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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRush apologizer saying that Ed Shultz and Bill Maher do the same things that Rush does
http://www.wpr.org/kathleendunn/What he's ignoring is that Ed and Bill are on subscription services, and not the public airwaves.
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Response to shcrane71 (Original post)
devilgrrl This message was self-deleted by its author.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"What he's ignoring is that Ed and Bill are on subscription services, and not on public airwaves."
...not the only difference. Thus far, only Limbaugh has done this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002382940
Since no one bought Limbaugh's bogus "apology," the false equivalencies are going to be used to try to cover his ass.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002379474
When they can produce someone who launches a vile three-day assault on a private citizen, then people will mobilize to remove that person from the air. Currently, that person is Limbaugh, baggage and all.
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)I'm always perplexed at the argument "Well your side does it too." Are you saying that everybody does it so it's ok? Or are you saying nobody should do it? or what?
But I also don't understand the distinction of being on the public airwaves, except as a strictly strategic one. If Ed Shultz and Bill Maher are considered liberals (not sure about that) and if they both do pretty much what Rush did (haven't seen the evidence) surely the argument is that we liberals tolerate Liberal misogeny while condemning conservative misogeny.
That distinction seems to be that we, the people, have the right to through Rush off of our airwaves, but we don't have the ability to go after Shultz and Mahar.
Bryant
shcrane71
(1,721 posts)He's saying that the issue is that "a 30 year old law student needs $3000 dollars a year to pay for birth control".
aaaaaa5a
(4,667 posts)Rush DOES speak for the GOP.
Nobody in the Democratic party has ever elevated KO, BM or ES to that of a party leader. The GOP HAS elevated Rush. I don't understand why so many people can't see the difference.
shcrane71
(1,721 posts)RZM
(8,556 posts)If anything, it's his audience and the base that have done that, with help from Democrats and the media. And from the base's perspective, he's at best the de facto leader due to the the lack of credible, strong, and respected conservative voices within politics, along with Congress' abysmal approval ratings. I mean, seriously. Do people like Cantor, Romney, McConnell, and Boehner really cut it? I think not. De Mint and Rubio may emerge with more power as time passes, though they seem to be more interested in Tea Party cred, rather than establishment cred.
If anything the GOP establishment probably resents Rush. He's not accountable to donors or the voters like they are. He basically gets to say what he wants. Often what he says damages the Republican brand and it's the politicians that are held accountable and have to clean up the mess.
You might remember a couple CPACs ago when the media was framing Rush as the the leader of the Republican party. Around the same time James Carville went on Bill Maher's show and Bill alleged that Carville had been behind that. He didn't deny it. It's the Democratic elite who want Rush to be the voice of the Republican party, not the Republican elite.
shcrane71
(1,721 posts)They're trying to move away from that, I was told when I called in. All the callers have been men.
mac56
(17,574 posts)Willfully ignoring the profound differences.
shcrane71
(1,721 posts)The lines are getting more and more blurry, but the FCC upholds certain decency rules for airwaves that anyone can access without paying a fee. That is why the showing of Janet Jackson's breast or having MIA flip-off the audience at the Super Bowl were such big deals. That's why the FCC fines people for indecent behavior on public airwaves.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)Bill Maher and Ed Schultz said things on single occasions people that were offensive.
I didn't see the Bill Maher case, but in the Ed Schultz case, he called Laura Ingraham a slut, quickly apologized, and ate a weeks suspension for it.
Rush Limbaugh not only called a slut and a "feminazi", but did so repeatedly over three days, doubling down on his insults when the complaints first started coming in.
Rush also has a loooooooong history of this sort of misogyny, as well as homophobia and racial bigotry.
shcrane71
(1,721 posts)why all the fuss about Rush's "one comment". More crap on our public airwaves, but now it's on Wisconsin Public Radio.
shcrane71
(1,721 posts)Target. I guess he doesn't know that Target allows its pharmacists to refuse to fulfill any prescriptions that they are morally opposed to. I only know this because a friend's contraception prescription was refused to be filled at a Target for specifically that reason.
More and more men calling into this show.
KharmaTrain
(31,706 posts)Mahrer's shot at Mooselini was over-the-top but it also "aired" on a Premium Cable channel...one that not only isn't transmitted over the public airwaves but to watch you have to have an additional subscription...it's close-closed-circuit.
Rushbo didn't slip for a minute or even 5...this rant went over several days and he kept doubling down on the insults and slander. This was a premediated hit on a private citizen by a bully whose gotten away with these kind of attacks in the past. And true to form the moment there's a shitstorm, he and his defenders circle the wagons and play the false equivelency game. I fully expect he'll be in classic "victim" form today...how none of us can "take a joke"...it's so predictable and tiring...
nenagh
(1,925 posts)Rush solicited a sex tape online as payment for her BC pills... Told his viewers she was promiscuous..
Then ranted on for three days.. Not equivelant at all...
MurrayDelph
(5,301 posts)1. Bill Maher picks on the people who have already fired the first round. He does not pick on the voiceless.
Rush and his ilk are schoolyard bullies reveling in picking on those perceived to be weaker.
2. Ed Schultz did make his bad choice of words on a sponsored show, but he apologized immediately. And was suspended for it.
Quezacoatl
(113 posts)Ed Shultz was rightfully condemned. His apology came much quicker and was much more sincere AND he was suspended
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/ed-schultz-suspended-from-msnbc-after-calling-laura-ingraham-a-right-wing-slut/2011/05/26/AGOcV2BH_story.html
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)Rush carried on with the Sandra Fluke slut-shaming for three days straight, he initially doubled-down when he was called out for it, and it's not the first time he's done this.
Rush has a looooooooong history of bullying, misogyny, homophobia and bigotry on his show.
Don't tell me that what Schultz did was even close to equivalent.
mainer
(12,029 posts)Schultz and Maher were specifically insulting two public figures for what they have said. They didn't say "all GOP women are sluts."
Rush, on the other hand, implied that ANY woman who wants birth control covered by her health insurance is a slut. He specifically insulted the entire female student body of that particular college.
Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)his job if he goes overboard and is very aware of that.
As far as Bill Maher, Maher is a comedian
There is a well pre-established comedic context associated with Maher and any comments he may make. If there's no difference between Maher and Limbaugh then what do you do with a comedian like Lisa Lampanelli who insults people based on race, sex and orientation in the most vile ways? There's a difference in context between a comedian and solely a political commentator with occasional weak forays into comedy.