There’s something even more offensive than pundits and comedians using their platforms to launch nasty or sexist attacks on people they disagree with politically. And that’s the selective outrage and brazen hypocrisy of this White House, which calculatedly stirred up anger about Rush Limbaugh’s Sandra Fluke comments for political gain, but seemingly has no problem when liberal comedians and talk show hosts take sexist jabs at conservative women.
Sarah Palin’s ShePAC shines a light on the White House’s indefensible double-standard:
The real issue isn’t so much that the comments in the clip are offensive, though many of them obviously are. It’s the fact that the petty political scheming of this administration reaches the highest level in the White House. How else to explain the fact that Sandra Fluke warranted a sympathy phone call from President Obama, but Bill Maher’s nasty jokes about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy are shrugged off by White House officials? For that matter, how do you explain Fluke’s call, when Obama still hasn’t managed to ring up Sen. Mark Kirk since his stroke?
The obvious conclusion is that Obama and his advisers saw a political advantage to making hay out of the Fluke controversy, and they eagerly exploited it. Only now are they starting to get burned. Obama adviser David Axelrod was pressured into canceling his appearance on Bill Maher’s show, and ShePAC is continuing to turn up the heat on Obama with its new ads.
This isn’t about taking down Maher, Ed Schultz and David Letterman, who are free to say whatever they choose to. It’s about expecting the president to spend his time leading the country rather than engaging in trivial political games and constructing phony controversies designed to help his reelection campaign.
If anyone expects Barry to do anything other than engage in trivial political games, I've got some prime real estate in Detroit I'd like to sell you. That town is booming.
Most of what Bill Maher said about Bristol Palin was said during the campaign and not during Obama's term. nAlso, the context was different – Ms. Fluke was testifying about a controversial current issue and Mr. Limbaugh's comments were seen as a bullying frontal attack. Let's remember that former GOP chair, Michael Steele had to apologize for calling Limbaugh and "entertainer." n nObama did use it as an opportunity, while Romney fluffed his response and that is the reason that you are so probably upset about this. n nOf course, Maher"s comments are in bad taste, but the circumstances are different. There are daily reprehensible attacks from all sides, it isn't up to the President to respond to each one.
When has Obama ever stopped campaigning? There is absolutely no difference between Obama's term and Obama's campaign.
Right. There is simply no comparison between Maher's insults and those of Limbaugh. After all, Fluke was making an important contribution to the public debate while Sara Palin was merely running for Vice-President — er, I mean Limbaugh is a sardonic political commentator whereas Maher is a sardonic comedian — er, I mean Fluke has short-cropped hair and Palin has shoulder-length hair — er, I mean… n n