If Randi Rhodes were suspended for using the same abusive language

[Redbear]

about Michele Obama and Samantha Power would we see the same arguments as now with just the names reversed? Would the Clinton people be screaming about McCarthyism and would the Obama people be defending AAR for the suspension?

[Bright Eyes]

1. I'm conflicted.

I'd like to believe that people care about principals, but I'm not quite sure it's the truth....

[billbuckhead]

3. Principals went out the door in this election from the beginning

Remember how Joe Biden was blasted as politically incorrect about race for saying Hillary's opponent was articulate?

[jobycom]

4. People care about principles, but their devotion to their candidate

twists their vision a little. We all know that we are all inconsistent at times. When Matthews attacked Clinton, everyone wanted him fired. When Ann Coulter says the same things Randi Rhodes said, we all scream for her to be fired. But when someone we like says it about someone we don't (or some don't--I do), we here words we want to hear, and we don't think about the other side.

I like Randi, but I haven't been able to listen to her in a while. She's drunk the Kool Aid on Clinton, and that fiery rhetoric I loved to hear aimed at my enemies got turned against one of the good guys. She went too far--even those who don't like Clinton should be able to see that splitting the party that way goes against what Air America is trying to accomplish. She had to be slapped on the wrist. She's too popular to be fired, or if she is, she'll find a show somewhere.

Just my thoughts. Probably wrong, as always.

[Razorblade01]

8. Right On The Mark! Joby You are Correct!

It's been an exceedingly hard year for me. First we lose Bernie Ward to his misjudgement in his personal life. Now Randi. I am sick to death hearing Randi and Ray Taliaferro and Stephanie Miller slam the Clinton's on a daily basis because they want Obama to win. I know Hillary has done some low things but to hear these hosts who have been my idols for the past 7 years is just too much to bear! The only sensible hosts lately have been Thom Hartmann and Guy James. If the Democrats don't straighten up their act and soon, McCain will win in November and i just can't stomach the thought.
It's time to wake up folks! before it's too late.

[Tunkamerica]

9. you spelled principles right! great job! n/t

[jobycom]

10. LOL! I started to pick on the first post, but it would be too much like

the snow calling the sand white. I get my share of those mistakes, too! :)

[davidinalameda]

2. are Michele Obama and Samantha Power candidates

didn't think so

[jobycom]

5. Michelle is. She's part of a package, just like Bill.

And she's hardly stayed out of the fisticuffs.

[davidinalameda]

7. unlike the clintons

the Obamas are not a two for one deal

[jobycom]

12. So Michelle is going to leave Barack if he wins, or is she just going to be

a good little girl and stay out of her lord and master's way?

If she's not part of a two-for-one, then I have no respect for her.

[sandnsea]

6. Hardly anybody cares about principles

That has become abundantly clear to me through this primary.

[Beacool]

11. Of course!!!

Anything disgusting said about Hillary Clinton is OK in the cesspool that this board has become. If the same nasty words had been used against Michelle Obama all hell would have broken loose!!!

HYPOCRITES!!!!!!!!!

:puke:

[Shae]

21. so are you saying,

Beacool,that if something disgusting had been said about Michelle O. and Samantha P.,Obama supporters would be tearing up AAR, but Clinton supporters would NOT be yelling, "McCarthyism," or "censorship," because Clinton suporters are the ones with the principles and ohmygod Obama supporters are such HYPOCRITES!!!!!!!!!! ?

Whatever.

[Beacool]

25. Please, don't twist my words.

You know exactly what I meant. Rhodes went over the line, and I would say the same thing regardless of who the target was of her expletive ridden diatribe.

[Shae]

27. No, I didn't know what you meant.

I only know what you said. What it looked like to me, was that you took the hypothetical case suggested by the OP as a vehicle to slam Obama and his supporters.

You expressed what you thought Obama supporters would do in the hypothetical situation but you didn't say anything about what you or other Clinton supporters would do.
So, when you said "HYPOCRITES!!!!!!!!!!," were you talking about Obama suporters only? or did you mean that to include Clinton supporters as well?

[Razorblade01]

13. I just got kicked off Randi Rhodes Message Board..

For telling the truth! It's their stupidity that will cost us the election. Randi has gone off the deep end.

[tekisui]

14. It's the pattern of head-hunting that bothers me.

Bill Clinton said himself, you shouldn't get in the game if you can't take getting clipped.

[KittyWampus]

15. you are another DU'er who misses the point. Michele & S.Powers aren't corporate whores.

Hillary is. So if the same epithet was used towards either Michele or Powers, I'd object to the inaccuracy of the label, not the term used.

[joshcryer]

17. Obama's policies are far far more corporate centric.

He hates hates hates subsidies and mandates, two things that fuck corporations over to death.

He's running on a centrist platform. Hillary is progressive. That's why she's hated so.

[LostinVA]

16. No -- I would say it if she said it about Coulter and Malkin

Although I would be gritting my teeth while saying it, because I loathe them so.

[Redbear]

18. You have definitely shown your propensity to stand for principle

but yeah it would be hard to stand for decency for those two since they are so indecent themselves.

[LostinVA]

19. Thank you for the compliment!

Yes, I would have to shower for an hour after defending those two creeps, but I would feel morally obligated to do so. Ick. It's very similarly to my being 100% anti-death penalty: sometimes it's very hard to stand by my belief!

Happy Friday, btw!

[madmom]

20. I would like to think I would object to any female being called a fucking whore!

[Enrique]

22. I would support her suspension in that case

[Buzz Clik]

23. Meh. Rhodes took a chance by expressing her views the way she did. She paid a price.

[Shae]

24. Randi Rhodes was way over the top.

I am an Obama supporter, but I think Rhodes' comments were disturbing.
Air America was right to suspend her when she called one of the Democratic candidates (and the wife of a former Democratic President) a "fucking whore."

I didn't vote in the poll because I think some people would react the same way if the tables were turned, and some wouldn't. I disagree with the people posting in this thread who seem to think no one at DU has any principles left. (It may only seem that way sometimes in GD:P) However, we all come here with our own set of biases, and it IS easier for your mind to gloss over unkind remarks made about the opponent, and not so easy when it comes to the candidate you support.

[Razorblade01]

30. The bickering In Our Party HAS To STOP!!

Randi Rhodes,Ray Taliaferro,Stephanie Mikller and Mike Malloy have all been fueling the flames the last few months..it's goign over the top the past few days. Our party WILL be done for if we don't stop slamming each other and start slamming the Republican McCain. He will win by default. Do You all want that? I don't!

[Shae]

31. Exactly so.

Clinton supporters and Obama supporters have divided into camps, and a fierce battle rages.
Lifelong Democrats --yellow dog Democrats -- say I won't vote for Clinton/Obama if (s)he is the nominee.
"I'll stay home or vote for Nader or vote for McCain.

Hillary Clinton isn't the enemy. Barack Obama isn't the enemy.
George W. Bush and John McCain -- they are the enemy.

everyone seems to forget this.

[mmonk]

26. No, not me.

If it was an off air event, I would not be calling for her to be fired. It would not cross my mind. Also, she would need to be calling Obama and Power or maybe Richardson that to make your statement or question more congruent.

[lumberjack_jeff]

28. We need more specifics.

What could Randi have said about Obama, and (a better example would be Rev Wright), that would be analagous to what she said about Clinton and Ferraro?

I can think of only one plausible analagous rant. Firing would be considered inadequate by the Obama faithful as a response to that rant.

[Bonobo]

29. Spouses should be off limits. Calling Michelle Obama a whore would be a different thing.

She is not in the race. She is not an elected official.

By calling a politician a "whore", you are saying they trade their votes for money or favors. That is what it means.

If you called Michelle Obama a "whore" it would be a far dirtier thing since it has no meaning in the political context.

[Ronnie]

32. Ah Geeez!

[Bonobo]

33. Lotsa pictures, little words. What's the point of a response like that? Empty.

[WilyWondr]

34. "abusive language"

I disagree with your premise that calling them "whores" was abusive language.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/whore
whore (hôr, hr)
n.
1. A prostitute.
2. A person considered sexually promiscuous.
3. A person considered as having compromised principles for personal gain.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whore
Main Entry: whore
Pronunciation: \ˈhȯr, ˈhu̇r\
Function: noun
Date: before 12th century
1: a woman who engages in sexual acts for money : prostitute; also : a promiscuous or immoral woman
2: a male who engages in sexual acts for money
3: a venal or unscrupulous person



It is a noun and it is the perfect noun for HRC and Ferraro.