Comments on: Reaction to the “pole” controversy

By: markg8

markg8 — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:18:50 +0000

Um, where is Fred Thompson condemning Joe Scarborough? Did I miss something here? It’s his bimbo, er wife, Scarborough insulted. This shall not stand! A Southern man’s dignity and his lady’s honer are at stake. A pistol duel at dawn is the only answer.

By: Suzy

Suzy — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 22:34:57 +0000

The “pole comment” was disrespectful and inappropriate, but accurate. I think people are offended by it because they are ashamed to admit they were thinking it too. It was exactly what my husband said when he saw the above photo — that she looked more like a stripper than a first lady. It doesn’t matter how educated she is, when this is the first impression voters will have of Jeri, it won’t help her husband’s chances.

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:57:22 +0000

Skippy, were you aware that that was written and performed… by a black man?

Don’t even use that one. It’s not OK when the left goes there and says “but it was a black man,” so it’s not OK in this case.

That said…
the title of ‘Magic Negro’ for Obama actually came from the LA Times. In fact, every time Limbaugh used the phrase, he attributed it to David Ehrenstein to prevent the out of context quoting you are engaging in.
…is illuminating. (I missed that whole incident, myself–despite being a conservative, I don’t pay attention to talk radio or especially blog chatter about Rush Limbaugh.)

Scarborough is just another butt-slapping pig who sees “boobies!” and forgets there’s an actual person with a brain behind them. He wouldn’t say it about any of the other (obviously less glamorous) candidate’s spouses or current/former First Ladies, so the context is pretty irrelevant.
Nice try, MSNBC. Tools.

As an aside, some of the commentary about this–saying it’s OK to snark about a younger wife–says a lot about how supposedly liberal people believe a First Lady is “supposed to” look and act. NTTAWTT, but it’s pretty dishonest to claim that only conservatives have these ideas. It’s an American thing, not a conservative or liberal concept. But let a conservative say something about a spouse–too young, sugar mama (Teresa Heinz Kerry), too anything–and it turns into an indictment of how uptight and intolerant conservatives are.
Whatever.

By: tree hugging sister

tree hugging sister — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:52:06 +0000

(You spelled his name wrong. In our Pensacola neck of the woods he’s Joe ScrewYourBorough.)

(But we’re not bitter.)

By: The Editor

The Editor — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:37:09 +0000

Missed one:

“Sometimes a cigar is just a Polish gardener”

Actually JC, we didn’t so much “miss” that one as we haven’t had time to add to the list since Sister Toldjah’s posting. Anyway, thanks for the comment.

By: JC Christian, patriot

JC Christian, patriot — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:18:19 +0000

Missed one:

“Sometimes a cigar is just a Polish gardener”

” It’s as if they think it’s a bad thing for a man to wonder how hard a beautiful woman like Mrs. Thompson works her muscular man-gardener, Stanislov.”

http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/2007/06/sometimes-cigar-is-just-polish-gardner.html

By: submandave

submandave — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:19:15 +0000

I think the whole issue here is not one of if the joke can be made, but if it appropriate commentary for MSNBC, which markets itself as a “professional” news network. When I get together with my friends for a beer we can enjoy tasteless, dirty jokes worse than that one, but I woul dnever do so in a professional or polite public atmosphere. It is simply inappropriate.

It seems skippy completely misses the point of Limbaugh’s “Magic Negro” parody (actually done by Paul Shanklin). Rush is not poking fun at Barak, but, rather, at the hypocritical left that would (and as skippy proves do) attack any appearance of racial impropiety by the right but completely ignore a decidely insulting and derisive racial phrase when used by one of their own. Then again, given the lack of appreciation for irony and subtlety demonstrated by the left it’s no wonder they have to resort to obtuse “working the pole” type jokes to find humor.

By: annie

annie — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:15:08 +0000

I don’t think it’s the age difference so much as the wife’s pole dancer’s/striper’s/hooker’s mega boobies. Should he win, those would be the first set of first lady boobies on display in the White House.

By: Ron Hardin

Ron Hardin — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:40:58 +0000

If you don’t like it, turn it off. That’s what the knob is for.

I don’t watch it myself. I did listen to Imus. Millions did, until that option was taken away by non-listeners and political candidates and opportunists.

By: dave

dave — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:37:46 +0000

Skippy is absolutely right. And I really don’t care what color it was. If ANYBODY had made a comment about the right’s latest hero, Fred Thompson’s wife, woman or man (I suppose, DaveP, had another woman made this comment it would meet your apparent need to ‘be one’ before ‘criticizing one’ before it’s okay). There would be the same selective outrage displayed by the knee-jerk talking heads (on both sides) that goes missing when it’s not one of their own.

I mean no ill will towards Thompson and think he’s a bright guy (although I won’t support him). Further, I don’t disagree that Scarborough’s comments were tacky, but come on people. Get a grip, it will be okay. Thompson will still win your hearts for a while and you can continue to circle your wagons around anyone with this outrage that something so–gasp–gross has sullied the trophy wife of your hero.