Again, the same caveat from earlier. This post is in no way intended to indicate my support or lack of support for McCain/Palin. But the misogynistic / sexist crap coming from many in the “progressive” ranks is galling. I was never much in love with the progressive label. To me it felt like they were just running from the Liberal label. Well, I’m a Liberal and proud of it. But if what these people are doing is “progressive?” I want no part of it.
The Red Queen jumps in and slaps the progs upside the head
I would hope that those of us who call our selves “pro-choice” would give Bristol Palin the benefit of the doubt about her own choice. And for the love of pete stop picking on a stressed out teenager. Those of you who continue to make her pregnancy an issue are hypocrites and assholes. Her individual choice is exactly that. Hers. Not yours to second guess or make political fodder out of.
So kindly STFU.
(And seriously- I know I am not the only one who is already sick to fucking death of having to defend a fundy godbag and her family from people who are supposed to be allies. Dear god could you people hate women any more?)
(ETA: Megan at) Jezebel sez of Bristol Palin’s pregnancy and those who would exploit it for their politcal ends:
Naturally, this has led many of the same people who spent the weekend trafficking in the rumors about Trig Palin — Sarah’s infant son with Down’s Syndrome — to crow wildly about how Bristol Palin, a fucking seventeen-year-old girl, if you’ve forgotten — is the new anti- poster child for abstinence-only education. Of course those claims are well-researched.
[...]
In the last year and a half, searches of her office’s website and the Guttmacher Institute revealed no abstinence-only initiatives by her administration. Simply put, Sarah Palin is by no means the world’s biggest promoter of abstinence-only education, as some people are claiming.
Is it possible that she supports it (or supported it)? Sure, it’s certainly a Republican initiative. But there’s no evidence that I can find that she yanked Bristol out of sex ed classes or denied her contraceptive education. To make a 17-year-old girl who didn’t likely choose either to be pregnant or to be some political football the new poster child for attacking her mother’s policy positions doesn’t leave any better a taste in my mouth this afternoon than I had this morning.
[...]
Yes, we need to have a rational conversation in this country about striking the balance between providing students with age-appropriate sex education and a rational discussion about moral values and their role in making sexual choices. I am a full and complete supporter of comprehensive sex ed — which includes information like “there is no such thing as blue balls” and “no means no” and “saying no to sex can be a sign of respect for both of you.” But clapping our hands in joyous rubbernecking over Bristol Palin’s being in the family way is not going to be the start of any discussion. It makes us look as judge-y as we accuse Them of being, it makes us look like abortion-promoters instead of choice-respecters (it does mean both choices, after all) and it makes us look like we think a 17-year-old target is easier to hit than a 44-year-old target.
Posted by Zeke on September 1, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I am starting to wonder why I come to this site. It seems very broken recordy.
I thought you were gonna help with the Derby race? There is PLENTY to talk about with that deal, although all of your new cry in the beer out of State friends will probably not care about it too much.
Posted by bluelyon on September 2, 2008 at 5:15 am
I am and will be Zeke. What are you doing here? I mean, I can’t see that you add anything to this blog. I never see you engage with others, but you do like to come here and just knock us.
And I make no apologies for pointing out hypocrisy where ever I see it. And I’m seeing a lot of it on my side of the political spectrum. I’ve said it before, I expected it from the other side. It still takes my breath away when I see it on what I thought was mine. So, when you guys decide to quit posting bullshit like this, maybe I won’t have to be so, what did you call it? Oh, yeah, “broken recordy,” because maybe I’ll have gotten the message that you have gotten ours.
Because feminism, like free speech, doesn’t just apply to women you like (or speech you agree with). It’s for everyone.
Posted by Arpit on September 2, 2008 at 10:59 am
In the last year and a half, searches of her office’s website and the Guttmacher Institute revealed no abstinence-only initiatives by her administration. Simply put, Sarah Palin is by no means the world’s biggest promoter of abstinence-only education, as some people are claiming.
The “Dems” are saying it like it’s a bad thing, and the “Repubs” are wearing it like a badge of honor. It doesn’t matter what the reality is in politics anymore, only the perception of it. What do you think? I find it appalling that from one side of the elephant’s mouth, her party is willing to use her child’s pregnancy to tout her credentials as a conservative, while out of the other side they’re slamming democrats as attacking a child. I don’t hear much at all from the Obama campaign about Bristol. I hope the MSM STFU, as well and stop giving the “right” airtime to blather on about it.
Is it possible that she supports it (or supported it)? Sure, it’s certainly a Republican initiative. But there’s no evidence that I can find that she yanked Bristol out of sex ed classes or denied her contraceptive education.
You’re probably 100% correct, but then again, we’d be a hell of a lot better democracy if everyone were as pro-active as you. Even if our individual research leads us to support different candidates.
Posted by bluelyon on September 2, 2008 at 11:08 am
Actually, I’m not the one that may be “100% correct”, it was the blogger I’m quoting, Megan at Jezebel.
I’m with the Obama campaign on this one. Everyone needs to STFU about it. But it really seems the left is in a tizzy about this. And they do themselves no favors by their behavior. I think you and I are in agreement about this.
Posted by CognitiveDissonance on September 2, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Actually, I have no doubt whatsoever that Obama is behind these attacks. It’s been his MO for months. He lets the shrill blogger boyz and Keith Obamaman types trot out the most disgusting misogyny and race-baiting. Then in a few days, he comes out all benevolent and reasonable and says its not an issue and distances himself from the attacks. This is the Axelrove way.
Posted by Mary Ellen on September 2, 2008 at 2:43 pm
You can’t talk rationally with these people. I did a post today about playing dirty politics and how it was doing more harm than good to their candidate and most of all to the Democratic party. I have already been told by two of the bloggers on my blogroll that I am no longer welcome to their blog and another one wrote a scathing comment to me and said she would never return to my blog again….all because I had the nerve to defend the children of Sarah Palin. Oh, and I was called the bully. They kick around a couple of young kids and insult an infant and “I’m” the bully. Sheesh.
The real kick in the butt, the last comment came from a woman who said she is studying theology. I guess she forgot Matthew 25:45 “Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.”
Posted by Cathylee on September 2, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Have you noticed quite how shrill the dems have become of late? Yesterday I listened to Ed Schultz literally screaming at a woman who dared to tell him it wasn’t OK to criticize Governor Palin’s hairstyle or the colors of her clothes, even while agreeing with him that the governor needed to be taken down. He lost it. He really lost it. He screamed over and over again that he wasn’t attacking her. I’m surprised my radio still works after the force of those screams.
I’ve found that those who are threatened and/or frightened get the most agitated and shrill.
Posted by bluelyon on September 2, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Sounds like Schultz is acting like Randi Rhodes who is famous for jumping down her guests’ throats.
Fortunately for my sanity, I stopped listening to “progressive” radio months ago. Ed Schultz was never one of my favorite hosts, even when I did listen, because though he liked to talk, but he never did his homework and was often surprised when callers told him about stuff that was common knowledge amongst political junkies. Now, if you’re going to set yourself up as a Progressive Talk Radio Host, you should at least have your finger on the pulse of your audience.
Progressive Talk was supposed to be the antidote to Conservative Talk. More like the other side of a very slimy coin.
The last time I listened to him was months and months ago and his hatred of Hillary was palpable.
Posted by The Guy By The Door on September 3, 2008 at 10:00 am
Dear Blue Lyon,
I am perplexed. Above you heavily quote from Jezebel. Jezebel is a part of Gawker Media, the biggest bitchfest umbrella on the web. When you quote Jezebel and then repudiate it as extreme, you set yourself up as a bit naive. That is like quoting Freeper and shockingly coming to the conclusion that it, too, is extreme.
Excuse me, I will just STFU:)
Posted by bluelyon on September 3, 2008 at 10:02 am
huh? What did I repudiate? I quoted ONE POST at Jezebel. What? I can’t do that? And you are you?
Posted by Zeke on September 3, 2008 at 11:51 am
Thanks for posting my comment, but seriously, what about Derby? Are you gonna help or cry in your beer with your Out Of State Friends? If so WRITE SOMETHING ABOUT HER.
Also, if the Media or the Blogs have done something to slight Palin for being a woman, that sucks.
I and the Obama campaign have done Neither. Don’t confuse your enemys. and DON’T LUMP ZEKE IN WITH THE DailyKos Crowd.
“When you look for something, youusually find it”. You are looking for sexism and finding it even when it doesn’t exist. Kinda sad.
And lastly, I am reading your Blog because I wanna know what you think. I read everybodys blog and comment on ALL of them. ASk Muth. He Hates me. However YOU NEVER comment on ANYBODYS blog. I guess you don’t wanna hear what the “other opinions” are.
Posted by bluelyon on September 3, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I used to comment on a lot of Nevada blogs. Never got much of a response. Since most of them have been Obama blogs for quite some time, I don’t see any reason to go over and stir up crap. I do link to a few, most commonly Desert Beacon who is a font of information and I love her research. I visit the blogs that I like, and I don’t waste time on those I don’t.
And you yelling at me to work for a candidate isn’t going to make me do it. I’m in connection with the Derby campaign and will be assisting them in Lyon County. So kiss my ass.