Here we go again... I've written about name-calling before, and have said how both sides need to cool it. But apparently only those on the right are held accountable by most of the left and the media.
I'm not going to defend Rush. I rarely listen to his show, and have often said he has to stop making fun of people personally. The one thing that can be said is -- although he misrepresented the woman's testimony to some extent -- he was commenting on behavior that she freely admitted she engaged in -- before a congressional committee.
(So those of you who think she is a private citizen who doesn't deserve to be "attacked" like politicians who "are in the public arena" and are subject to "scrutiny" -- she willingly put herself there. Isn't that why you all went after Paula Jones -- another private citizen who just came forward to present her testimony? Uh huh!)
So Rush apologized and it still isn't enough. Amazing since those who are not accepting the apology have never asked for any penitence from media on the left who have repeatedly attacked women with all kinds of name-calling.
Kirsten Poweres understands that misogyny from both sides should not be tolerated.
Democratic strategist Kirsten Powers is probably the most well-known amongst the very small minority of liberal women who do not accept this double standard. She wrote a piece calling out the likes of Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews, and most notably Bill Maher for their misogynistic antics. The detailed list of their bad behavior is sickening.
And of course, their targets were called names simply for being conservative Republicans -- or in Hillary's case, for standing in the way of Obama's beatification coronation election. Said Powers:
"If Limbaugh’s outburst is part of the 'war on women,' then what is the routine misogyny of liberal media men?
It’s time for some equal-opportunity accountability. Without it, the fight against media misogyny will continue to be perceived as a proxy war for the Democratic Party, not a fight for fair treatment of women in the public square."
Maher has laughed off the notion that he has to watch what he says -- because he doesn't have to worry about sponsors like Limbaugh. But he does have to answer to HBO.
Someone has already called for Obama's superpac to return Maher's $1 million contribution. But that would only be the President recognizing that he shouldn't accept a donation from someone so vile. I say we hold Maher accountable.
I say if enough people declare they are cancelling their HBO subscriptions over Maher's misogynistic comments (not to mention the channel's misogynistic portrayal of Sarah Palin in Game Change -- but more on that later this week) we can get Maher to stop his tirades.
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