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Wed Feb 3
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Sarah Palin Calls For Rahm Emanuel to be Fired
You can't keep a barracuda down. Palin, perhaps dimly conscious that she had not been in any headlines recently, decided to disdain the White House chief-of-staff (and massacre the English language) in a Facebook posting last night.
Back in August Emanuel described a plan by liberal groups to run advertisements against conservative Democrats as "fucking retarded." The Wall Street Journal reported the comment last week.
As we know from her campaign interview with Katie Couric, Sarah reads everything. What with getting through Asahi Shimbun, Die Welt, Le Monde, Foreign Affairs and such, it's no surprise she didn't discover the quote until someone told her about it. She then posted this Olbermann-esque comment as part of a long, barely literate rant on her Facebook page:
I would ask the president to show decency in this process by eliminating one member of that inner circle, Mr. Rahm Emanuel, and not allow Rahm's continued indecent tactics to cloud efforts. Yes, Rahm is known for his caustic, crude references about those with whom he disagrees, but his recent tirade against participants in a strategy session was such a strong slap in many American faces that our president is doing himself a disservice by seeming to condone Rahm's recent sick and offensive tactic.
The Obama Administration's Chief of Staff scolded participants, calling them, "F—-ing retarded," according to several participants, as reported in the Wall Street Journal.
Just as we'd be appalled if any public figure of Rahm's stature ever used the "N-word" or other such inappropriate language, Rahm's slur on all God's children with cognitive and developmental disabilities - and the people who love them - is unacceptable, and it's heartbreaking.
A patriot in North Andover, Massachusetts, notified me of Rahm's "retarded" slam. I join this gentleman, who is the father of a beautiful child born with Down Syndrome, in asking why the Special Olympics, National Down Syndrome Society and other groups condemning Rahm's degrading scolding have been completely ignored by the White House. No comment from his boss, the president?
As my friend in North Andover says, "This isn't about politics; it's about decency. I am not speaking as a political figure but as a parent and as an everyday American wanting my child to grow up in a country free from mindless prejudice and discrimination, free from gratuitous insults of people who are ostensibly smart enough to know better... Have you no sense of decency, sir?"
Mr. President, you can do better, and our country deserves better.
Comments
why won't she just go away? Reply
heywhat promoted this comment
I would argue that using insensitive language is a lot less of a slur on people with cognitive and developmental disabilities and the people who love them than defunding services for kids with special needs. But then, I'm a godless liberal. Reply
Trig has "cognitive and developmental disabilities."
Sarah is "fucking retarded."
There's a big difference.
Strange that she doesn't realize it's "Down's Syndrome" given how much she publicizes her child's disability. Not a typo, she spelled it that way twice.
Or is dropping the possessive Down Syndrome parent colloquial?
Greasy Thumb Guzik 02/02/10
@mr_dude:
For at least 10 years there has been constant references to it as Down Syndrome. I don't know why, but I expect in a few years it will be known as Dow Syndrome & Rupert Murdoch will be blamed for it.
@mr_dude: actually it is Down Syndrome, not Down's Syndrome. Now please, please stop making me defend this woman. \
@emmycampbell: I think we're both wrong. Either is acceptable per wiki.
Your profile says this is your only post so it looks like you haven't done much to defend her
mr_dude 02/02/10
@Greasy Thumb Guzik: Lou Gehrig disease afflicted the Red Sox. Lou Gehrig's Disease sucks.
EhBologna 02/02/10
Indeed, Rahm should have used the politically correct term. He should have said that a plan by liberal groups to run advertisements against conservative Democrats was "fucking special." Reply
heywhat 02/02/10
Didn't Levi say that Palin called her own baby as a "retard?"
Lysergic Asset 02/02/10
How cool. I just realized that I totally don't care anymore.
mypsychoticself 02/02/10
@Lysergic Asset: That's how I feel about Rush Limbaugh.
Lysergic Asset 02/02/10
@mypsychoticself: Me too. Progress!
angryliberal0 02/02/10
This is because Sarah believes every single time the word retarded is uttered across the world, people instantly think of her. On that point alone, she would not be completely wrong.
ndhapple 02/02/10
Have you no sense of decency, sir?
Ten bucks says she can't put that quote into context.
If she could, I'm sure she would appreciate the irony in calling people "real Americans" (or loyal Americans) and "fake Americans" (or dirty commies).
NewYearBabyDaddy 02/02/10
FYI - Down Syndrome is also known as "Trisomy 21" or "Trisomy G". Or, "Tri-G" for short. That's right - TRIG.
What a noble sentiment, coming from someone who named their kid after his disability. Perhaps if she drinks during her next pregnancy she can name her next baby "Fas."
MsStabby 02/02/10
@NewYearBabyDaddy: If that is true, and not just sick coincidence, then I feel nauseous. Reply
NewYearBabyDaddy 02/02/10
@MsStabby: It must be coincidence. Trig is such a common name these days, no? Reply
IamnotStarJones 02/02/10
As a sister of a mentally handicapped (that one of the terms we use now), I wince every time the word 'retarded' is used because of the painful connotations. I also dislike the 'oh get over yourself, I didn't RETARDED retarded' because it's lazy and insensitive. Rahn used the word because 'retarded' people are usually hidden away; They aren't cute and cuddly and they don't have telethons.
However....., Sarah Palin is a buffoon. Having a mentally handicapped loved one doesn't mean you are an advocate. Palin uses her Down's Syndrome baby as a prop and a political trophy. I remember the first time I saw little Trig(?) at the Republican convention. It was late at night and that poor child was passed like a baton. It would have been cruel to do that to a 'normal' baby but to do it to a baby with special needs was outrageous. Palin is the Queen of the Ignorant and her subjects love her. I shudder at what would happen to people like my brother if she and her minions ever acquired any power.
So Rahn should watch what he says but Palin should shut the fuck up.
manchops 02/02/10
Sarah Palin can't write using an active voice can she?
Remember Sarah - it's not, "That person who shot the sheriff was me." It's "I shot the sheriff."
Subject (noun) + Action (verb) + Direct Object (receiver of the action)... It's not hard. Reply
atlasfugged 02/02/10
@ndhapple: But, the person who shot the deputy was not me.
ndhapple 02/02/10
@atlasfugged: If you're a fellow copy-editor, I'll have to find a way to double heart you.
atlasfugged 02/02/10
I'm more offended by how she uses her children to score cheap political points.
No one's fired her for that.
johnny_carsick 02/02/10
I love Rahm's dirty, offensive potty mouth. Reply
mypsychoticself promoted this comment
Streeter 02/02/10
Granted, it is still early, but the thought of another Bush even thinking of running..and now that idiot famewhore Palin running her nonsense unbridled...and all before noon? Double martini please, with olives! Stat! Reply
m4ximusprim3 02/02/10
@Streeter: If a Bush/Palin ticket doesn't chill you to the bone, you're one cold motherfucker. Reply
MrInBetween 02/02/10
Across America, thousands of unemployed editors are weeping. Reply
limber 02/02/10
If he said "they're fucking retards", I'd be more sympathetic to the slur argument. But "a retard" is a slam against a person, and "retarded" is description of slowness. Which is accurate.
I know SHE doesn't understand the difference between the two words, but dammit, I'm just not ready to hand bits of the English language over to Sarah fuckin' Palin when she's already surrounded by the dismembered corpses of other perfectly good words.
powermouse 02/02/10
@limber: There is a brilliant article about Huey Lewis and the retarded, which attempts to take back the "r-word" for the developmentally disabled. [www.sfweekly.com]
limber 02/02/10
@powermouse: That's a great article. Heh. Huey Lewis, who knew?
EatMyKant 02/02/10
@limber: Yes, thank you for this. It's like when the British Association for Adoption called opponents of same-sex adoption "retarded homophobes". Clearly, they meant that these people are socially retrogressive, not that they are actually mentally disabled. If they had called them 'homophobic retards', that'd be a different story.
tongue-tied 02/02/10
@limber: Like mighty Ajax she stands amidst the dead and vanquished foes.
robotwaste 02/02/10
Retarded might not be the proper term to describe any person who throws their young children into the media spotlight for political and monetary gain.
Money-grubbing whore seems sufficient.
Like watching a car accident I guess?
