why IS it ok for Maher to say hideous things about women

[RickG]

132. There is one huge difference that you are missing.

While "cunt" may be a horrible name to call someone, it is still just that, name calling. Name calling is name calling. When you call a girl a slut and prostitute in the context that Rush used, it is a personal characterization, and slanderous. He wasn't calling her these names just to be mean, he was actually saying she was a slut because she wants to have as much irresponsible sex as she can, and a prostitute because she wants to be paid for it. All, of course, which is bullshit.

Your getting to caught up with this "mysogony" argument. Yes, Maher called Palin a cunt, but not only is she a public figure, but a vile one at that. Cunt may be a horrible word to call a woman, but when someone stirs up the anger and vitriol that she does, then one might try to think of the worst thing possible that they can call her. No different than "Asshole, Bastard, MFer, or whatever curse word you can use to describe a man, on the level of lets say...Rush Limbaugh. Is there a word you can call him that would be considered "over the line"?

And on a side note, I will agree that while Bill Maher does not have near the reach that Limbaugh has, he definitely is more than just a comedian who occasionally talks politics. But there is no way shape or form that his comments about Palin can be compared to Limbaughs attack on this woman.