Those are days like today that drive me away from DU.

[Mass]

These threads about Sara Palin, full of sexism and elitism.

Actually, I agree with Palin in her condemnation of Emmanuel using the word "retarded". Sure, she is stupid if she thinks that this is a reason to fire Emmanuel, but sadly, the compassion for "intellectually disabled people" is not something that many people here understand. I wonder what they would have said if he had said "fag" or "N---" instead.

[ray of light]

1. I only come here or lurk here now. Maybe I'll read the main post up top

but never the comments in regular threads!

As far as Palin--it's probably the one time she is sincere!

[karynnj]

2. The fact is that the same people jumping on her propably were

the first to criticize her more justifiable use of it referring to her baby as retarded - which would have just been accurate not too many years ago.

I do think that it is silly to call for him be fired over it used in the context he does. He does need to watch his mouth.

[ray of light]

3. It is silly to demand he be fired. Demand an apology. That's it.

[karynnj]

4. Exactly - and I would hope that he offers one before it is demanded

He was wrong. I know there was no intention to hurt mentally challenged people and understand that that was not what he was speaking of - but it was his language. One thing that is irritating is I doubt this was intended to be a public statement and was likely not said in a public forum. There is something to say with the media filtering these things. (I know that sounds bad, but the quote added little to the story.)

[sandnsea]

5. In a session with lefty bloggers

he said it was fucking retarded to primary conservative Dems. I got the impression it was a casual conversation, although not completely off the record. It's not like he said it in an open forum like Duncan stepped in it the other day. He should apologize, but really, retarded and crazy aren't on everybody's list of incindiary words so it's a little more forgivable.

[Luftmensch067]

6. OMG, this is what it's about?!

I hadn't managed to find out before this. I agree that people should be sensitive, but "retarded", especially when preceded by "fucking" is actually a completely different definition in the usage of our language, as far as I'm concerned. Do the people yelling think "fucking" in that context meant "intercourse"? God almighty, will the trumped-up outrage and distraction never end?

p.s. I don't think I much like Mr. Emanuel's style, but I'm sure he's said things that are ACTUALLY insulting that people could yell about...

Edited to add that I still don't know anything else about the remarks or context, so if there is more to it, I may reconsider. But if that's all people are upset about, I absolutely stand by my fake retching gesture. :-)

[sandnsea]

7. As far as I know

I haven't heard it's about anything else. Like you, if I hear different context, my opinion can be revised.

[BlueIris]

8. Yep. I just reminded the Admins and mods that if they want this site

to be truly progressive, they're going to have to revisit the kinds of terminology they allow here--especially those terms which validate misogyny and the degredation of the mentally, physically and developmentally challenged.