Earlier today, I heard WAMU's normally sensible Kojo Nnamdi (pictured here with a fan I gave birth to) laughing about David Letterman's Sarah Palin joke. Nnamdi suggested that the joke was fair commentary, given that Palin makes at least "part of her income'' from pushing abstinence. (She does? News to me.) He also said she should expect to be the butt of such jokes because her teen-age daughter had gotten pregnant and then decided not to marry. Only, that was last year's brouhaha; the issue here is whether it was OK to refer to any presidential hopeful (or any school board candidate, for that matter) as looking like a "slutty flight attendant,'' or to tell a joke about a professional athlete "knocking up'' a teen-ager. Nnamdi said he found Letterman's belated apology "strange'' – and guessed he had probably been forced to offer it.
Here's what I find strange: Why anyone would find it strange. Also why this incident is seen through such a partisan lens.
Are conservative women really more likely to be roughed up in the media, as Matt Lewis argued last week? I don't think so, because for every Carrie Prejean, the Miss USA runner-up mocked for her answer opposing gay marriage, there is a Teresa Heinz Kerry, mocked for speaking five languages. (Too ditzy and retro for prime time, or a show-off smarty pants? If it's got to be one or the other, you'd almost think the real issue was gender. Nah, couldn't be...)
For every outrage like the Playboy.com article hating on conservative women, there's an out-of-bounds slam on a liberal woman, like the RNC's charmless web commercial comparing Nancy Pelosi to Bond villainess Pussy Galore.
My point is not that one or the other side has it any better or worse, but on the contrary that women across the spectrum are treated in ways that ought to be unacceptable, period. Is it so hard to agree that we can always differ with a woman's politics, but ought to lay off gross remarks about her looks, sexuality and children, no matter who she is?
Melinda Henneberger is the editor-in-chief of PoliticsDaily.com. She spent 10 years as a reporter for the New York Times, in the paper’s Washington and Rome bureaus... more
I agree that women on both sides of the political spectrum are treated unfairly. It is nothing wrong with attacking their political stances; however, deciding that nothing is off limits about Bristow Palin because she has a child and is not married or that calling Governor Palin slutty is plainly misogynistic. For God's sake, Bristow is eighteen and does not deserve to be treated that way. To call Speaker Pelosi off-the-cuff names that are not related to her politics is down-right offensive. Obviously, the agenda is to keep women out of mainstream politics or could it be even more sinister?
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marielinton
9:49PM Jun 17th 2009
I couldn't agree more. Why do we have to engage in any personal, derogatory remarks at all. Discuss and criticize with substance, restraint and truth based examples please.
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Chris Williams
3:45PM Jun 19th 2009
I think the reason people attacked Palin's family situation was mainly due to the judgmental stance of Republicans on "traditional" families. Right-wingers often critize ethnic minorities of dating irresponsible boys whom they have children with out-of-wedlock. People attack Pelosi because depite her professed liberalism, she has a poor track record of getting anything liberal done. She also made a foolish statement about the CIA (which were true but not to be said to the camera).
I think it is fair to attack their policies and I have disputes with both Palin and Pelosi (more so Palin) but I think it is tastless and childish to make personally offensive remarks about either person or their children but unfortunately both sides are guilty.
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joydbrower
9:59PM Jun 17th 2009
But Pelosi demanded a jumbo jet to fly her & her entourage across the country every week, and so big that it wouldn't have to stop to refuel! How's that for chutzpah? And her lies of omisison about what she knew about "enhanced interrogation techniques" put her in a class with other politicians who lie routinely.
Palin's been attacked by the GOP party members in Alaska for blowing the whistle on their corruption, and they have never let up on a variety of baseless lawsuits - all of which (14 to date) she has won.
Palin and Pelosi may be of the female gender - but that's absolutely all they have in common!!! (But I guess that's your point, isn't it?)
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whereisvic
12:10AM Jun 18th 2009
Joy, you have been misinformed...Nancy Pelosi did not make a request for the larger aircraft the Senate travel office made a change for economical and convenience reasons. Palin did not "win" the investigation of her on troopergate...she was found to have used her office improperly in an effort to have her ex-brother-in-law fired...the only reason she was not found to be criminally liable was because the guy was not fired. Please do a little research and stop listening to Rush...factcheck.org is a good place to start...they are not partisan.
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Captain Negative
10:32PM Jun 17th 2009
So women in public life are supposed to be off limits from humorous references *because* they are women?
Don't make me feel sorry for that idiot, Boehner, being subject to jokes about his spray on sun tan. I guess if he was a woman, it would be wrong to joke about it.
No more jokes about Al Gore's weight! Apparently, if he was a woman it would be improper to joke about his, "eating disorder."
Hell, no more jokes about Rush Limbaugh being a big FAT idiot! If he were a woman it would be incorrect to joke about his appearance.
No more jokes about Rush's Viagra... If he was a woman it would be insensitive to joke about sexual dysfunction.
Get real, girls.
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whereisvic
12:05AM Jun 18th 2009
You are so right Cpt...All of this is ridiculous especially since the ones making the most noise are the ones most guilty of making hateful, ugly, and racist remarks about our first lady.
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klherrick
8:18PM Jun 23rd 2009
WOW... calling some one fat and calling them a slutty flight attendant are 2 totally different things..... most people with common sense ( though common sense is not always common) realize that saying that, or saying something about a 14 yr old girl getting " knocked up" is not the same as saying they are getting fat... grow up
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pmd717
11:14PM Jun 17th 2009
Yes the only woman you should be able to trash in politics is Nancy Pelosi, she deserves it, all she's done. Vote the bitch out!
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kathy
11:44PM Jun 17th 2009
You are right, okay, I apologize.................as much as I dont like Pelosi......I'll apologize.
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mayabelle1107
11:58PM Jun 17th 2009
If anyone has ever thought of a life, maybe liberty and, maybe even luckily, the eventual PURSUIT of happiness....Well than you are lucky little monkeys. Because if you act now you can get a GUARANTEED life of happiness. All you have to do is sign up here all of your wildest dreams will come true.... All we need to get started is your entire life history in detail and 65% OF YOUR INCOME!!!! That's all it takes to get you started into our great new program, listen to one our founders... "Norman Mattoon Thomas (Nov. 20, 1884 - Dec. 19, 1968) was a leading socialist, pacifist, and six time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America. In a 1944 speech explaining why he need not run for president anymore, he said this..."The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened."....He went on to say: "I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform." If that doesn't sell ya' I don't know what will!!! Come on down now our policies are INSANE!!!!!!
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Crystal
12:09AM Jun 18th 2009
I'll stop calling Pelosi a 'bitch' when she stops being one.
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park457799
12:13AM Jun 18th 2009
What happened to Kojo Nnamdi's common sense? I am really sick of stupid people!
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dufland
12:27AM Jun 18th 2009
Women need to get over it...so does everyone else, name calling should only bother someone up to ....7th, 8th grade tops! Another thing, Pelosi's a woman???!??!!??!
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libsrscary
1:17AM Jun 18th 2009
It's not that he made a joke about Palin, that's nothing new. It's that he made a sexual joke about her daughter. You don't mess with the kids period!
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Crystal
12:34AM Jun 18th 2009
I want to know WHY nobody at PD has done a piece on the firing of Inspector General Walpin? The excuses BarackA made as to why he fired Walpin without the 30 day notice requirement and that he (Walpin) was confused and disoriented at ONE meeting were ridiculous Has Barry taken a look at the freaking old fools that call themselves "Senators?" When Beck gave Walpin a test today, Walpin came across more like he has all his faculties than Baracka.
Walpin was fired because he was investigating a friend of Barry's, Mayor Johnson, who was dipping into AmeriCorp's finances.
When you first came on the scene and introduced yourself, we were promised the most unbiased, up to date news and instead, what we're getting is left leaning BS, talk about women being trashed, sex and senators and Baracka attacks Fox.
You gave Tommy Christopher more time and attention than you're giving the Walpin firing. PD is one big joke.
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whereisvic
12:58AM Jun 18th 2009
A deal was worked out by the US Atty and Johnson/St. Hope...A deal which would allow Sacramento to receive federal funds and Walpin would not leave it alone. He did his job, an investigation was made and Walpin wasn't happy about the outcome...He wanted Sacramento left out of federal funding and simulus money and felt Johnson should have been criminally charged...the US Atty disagreed...The case was resolved and Walpin would not let it go...that's why he got fired...he was given the option to quit and when he didn't they appropriately went to Congress...What's the problem?
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DD8V92
12:50AM Jun 18th 2009
Let's cut the sexist crap and deal with reality. When it comes to the Speaker of the House, it is not a "women" thing, it's a "Moron" thing. If a male was in the Speakers chair givin the same circumstances as Pelosi, they would get the same treatment. An Idiot is an Idiot and a liar is a liar, no matter what the gender. Typical Leftist diversion tactic.
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DON
8:32AM Jun 18th 2009
YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD MORON YES
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DD8V92
12:53AM Jun 18th 2009
Amen sista!! If it walks like a Lefty, and Lies like a Lefty, guess what..... well you know the answer.