Rush Limbaugh says the darndest things

[A Theist]

Sandra Fluke is no longer a private college student. She became a public figure when she spoke before Congress regarding an issue at the center of a political debate and most recently putting herself deeper into the political arena when she spoke at the Democrat Party Convention.

Sorry, you are simply incorrect here. Ingrahm is a public figure, a celebrity if you will, who is paid to do what she does. If Sandra Fluke is now a public figure (& she most certainly wasn't when Rush decided to spout his lies & insults about her), then his talk radio made her into one.

In other words, if he had shut his fat, oxycontin riddled pie-hole then very few people would even know who Sandra Fluke was.

You don't really think she be speaking at the DNC otherwise do you? I'm sorry, that just does not follow. You don't get to say "she's fair game for insulting due to celebrity" when your insults are what pushed her into the limelight to start with.

Sorry dude. You're wrong. When Fluke went before Congress and publicly spoke out on an issue of political contention, she became a public figure. Unfortunately, according to law, public figures are fair game for a myriad slurs, verbal attacks, smears, and almost anything.

[DeistPaladin]

...and yours is the classic example of more naive leftist denial everytime you get caught with your heads up your asses....

Can we agree that Ed Schultz was insulting Ingram politically while Limbaugh was defaming Fluke's personal sexuality?

Apples and oranges.

[TaraJo]

Sorry dude. You're wrong. When Fluke went before Congress and publicly spoke out on an issue of political contention, she became a public figure. Unfortunately, according to law, public figures are fair game for a myriad slurs, verbal attacks, smears, and almost anything.

Sorry dude. You're wrong. Speaking before congress=/=Having your own show.

As for Limbaugh and the Fluke comment, he probably would have gotten away with it if he had just called her an 'attention whore' or something like that. Or if he had simply said 'slut.' I would have disagreed, but he would have gotten away with it. Instead, he went out of his way to specifically say that, yes, he was referencing her sex activities. I mean, as much as I hate Anne Coulter, I'm not going to tell her to make a sex tape and put it on the internet; have you ever heard someone do that?

[Jaysyn]

Sorry dude. You're wrong. When Fluke went before Congress and publicly spoke out on an issue of political contention, she became a public figure.

Again, you manage to be right for the wrong reasons.

A person can also become a "limited public figure" by engaging in actions which generate publicity within a narrow area of interest. For example, [jokes about]... Terry Rakolta [an activist who spearheaded a boycott of the show Married With Children] were fair comments... within the confines of her public conduct [and] protected by Ms. Rakolta's status as a "limited public figure".

However, Rush's lies & insults were in no way "within the confines of her (Fluke's) public conduct" at the time.

[A Theist]

Sorry dude. You're wrong. When Fluke went before Congress and publicly spoke out on an issue of political contention, she became a public figure.

Again, you manage to be right for the wrong reasons.

A person can also become a "limited public figure" by engaging in actions which generate publicity within a narrow area of interest. For example, [jokes about]... Terry Rakolta [an activist who spearheaded a boycott of the show Married With Children] were fair comments... within the confines of her public conduct [and] protected by Ms. Rakolta's status as a "limited public figure".

However, Rush's lies & insults were in no way "within the confines of her (Fluke's) public conduct" at the time.

I don't condone either Limbaugh or Schultz using these kinds of words against women. That's something I would not do under any circumstance, whether it's Sandra Fluke or Laura Ingrham. It's never appropriate, no matter how much I dislike the person. I may use other terms, but I'll never call a woman a slut or a whore.

However, Sandra Fluke opened herself to public criticism, smear, verbal assaults, etc. when she made a public stand before Congress on a political issue of contention....as to whether or not you believe the comments were within the confines of her public conduct, I think the law is going to side with Limbaugh that he was stating an opinion.

---

...and yours is the classic example of more naive leftist denial everytime you get caught with your heads up your asses....

Can we agree that Ed Schultz was insulting Ingram politically while Limbaugh was defaming Fluke's personal sexuality?

Apples and oranges.

I'll agree that the use of those terms either politically or to reference a woman's personal sexuality is wrong under any circumstance. I wouldn't do it. Shultz could have just as easily used the terms "shill" or "drone" if he wanted to insult Ingrham politically, but he chose to use the 'slut' word instead. Both Shultz and Limbaugh were wrong....as distateful as it was, the law is going to see this as just stated opinions by both of these guys.

Apples to apples in my book.

[DeistPaladin]

I'll agree that the use of those terms either politically or to reference a woman's personal sexuality is wrong under any circumstance. I wouldn't do it. Shultz could have just as easily used the terms "shill" or "drone" if he wanted to insult Ingrham politically, but he chose to use the 'slut' word instead. Both Shultz and Limbaugh were wrong....as distateful as it was, the law is going to see this as just stated opinions by both of these guys.

Apples to apples in my book.

Sorry, but insulting a person politically =/= defaming them personally.

Also, using a tasteless insult =/= demanding the person to produce a sex tape.

Now I agree, Schultz's words were tasteless and unprofessional but it was nowhere near the personal defamation of character and creepy demands that Limbaugh made.

The two are nowhere near equal. Apples and oranges.

This is, however, a classic example of conservatives trying to deflect responsibility for their abusive ways by searching for some liberal somewhere who said something offensive and trying to conflate the two, even when the liberal example pales in comparison. They then say, "See, both sides do it! You're just picking on us because we're conservatives! ...but the Democrats... etc."

[A Theist]

I'll agree that the use of those terms either politically or to reference a woman's personal sexuality is wrong under any circumstance. I wouldn't do it. Shultz could have just as easily used the terms "shill" or "drone" if he wanted to insult Ingrham politically, but he chose to use the 'slut' word instead. Both Shultz and Limbaugh were wrong....as distateful as it was, the law is going to see this as just stated opinions by both of these guys.

Apples to apples in my book.

Sorry, but insulting a person politically =/= defaming them personally.

Also, using a tasteless insult =/= demanding the person to produce a sex tape.

Now I agree, Schultz's words were tasteless and unprofessional but it was nowhere near the personal defamation of character and creepy demands that Limbaugh made.

The two are nowhere near equal. Apples and oranges.

This is, however, a classic example of conservatives trying to deflect responsibility for their abusive ways by searching for some liberal somewhere who said something offensive and trying to conflate the two, even when the liberal example pales in comparison. They then say, "See, both sides do it! You're just picking on us because we're conservatives! ...but the Democrats... etc."

Sorry DP. I don't see it your way. It's never appropriate or justified to call a woman a 'slut' or a 'whore'. I was hoping that we could have at least had some common ground here and agreed that it's never appropriate under any circumstance. It was wrong for Limbaugh to use the term, 'slut' and it was wrong for Schultz to use it, especially when there's other terms he could have easily used to insult Ingrham politically.

[DeistPaladin]

Sorry DP. I don't see it your way. It's never appropriate or justified to call a woman a 'slut' or a 'whore'. I was hoping that we could have at least had some common ground here and agreed that it's never appropriate under any circumstance. It was wrong for Limbaugh to use the term, 'slut' and it was wrong for Schultz to use it, especially when there's other terms he could have easily used to insult Ingrham politically.

...and once again we're not in disagreement about the use of the term. What part of "tasteless" and "unprofessional" do you not understand?

Where we disagree is you are desperately trying to conflate Schultz's tasteless and unprofessional POLITICAL insult to Ingram with Limbaugh's PERSONAL defamation of character and demands to see a sex tape.

Both are bad. Schultz was bad in a small way. Limbaugh was bad in a big way. Apples and oranges.

[A Theist]

Sorry DP. I don't see it your way. It's never appropriate or justified to call a woman a 'slut' or a 'whore'. I was hoping that we could have at least had some common ground here and agreed that it's never appropriate under any circumstance. It was wrong for Limbaugh to use the term, 'slut' and it was wrong for Schultz to use it, especially when there's other terms he could have easily used to insult Ingrham politically.

...and once again we're not in disagreement about the use of the term. What part of "tasteless" and "unprofessional" do you not understand?

Where we disagree is you are desperately trying to conflate Schultz's tasteless and unprofessional POLITICAL insult to Ingram with Limbaugh's PERSONAL defamation of character and demands to see a sex tape.

Both are bad. Schultz was bad in a small way. Limbaugh was bad in a big way. Apples and oranges.

....then the use of that term should be tasteless and unprofessional under any circumstance. If Schultz wanted to insult Ingrham politically, why couldn't he have used the terms 'shill' or 'drone' instead of using 'slut'? Schultz knows the stigma attached to that term. That's something you don't call women under any circumstance. To me it seems as if you're saying that although you agree the term is tasteless and unprofessional, you can see the justification of using it to describe a woman under some circumstances.

Apples and apples DP.

[DeistPaladin]

....then the use of that term should be tasteless and unprofessional under any circumstance.

Agreed.

Again, did you miss the last four times I called Schultz "unprofessional" and "tasteless".

To me it seems as if you're saying that although you agree the term is tasteless and unprofessional, you can see the justification of using it to describe a woman under some circumstances.

Not at all. At no time did I defend Schultz or justify his use of the term.

My point, and somehow you keep missing it, is...

a political attack =/= personal defamation of character.

...Ed Schultz was attacking Ingram politically, using very inappropriate and unprofessional language, but still a political attack as is clear by the context. Limbaugh was attacking Fluke personally and sexually, as well as coming on to her to make a sex tape for him.

The two are not equivalent. Kind of like how a misdemeanor is not equivalent to a felony. Both are breaking the law but they're not the same.

You are desperate to make them equivalent to run cover for Limbaugh. Just so you know, I see what you're trying to do.

Apples and apples DP.

Apples and oranges, AT.