The Wall Street Journal states that Emmanuel went to a "weekly strategy session featuring liberal groups and White House aides." Someone or some people there said they wanted to air ads attacking conservative Democrats over healthcare, to which apparently Emanuel responded "F—ing retarded". He said he didn't want them to alienate lawmakers that might be needed for healthcare and later.
So the context of the comment is pretty narrow. This particular group of people were going to do a thing that Emanuel thought was so stupid he resorted to a pejorative that others found insulting. But just like Cheney only told Pat Leahy to "F himself", he didn't say it about all Democratic Senators, so too Emanuel was talking about a specific group of liberals, not all of them.
On the other hand, I was hoping this administration would be better than that. Being no worse than Cheney is not much of a standard.
Retarded is a perfectly good word whose meaning is not restricted to someone who is handicapped. It means, according to Webster, one who is "slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress." For example, town hall shriekers and many teabaggers.
A liberal blog reports on Rahm's unfortunate remark, casually using a term that applies to a disability as a euphemism for stupidity, and Rahm apologizes.
And the conservatives come out of the woodwork and make snide comments implying hypocrisy on the part of Democrats. Meanwhile, it is the Republicans who want to slash government spending across the board (see next post), including assistance to people with disabilities. Of course, conservatives/Republicans will want to keep defense (military-industrial complex welfare) spending in place, and subsidies to oil companies. After all, that spending supports jobs and stimulates the economy in the really crucial executive pay grade sector. Can't have enough pottery barns.
At least when Democrats spread taxpayer money around, it is (almost always, no ones perfect) to people who actually need it.
@Ed & FightingAmish: Speaking of hypocrisy, while Sarah Palin has called for Rahm's termination, no peep from her on Rush Limbaugh's multiple use of the word "retard."
The Wall Street Journal states that Emmanuel went to a "weekly strategy session featuring liberal groups and White House aides." Someone or some people there said they wanted to air ads attacking conservative Democrats over healthcare, to which apparently Emanuel responded "F—ing retarded". He said he didn't want them to alienate lawmakers that might be needed for healthcare and later.
ReplyDeleteSo the context of the comment is pretty narrow. This particular group of people were going to do a thing that Emanuel thought was so stupid he resorted to a pejorative that others found insulting. But just like Cheney only told Pat Leahy to "F himself", he didn't say it about all Democratic Senators, so too Emanuel was talking about a specific group of liberals, not all of them.
On the other hand, I was hoping this administration would be better than that. Being no worse than Cheney is not much of a standard.
No one can take a joke any more.
ReplyDeleteAnsoses!
Retarded is a perfectly good word whose meaning is not restricted to someone who is handicapped. It means, according to Webster, one who is "slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress." For example, town hall shriekers and many teabaggers.
ReplyDeleteAs long as it's a Dem and he apologized to someone/anyone....it's ok.
ReplyDeleteGreat follow-up to this story:
ReplyDeletehttp://wonkette.com/tag/pt-are-you-serious-are-you-serious/
See, this is the problem in this country.
ReplyDeleteA liberal blog reports on Rahm's unfortunate remark, casually using a term that applies to a disability as a euphemism for stupidity, and Rahm apologizes.
And the conservatives come out of the woodwork and make snide comments implying hypocrisy on the part of Democrats. Meanwhile, it is the Republicans who want to slash government spending across the board (see next post), including assistance to people with disabilities. Of course, conservatives/Republicans will want to keep defense (military-industrial complex welfare) spending in place, and subsidies to oil companies. After all, that spending supports jobs and stimulates the economy in the really crucial executive pay grade sector. Can't have enough pottery barns.
At least when Democrats spread taxpayer money around, it is (almost always, no ones perfect) to people who actually need it.
@Bram: LOL
ReplyDelete@Ed & FightingAmish: Speaking of hypocrisy, while Sarah Palin has called for Rahm's termination, no peep from her on Rush Limbaugh's multiple use of the word "retard."