Mrs. Edwards majored in English, and graduated from UNC Law School in May 1977. She married John Edwards on July 30th, the Saturday after taking the bar exam.

(much more at link)

[JHB]

52. They're being "Hilloried"

The "Southern Strategy" (which, in fairness to the South, worked nationwide) cojured up many whites' worst prejudices and fears about race, and used that as a political weapon.

They're doing the same thing with mysogyny. Attacked Ferraro in 84, Kitty Dukakis in 88, and escalated to nuclear on Hillary.

[senseandsensibility]

56. So why do

Republican women put up with it? Or in some cases, (Ann Coulter, etc.) they join in! Unbelievable!:argh:

[noonwitch]

55. Freeper men idolize a woman with an adam's apple

that sort of says it all.