Compare media's "concern" about "Special Olympics" comment to their snarky dismissal of insensitive

[Empowerer]

comments about minorities.

For example, Andrea Mitchell's interview Tim Shriver was done with so much sympathy, concern and empathy for how those who may have been offended by President Obama's offhand comment feel. This has been a consistent tone throughout the day. There is nothing wrong with this - in fact, this is the way such things should be treated.

But compare this sensitive treatment to the obnoxious, dismissive and often outright hostile reaction and coverage of incidents and comments that offend minorities. I have never seen the media respond to such things the way Mitchell did today. Instead, we are bombarded, not with "can you better help us all understand the pain and embarrassment such comments cause?" but with "There they go again whining and complaining and accusing people of being racist!" and "Isn't this just another example of them playing the race card?" and "Everytime someone says something the least bit politically incorrect, they get jumped on as if they are a criminal. THAT'S why we still have a problem with race in this country!"

Very interesting.

[Bullet1987]

1. I agree

[FrenchieCat]

2. Sick funky media will be the death of us all.....

[FLyellowdog]

3. This too shall pass...n/t

[realitythink]

4. Don't forget the anti gay language

Homophobic comments fly fast and furious all over the place and rarely is anyone called out for it.

[Empowerer]

6. True

[cwcwmack]

5. sheeesh...

everyone needs to get a fucking sense of humor. If he bowls a 129, he bowls like a retard. Sorry... but I'm not actually.

Let's admit... those SO athletes don't exactly look so slick and graceful out there...

The joke was appropriate.

Oh and btw, I love retards. I have no bias...

[treestar]

7. It is where to draw the line, though

And to recognize that the line is blurred.

People with varying degrees of toughness and so on. You grow up being told not to cry or takes things so hard, then say something that someone else is allowed to cry about, and you're the big, bad bully.

Then there is the issue of whether offense was intended, or to what degree.

Obama referenced the special Olympics in a general way and was self deprecating, putting himself on their level even. That's different from gasbag Limpbaugh making fun of people with Parkinson's. Or if the same in kind, different in degree.

[Fire1]

8. Hey, Empowerer!! Long time no see!! How've you been??

:hi:

[Number23]

9. Good post

There is a great thread in GD about political correctness and it really does highlight alot of the points you've raised.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5286388

And I completely agree with you that the sympathy and compassion shown re: the Special Olympics comment is the way that ALL things should be treated.

[EffieBlack]

10. You are SO right!

[AllentownJake]

11. The media will do a nice interview for Special Olympics

but if a state cuts funding and it causes a deteriation for programs that support Special Olympians outside of the Special Olympics...they always seem to be the first on the scene to talk about how the disabled are being mistreated

:sarcasm:

The media are corporate whores. Special Olympics just happens to be one of those feel good volunteer projects that the corporations can place in their portfolio when they do something horrible and they need to say what great corporate citizens they are.