So Joan Walsh thinks Palin's a feminist? It's last-straw time, Joanie.

[Shakespeare]

My letter to the deluded Ms. Walsh:

Dear Joan,

I've been a dedicated Salon reader since its earliest days (I think I first found you in late 1996), and a subscriber since you first offered the premium option several years ago. I sang your praises constantly, defended you tirelessly, and persuaded more than a few of my friends to become subscribers as well.

But when you looked into the camera during your appearance on Hardball yesterday and proclaimed that Sarah Palin is a feminist, I hit my breaking point. I have been constantly frustrated by your coverage during the primaries, as you had a demonstrable bias for Hillary Clinton. I tried to be understanding about that, but your continued harangues about sexism against Hillary and grudging (bordering on nasty) coverage of Obama pushed me THISCLOSE to canceling my membership. I decided to wait it out, thinking surely you'd get back to the news magazine I knew and loved once we were into general election season.

And then you said that about Palin, and did so with a straight face. That vicious, trashy woman is as anti-feminist a politician as I've ever seen, and if she makes it into office (nevermind that she's not even qualified for it), will--quite literally--put my life, and my family's life, in danger with her anti-woman, anti-environmental policies. This is not a game. This is not about Hillary Clinton. This is deadly serious, and you crossed a line yesterday for which I cannot forgive you.

Please cancel what remains of my premium membership effective immediately, and please refund whatever prorated amount applies.

I will no longer defend you, I will no longer sing your praises, and I will certainly no longer help fund you.

I am beyond disappointed in what Salon has become.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. *high five*

[Shakespeare]

2. This was NOT an easy decision for me.

I really, really loved Salon over the years. They started going downhill when David Talbot left a couple of years ago (and put Walsh in charge), but she crossed a line.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Oh, I understand. Progressive publications need all the support they can get. But when they

cease to be progressive why keep supporting them? (Like the NPR debacle)

[roguevalley]

14. I agree. I wanted to end my subsciption during the primaries but

will now. this is toooooooo much. Joan needs a kick in the butt.

[southern_belle]

4. She's delusional

:eyes:

[woolldog]

5. wow. you don't call yourself shakespeare for nothing

That was beautifully written.

[Shakespeare]

7. Except for that one grammatical error I just spotted.

:rofl:

Oh, well. It was dashed off in a fit of pique, so that's my excuse. :7

And thanks, btw. :hi:

[zulchzulu]

6. I guess to some "feminist" means she has lady lumps...

:crazy:

[ljm2002]

8. Thanks!

I caught that segment and was outraged at what she had to say about Palin. Disgusting! She made it sound like it was the big mean ol' nasty McCain campaign that insisted on protecting this brave, feminist woman, whereas she's strong enough to defend herself.

Well if she's strong enough to do it herself then why the hell doesn't she? What, she can't stand up to her own running mate? Or is it that she really doesn't want anyone asking her questions or looking too closely into her real "story" and her real positions -- including the fact that she apparently includes her husband in state decisions. Even though he's a secessionist.

Geez Louise, with friends like that, who the hell needs enemies?

If I were a premium member, I'd cancel it too!

[calico1]

9. I think she is the one I saw yesterday on

Rachel Maddow.

She said that Palin was a "type of feminist." She did not agree with her on the issues but she agreed that she energized her base.

She also went on to say that because she is a women who is in power and seeking a high office (VP) she should not be playing the victim. The campaign is doing a terrible disservice to women by putting her out like a poor female victim. There was another woman commentator that said something to the effect that Hillary played the victim too. Walsh said in Hillary's case she was justified because it was real sexism.

Anyway that was the gist of it.

I didn't think it was support at all but that she was saying, look if she wants to be a woman in power then she can't play the stereotypical poor, helpless little lady.

[Shakespeare]

10. I got the nuance of what she was saying, I just disagree that she should have done that at all.

Because it rationalizes Palin, and there is no way to rationalize or be an apologist for her extreme anti-woman views. It was extremely disingenuous of Walsh to say that, and is very much of a piece with other outrageous things she's said over the last few months.

And as the voice of Salon, I think her statement was diametrically opposed to what they're supposed to stand for editorially, and just utterly irresponsible.

[Nedsdag]

11. Joan Walsh? Who the hell is Joan Walsh?

Seriously, she's the reason why I never became a premium member of Salon.com.

I got tired of her Hillary ass kissing. Now, she's praising Surly McLame and Caribou Barbie? Give me a break.

[Supersedeas]

12. yep, another one looking toward 2012.

[PlanetBev]

13. I hate Salon...

Their style reminds me too much of The New Republic. They think they've cornered the market on the holy truth.

[autorank]

15. Joan Walsh had a writer who consistently dened election fraud and voting rights violations

She's truly awful as a journalist and political thinker (sic) and Salon, once a beacon, is not
just something too odd and boring to even care about.