David Axelrod Implies That Miss California Carrie Prejean is a Dog

In an appearance on NPR's "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," Senior White House adviser David Axelrod put his foot so deep in his mouth that he needs a laxative to dislodge it. In a moment of banter about naming President Obama's dog, Axelrod let loose an ill-advised ad-lib:



Although the audience (disappointingly) ate it up, I have a problem with this on several levels.

First, and least, Axelrod's joke doesn't make any sense. Love her or hate her, Carrie Prejean is, objectively, not a dog.

More important, and obvious, is the fact that a member of the White House staff (or anyone else) should not be attacking women on the basis of their looks, let alone applying a dehumanizing label, like "dog."

This is the latest in a series of vile attacks on gay marriage opponent Carrie Prejean. As I've mentioned before, these attacks are not only just wrong, they undermine legitimate opposition to Prejean's position.

Hot Air's Allahpundit summed it up nicely when talking about another such attack, this one by Keith Olbermann:



Allahpundit neatly identifies the knee-jerk reaction at play here:

What this segment really is, although Somerby doesn't say so, is Olby's version of a Two Minutes Hate. The underlying policy issue is almost entirely omitted, despite the opportunity it offers to explore Obama's position on gay rights. The point, rather, is simply to hold Prejean up to ridicule for her breast implants, her religious belief, and her misunderstanding of freedom of speech - about which he's correct on the letter of the law (as I said myself) but not the spirit.

He revisits the Orwell theme with regard to Axelrod and NPR's audience, and I'm afraid I have to agree. This whole thing nauseates me, particularly because there is such easy ground to be gained here by simply shutting up. Carrie Prejean is not a judge, a legislator, or even an activist. But now, she's a martyr for anti-gay people everywhere.

It's also tough to dismiss the nasty misogynist streak that runs through all of this. While many men, myself included, consider themselves feminists, they seem to give themselves a pass when it comes to women on the other side.

I think, in Axelrod's case, it was less misogyny and more of a brain spasm where he tried to quickly think of a topical victim for his joke. I'm certain an apology will be forthcoming, and I hope it's a good one.

Tommy on: Daily Dose:

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• Fox News' Question Hog Major Garrett Cops Major Attitude
• Ron Paul's Son Pays Tribute to Me
• Obama's attempt to block photo release: Good idea, bad idea?