When is Rahm Going to Apologize to MoveOn? - Jane Hamsher/FDL

[WillyT]

When is Rahm Going to Apologize to MoveOn?
By: Jane Hamsher - Wednesday February 3, 2010 2:32 pm

<snip>

I have a hard time in general with the language police, even when it’s Rahm Emanuel we’re talking about and especially if Sarah Palin is leading the charge. But I agree Rahm does owe an apology for using the expression “f&*king r%!ards” — to MoveOn.

Because that was who he was addressing.

Stroll down memory lane to the end of July, when the Blue Dogs were holding the care bill “hostage” the Energy and Commerce Committee. On Friday July 31, the committee was scheduled to vote and MoveOn announced that it would run radio ads against any Blue Dog who voted against it. Gregg Sargent ran the script.

Three Blue Dogs voted “no”: Melancon (LA), Barrow (GA) and Matheson (UT). MoveOn produced the spots, and on Tuesday morning August 4 announced their intention to begin running them the next day.

That afternoon, Rahm showed up at the Common Purpose meeting and told MoveOn what he thought of them for doing this: “fucking retarded.”

Rahm was already angry that MoveOn had pushed back on him earlier in July, telling their members to contact the President in protest after Rahm told the Wall Street Journal that he liked the idea of triggers. But after the Common Purpose meeting he knew he’d gone too far. He immediately went to Jonathan Martin at Politico and told a highly sanitized tale of what had happened. But too many people had been present at the meeting, and it was only a matter of time before the story came out.

It wasn’t the first time that the White House had upbraided liberal groups at the Common Purpose meeting for pushing back when the Blue Dogs tried to sell the party to lobbyists and let them write the health care bill. The very purpose of the weekly event is to enforce message discipline, and both CAF and USAction had been upbraided in front of their peers by administration staff for criticizing Blue Dogs in the past.

The White House has a long history of treating “liberal” groups with high handed arrogance and disrespect after they were extremely strong allies of Obama during the campaign. Rahm isn’t alone. He just says what everybody else is thinking. Rahm and others in the administration owe MoveOn — and liberals — more respect than that.

His great misfortune as far as the media is concerned was to say it in a very Rahm-esque way and get language nannied by Sarah Palin. He is meeting with disability advocates today, and after the Special Olympics indicated they did not accept his apology, he is sincerely apologizing again.

Rahm should publicly apologize to MoveOn and promise to respect their independence in the future. And if he wants to put the “R” word incident behind him, here’s an idea: he’d be the perfect spokesperson to do a PSA for R-word awareness. You know, speaking straight into the camera. With feeling. And March 3 is R-word Awareness Day.

I’ll personally pledge a hundred bucks toward putting it on the air.

<snip>

Link: http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/02/03/when-is-rahm-going-to-apologize-to-moveon/

:shrug:

[still_one]

1. What if he said "fucking stupid" would that require an appology? /nt

[Canuckistanian]

9. Then he'd have to apologize to the GOP

I think they have the trademark for stupid.

[LostInAnomie]

2. So now she's taking Palin's side?

First Norquist, now this.

[Moochy]

16. Off Topic - your sig link is broken

I tried to click and got a 404.

[LostInAnomie]

22. Fixed

[JackRiddler]

46. What a pathetic conclusion to draw.

Doubt you read a line of it.

[LostInAnomie]

51. Hamsher is pathetic.

She is leeching onto a months old story resurfacing because of Palin's faux-outrage. It's not the first time she has used a RWer to brace her assertions.

Fuck her, and fuck FDL.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. I have a hard time understanding how anyone can defend Rahm

He made a horribly stupid and hateful remark.

[laughingliberal]

40. I just keep wondering what line he would have to cross before we would see his defenders admit to

he has any culpability for anything. He's a foul mouthed arrogant little man who counts on campaign contributions and sees no problem alienating the progressive caucus in the House or the progressive voters.

[ncteechur]

4. Oh, please give us a break with all this hurt feelings shit and who needs to apologize to whom.

This is grown up politics. If folks can't take, they need to grow a thicker skin.

[laughingliberal]

6. It has more to do with insulting people who were promoting a policy Obama claimed he was for

Rahm can bite me.

[mmonk]

31. Yep. It was his war on "liberals".

Whenever you start a war, you never know how it will end. Especially when you depend on them for victory whether you have the cognitive skills to recognize it or not.

[flyarm]

14. you mean like those who called others Racists that didn't agree with Obama's policies?

you mean those of us who have been called every name under the sun if we bring up anything that we disagree with in Obama's policies?..You know the dirty nasty names we have been called, right??

Grown up politics?? Oh my ..I have been called names I didn't know were used since the 1960's..and very immaturely!

Please don't fein the hurt feeling crap when many of Obama supporters called anyone who was not supporting him in the primaries the nastiest things i have ever heard in my entire adult lifetime.

It rings Hallow.

[laughingliberal]

5. I agree. K & R

A little respect for the people who elected your boss, Rahm, would be in order.

[Forkboy]

7. Because he respects Palin more than liberals.

Or fears her more.

Either way, some sad shit.

[WillyT]

8. Wow... What You Said...

:wow:

[Me.]

18. I Second You On That

[ThomCat]

24. It is incredibly sad that you are almost certainly right.

Rahm almost surely respects Palin more than Liberals. After all, she's legit enough to make it into the big game. Liberals are marginalized and insulted and kicked to the curb by our own party as if we're mangy stray's. :(

[Forkboy]

29. It would pain me to say it if I hadn't figured this shit out in the 90's.

Rahm is just latest cancerous cell on the party, but hardly the first to feel the way he does.

[Bluebear]

10. Better still, when is Rahm going to move on? nt

[laughingliberal]

25. +1000 nt

[HipChick]

11. Faux outrage..it happened in August..people are being manipulated

[flyarm]

15. yes the people that defend Rahm are being manipulated..yes indeed! eom

[Bobbie Jo]

19. +1

[laughingliberal]

27. I was outraged when it happened & was reported he called us "fucking stupid"

I have not ceased to be outraged at his dismissal of a constituency that raised money to oppose legislators who were blocking a public option which his boss campaigned on (and I don't care if he does deny that now).

The fact that we now know his real words were, "fucking retarded," only makes it worse.

[KharmaTrain]

32. It's Scoring Points...

As one who has a handicapped sister, I've learned to grow a thick skin from people throwing the word "retarded" around. They're usually the ones with the problem. The handicapped people I work with and help support are some of the most loving and reasonable people around...far more accomodating than any blogger or politician.

This is an ongoing pissing match...I'm no fan of Emmanuel but I've seen people here call him words far more offensive and so be it. This is a clash of egos...one-upsmanship and little else. I used to enjoy FDL in its early days...especially Redhead and Empty Wheel but stopped visiting their during the primaries last year when it seemed there was not activism as much as ego going on (and FDL wasn't the only site). And how does this help anything?

Norquist must be laughing his ass off...dividing the Democrats; pushing for the same purity tests that is disintegrating the rushpublicans. Hate Emmanuel all you want...but he's not some omnipotent power and obviously has the support of this President. To me, there are far bigger fish to fry and issues to focus on than playing personality games.

[mzmolly]

12. Perhaps after some apologize to Obama

for equating him to Bush?

[JoeyT]

30. I'd be happy to apologize.

As soon as he stops fighting for extraordinary rendition, bigger military budgets, gets rid of all the old boys club in his administration, returns the nation to the rule of law by prosecuting war crimes, and decides that the 1st, 4th, 5th, or 6th amendments aren't too much bother (I'll take any of the bunch. All is probably asking too much.).

In other words, when he stops acting so much like Bush, people will stop comparing him to Bush.

[mzmolly]

33. A perfect example of my point.

Thanks. :hi:

[laughingliberal]

36. I thought the reply was a perfect example of why some people see Obama as being too much like Bush.

I don't think comparing the President's policies to the former president's policy is the same as insulting a constituency that worked to get your boss elected and a whole class of citizens with a disability in one fell swoop.

[mzmolly]

38. How ridiculous to suggest that those who compare Obama to Bush are THE people who

"worked hard" to get Obama elected. :eyes:

[laughingliberal]

39. I worked to help elect him and I am disappointed to see so many of Bush's policies continue under

the administration.

[mzmolly]

42. So did many others

who don't wrongly confuse Obama with Bush.

[laughingliberal]

44. I don't remember saying everyone who worked to help elect him felt that way

And I don't think I said I confuse him with Bush. I believe my point was that I worked to help elect him and am disappointed to see many of the policies I opposed under Bush being continued under President Obama. And, I think I am safe to say there are others besides me who worked to help elect Obama who feel as I do. Now, just to be clear, I am not suggesting that is everyone. It would also not be accurate to state that it is no one who worked to help elect him that feels this way, now.

[mzmolly]

50. I'm disappointed in anyone

I've known for any length of time, on occasion. ;) Imagine how those of us who supported Edwards in the primary feel. :puke:

[JoeyT]

47. You're welcome.

Well, you didn't really have a point. But you're welcome anyway.

[laughingliberal]

35. +1 nt

[Bobbie Jo]

43. +1

It's disturbing to say the least.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Moochy]

17. k&r for inflammatory use of the term retarded!

Oh Golly how I love rocking the airquotes!

'the Left' is retarded, and Rahm is the most awesomest guy ever!!! :sarcasm: (for the really thick)

[bridgit]

20. Mm, well I'm convinced the "k&r" belongs elsewhere...

http://rawstory.com/2010/01/fire-obamas-chief-staff-calls-liberal-strategy-fucking-retarded and the RW meme machine is running with that ball like the old Montana/Rice 2 minute blitz :(

[nightrain]

21. don't hold your breath waiting for an apology. I don't think he knows how or feels remorse.

[KoKo]

23. Jane is Correct...Why doesn't our President support his Own Party Activists?

Who in his administration is telling him to ignore us...except when Rahm calls us "Retarded" and Sarah Palin calls for Rahm's resignation for calling liberals Retards...because of her kid that she holds like a grocery bag every time we see her.

Sarah Palin calls out Rahm...but where is the MEGAPHONE of the people RAHM TRASHED calling for his Resignation? Hypocrisy Much? :shrug:

[amborin]

26. +1 Rahm disses progressives routinely

[laughingliberal]

28. He does and then certain people wonder why the progressives are not happy with the administration.

Unbelievable!

[lumberjack_jeff]

34. Fuck! Make it stop!

So the only negative value of racist, sexist, and bigoted language is when it's inappropriately used against our team?

"Don't say N....r, Rahm. This is your team you're talking about. It's the other guys who are n****rs.

Striking a blow for progressivism!

[vssmith]

37. Rahm is the R-word

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

41. A Rahmian apology?

"I'm just fucking sorry that you fucking bastards are so fucking stupid.
You fucking happy now?"


:hug: :loveya: :grouphug:

[Arkana]

45. Rahm shouldn't apologize to either one.

He should never have given Palin the time of day, and he shouldn't apologize now. I don't know why he did.

[Cali_Democrat]

48. First the Hamster was cozying up to Grover Norquist and now she's agreeing with Palin.

:eyes:

[laughingliberal]

49. Yes, Rahm should just be left alone to call progressives whatever vile terms he wishes

That'll get that vote out in November. Jane needs to quit picking on Rahm.