Do you ever look at something online and think: “Did he/she really say that?”
It’s the basis for my career. I call it like I see it and have no tolerance for bullshit. However, there is a distinct difference between “bullshit” and “differing viewpoints.” Some don’t see it that way, however.
There’s a talent that comes with stating your opinion, offering substantiating information and creating a dialogue.
Today’s column has issue with two things: media bullshit and misogynistic bullshit. We’ll get to both in due time, but let’s start with the media fucktardery…
Two weeks ago, we chatted about the hullabaloo on the CBS/Tim Tebow ad. Quite a bit of debate and a lively comments section – thanks to all who chimed-in. This week, I’m following it up by calling bullshit on all the hype. Why? Because what the media sold me and what was delivered were two entirely different things.
Where the hell is the ad that was depicted in the numerous news stories pre-Super Bowl? Here’s what I was responding to, as were the others who came out in either opposition or defense of the FOTF/Tebow spot:
- Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad: Anti-Abortion Commercial to Air – ABCnews.com
- Super Bowl ad featuring quarterback Tebow, mother riles abortion rights groups – Washington Post
I was unfond (new word – JUST made it up!) of having my evening nacho-and-football celebration interrupted by what was touted as an “anti-abortion” ad. I was non unfond of the ad existing (and I won’t rehash arguments here except to correct that it was funded NOT directly by FOTF (Focus On The Family) but by contributors TO them specifically for this cause…wondering where my $2.5M friends are…holler?) If you didn’t see it last Sunday, here’s what aired.
Yup. That’s what we call “innocuous,” folks. It’s certainly not worth $2.5-3M, but hey – to each their own, right?
A Brilliant Execution Of Bait And Switch
I’m offering a serious hat tip to Focus on the Family (still advising them to focus on their own damn family and keep their nose out of mine) for masterminding the biggest bait-and-switch, false journalism lead in the name of publicity since the Balloon Boy incident of ’09. I’m calling bullshit on the lack of journalistic integrity displayed by the entire mediascape on this now non-issue. As the Washington Post so eloquently stated:
“No matter its content, the ad’s existence is about what it’s always about — a nation split not only over the concepts of abortion and choice, but over all sorts of choices: the red and the blue, Coke and Pepsi, McDonald’s and Taco Bell. By announcing its ad-buy in advance, Focus on the Family is reaping the benefit of manufactured controversy and free publicity.”
Manufactured. Key word, there. Right along with free.
As I previously stated in my original piece on the issue, you have to look at Focus on the Family for what it is and no more: they’re a group committed to an agenda.
Like Republicans, Democrats, GLBT advocacy groups, NOW, the Klu Klux Klan…
I’m sitting here straight pissed that something went awry between journalistic integrity and whatever firm was handling the PR for FOTF. A set of facts doesn’t get as straight fucked as this without something being very well planned. I have two dogs, one of which likes to sneak off and shit in the basement.
I can smell shit a mile away.
All of the scuffle about the Tebow ad did one thing and one thing only: it made people on both sides of the issue stand up and firmly state their opinions.
Those on the pro-life side of the fence cried foul, saying their story should be heard.
Those on the pro-choice (not pro-abortion) side of the fence cried foul, saying the anti-abortion message was out of context, unwelcomed and speaking against the current legality of abortion.
Erick Erickson, The Schoolyard Bully
And on Sunday this week, Erick Erickson (Editor-in-Chief of Redstate.com) crawled out of the woodwork (once again). This time, to run around like the schoolyard bully who had just tripped the class nerd and sent him face-first into a steaming dog turd:
Now, I read Mr. Erickson’s bio and all tweets aside, there’s some serious education to contend with there. But here’s where I’ll ask (and DID): does the conservative community need one of their own spewing sentiments such as these?
Some insights:
“I find people like Mr. Erickson to be the comic relief of the Republican Party, a bit like Ann Coulter without the Barbie looks.” @themomjob (Republican)
“He has one point, I think the pro-choice (anti-abortion whatever you want to call it, I think it’s a highly personal choice and I rarely fight the battle as I make mine and let you make yours) faction overplayed their hand, and it appears he may have overplayed his.” @mesorrentino (Republican)
“Seems Erickson really dislikes ugly women, and because you are ugly, your opinions are thus invalid or stupid. I don’t see how that ends the credibility of ‘pro-abortion groups.’ They were responding to FOTF’s initial release of what the ad would be about versus the actual ad that aired. Ultimately, it’s a misleading bait-and-switch tactic. Again, perhaps ugly women who have opinions need to get back into the kitchen, perhaps to keep his wife company while she cranks out sandwiches for him.” @nickpepito (unaffiliated politically, but identifies himself as Republican/Libertarian)
“I am speechless! From what moronic brain did this misogynistic crap spew? And, for the record, since when did what anyone looks like have anything to do with supporting women’s rights? Oh wait … the answer to that would be NEVER. Mr. Erickson, you are an asshat.” @ShellyKramer (not a Republican, but a fabulous woman with an intellect and the ability to use “asshat” in proper context)
Note: I did offer Mr. Erickson the opportunity for an interview. I emailed him at 9:40am MST yesterday and informed him of my deadline of 5pm MST and sent him an @ on Twitter. As he had plenty of time to respond to other users and not my request, I stated that he was ignoring me around 1:37pm. Others RT’d me. He got pissed at 4:05pm and declined the interview. Them’s the breaks, folks.
Mr. Erickson, You’re An Asshat
Mr. Erickson, with the little respect due to you after such vile comments, I agree with Shelly: you’re an asshat. And you’re not an asshat for making the misogy-licious comments above. You’re an asshat for placing the conservative political community for whom you speak in a negative light. Some of my best friends (bless their hearts) are gun-toting Republicans and we share off-color humor on a regular basis. What I have never heard, for all their ranting, is that “ugly feminists should return to their kitchens” or that the reason for MY viewpoints differing from theirs is that I’m “too ugly to get a date.”
Republicans Have Played With My Tits
I’ve got nice tits. I’ve been on lots of dates. I now go on dates with the same guy on a regular basis and he likes playing with my tits. (On a side note, Republicans have played with my tits as well.) I believe what I believe because I was given a gift as a young woman: the ability to explore the political landscape and figure out what was important to ME. My parents? Staunch Republicans. My sister? An ordained Lutheran minister. My brother? A libertarian atheist. We ran the gamut and I’m delighted to be part of a family where our holiday dinner conversations are lively and involve the throwing of Pillsbury crescent rolls at one another like Nerf balls.
Misogynistic Bullshit
We all had the same news stories going into the Super Bowl abortion debate – so why it is that those who are advocates for women’s rights (as afforded to us by federal law – please see Roe v. Wade, mkaythx) are labeled with such misogynistic terms? What I need is everyone without a uterus to get the hell out of the pool and stop throwing labels on women. I think Ann Coulter is a perfectly good waste of tits (and she likely thinks the same of me – IF she thinks of me…maybe she thinks about me naked. That would be WEIRD!) but I think she’s entitled to her opinion. You, however…Mister Erickson…wow. You’ve got the ability to spin a story like no one I’ve ever seen.
Oh wait – you can spin one like Focus on the Family. Nevermind.
Women who use the facts they’re given to compose an argument aren’t “feminazis,” while I’ll conceded that the recent debate brought out extreme statements from BOTH sides of the agenda.
Pot, Kettle, Black
Those women are intelligent. Using the resources you’re given to build an argument, organize people to support a cause and rise to the occasion to bring about change – isn’t that what you’re doing over at Redstate.com? And I think you’d refer to your readership as intelligent. That’s exactly what the groups against the Tebow ad were doing – working with the information given. Albeit, it was information hyped-up by spinning PR pros that manipulated the mainstream media for some manufactured hype and free publicity, but hey – who’s keeping track, right? Consider turning the issue around. If an ad ran from the ACLU in support of free borders or lessened border restrictions, wouldn’t you be up in arms about it until you found out it was more along the lines of bringing a family together? For fuck sake, man – put on your law school smart person hat! I began today by applauding FOTF for hoodwinking a nation and its media community and this recent post (note to readers, Erickson is NOT the author) on your site struts about the schoolyard with a braggadocio rarely seen outside of World of Warcraft circles.
Women Who Stood Against The Ad Are Not “Feminazis”
Hindsight is much closer to 20/15 than 20/20 and it’s terrible to gloat. Can you not accept the situation for what it is rather than what you’ve twisted it into? The WOMEN who stood against the FOTF Super Bowl ad are not “feminazis.” The conservative community that stood its ground in defense of letting the ad run is not a collection of right extremist morons. Each side was working with a faulty base of information – one which, if it had been portrayed accurately, would have presented no hullabaloo at all.
Would You Like A Misogy-licious Sammich?
So, yes – I’ll call you an asshat, Mr. Erickson. And I would have even sent you a picture of me standing in my kitchen, sans shoes, making you a misogy-licious sammich. However, I’ve been working from home all day today (because I’m a business owner and thriving in what people depict as a depressed economy, not because I’m sick). I haven’t put any makeup on or done my hair, so I’m one of those Uglies you were talking about. I’ll just stay here in my kitchen and waggle my frying pan at you in shame. I think it’s hideous that you find it AOK to make statements like you do on Twitter while a leading representative of the conservative right. All leaders have an obligation to their community – are you really doing yours justice with your misogyny buffet?
Kindly Exit My Uterus
So here’s the bottom line: Whoever you are, whatever you believe – kindly exit my uterus. And stop it with the schoolyard bully tactics shouting “Ha ha!” each time you feel your side of an argument emerges victorious. The recent bullshit with the Tebow ad? Inexcusable. We could have all spent our energies more effectively had it been presented in an honest light. I can speak as a successful businesswoman with a college education that none of you have any business, elected official/spokesperson for a movement/otherwise, for weaseling your way into my bits and pieces. Stop the shenanigans and be who you are, say what you mean to say – and do it without the derogatory words. Stop yelling, start listening and quit trying to shove your beliefs in my face. The only thing I want shoved in my hoo-ha each month is a tampon – not a piece of legislation. Stop hating and start conversing. You might be intrigued with the dialogue of which you unexpectedly become a part.
Opening up a dialogue like I do here each week (and a heartfelt thanks to those who continue to join the conversation) while stating a specific stance on a story isn’t hate: it’s opinion, feelings and the heart of what we purport to be the core of this country – spirit. Hate kills spirit, but dialogue? Oh, how it lets spirit thrive.
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About the Author
Erika Napoletano is not your sister’s Barbie doll. She’s the sister who stole your Barbie doll (along with your brother’s G.I. Joe and had them getting it on in the back of her R.V.). The only way we can think to describe her is Dan Savage with a vagina – and most likely, a bigger dick. You can follow her rants at RedheadedFury, an uncensored traipse through her life and times. If you’re more of a techie, check out her irreverent take on social media, business and the interwebz at RedheadWriting. Get social with Erika on Twitter.
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
“Stop the shenanigans and be who you are, say what you mean to say – and do it without the derogatory words. Stop yelling, start listening and quit trying to shove your beliefs in my face.” — THAT… was very well said. And advice we all should follow every day in life.
Amen, sistah.
But since when has accurate journalism been a part of the American tradition? Not so far as I can remember, but then I’m only from the Old West, when men were building table-sized vibrators to “relieve stress” from the women of the world. (Well, at least thim wild prairies.)
If I hadn’t known going in what the add was supposed to be about, I would never have inferred that one of the “hard times” she was talking about was the abortion issue. For all I could tell (stepping away from this knowledge) they’d been desperately poor, or a series of bad boyfriends, or something. Sigh, FotF.
Furthermore, this whole idea of using “Nazi” as a suffix is abhorent and, frankly, childish… so let’s find a way to use in the Republican context.
@Trillby – Thanks for the comment and glad that resonated with you!
@LadyLover – Agreed on the journalism front. The onus lies with both sides to report a story and then tell the story accurately. In this case, it was heavily distorted by the media (but they had some help, y’know?) And yes – the use of “Nazi” so carelessly and out of context is better omitted from anyone’s vocabulary hoping to be taken seriously. Thanks for stopping by
You said it all… and so eloquently, with such humor and snarky grace, that I have but one word to add: Bravo.
First, I have to admit that given the information that the media fed us regarding the ad, I was concerned that an ad that was sounding divisive and political was going to be aired. However, like you I thought it was innocuous, and *gasp* even kind of sweet. Not preachy. (and I practically break out in hives when anything preachy is aimed in my direction.) The media really should be backhanded for that one.
With regard to Mr. Erickson, asshat extraordinaire, I would think that a J.D. would mean that he could formulate logical arguments without resorting to fallacies and name calling. Then again, the biggest point that I took from law school was you do whatever you can, towing the ethics line, to win. In my opinion, it isn’t about justice but who plays the game better. He knows that many of his readers have small closed minds, and he is capitalizing on it. Truth (and respect) be damned.
And he is one of those people who makes Southerners look bad. I have a lot of friends from Macon, GA, and I find it awful that he is somewhat of a “representative” of their city.
Ah, I hate these situations – blood boiling at the utter offensiveness of this RedState guy’s comments. It really makes you want to find exactly the right thing to say that will completely undermine his arguments and make him change his mind. But here’s the thing that I learn as I grow older – you can’t argue with stupid, nor is it curable. And you can’t argue with money.
So I’ll just dismiss this Erickson guy out of hand – he’s going to say what he’s going to say so he gets enough haters and right wing nutbags to listen to his show and pay for his lifestyle. I’ve never heard of him, and I suspect his legacy will be a lot of tape that no one really wants to listen to – he’s a footnote to a historical punchline.
The bigger issue here isn’t even the need to completely dismiss half the population in a most rude and demeaning way. Limbaugh, Beck, O’reilly, Coulter – OK, Fox “News ” in general – this is the vocabulary and mindset of the far right. Let’s face it: the voice of the GOP is all about “Thou Shalt Not” – and it’s always “Thou” and always “shalt not.”
And that’s the key for me: I too have friends who are Republicans, although I’ve never let any of them play with my tits. And I’m sure they must stand for something, and I hope it is different than what the aggregated vitriol of the far right is spewing. But I don’t hear that – anywhere. I hear lots of nonsense as offensive to non-white rich males – much like this guy’s statement that woman who believe in the right to choose are “feminazis” and that they belong in the kitchen making sammiches for their redneck husbands.
And this is the voice of the GOP – I’m a little tired of a party that says nothing about what they stand for, but allow people like Limbaugh, and Beck, and all of the others to spew this kind of garbage. GOP – these people are your voice, and your political positions will be judged by any thinking person and by history by those you allow to speak for your party, and what they say. And what you allowed to be said in this case was that you are anti-abortion and anti-women (unless they have a sandwich in their hands). You should be proud.
“In the end it is not the words of our enemies we will remember, but the silence of our friends” – MLK.
@Dayna – Thanks for stopping by once again. I’d forgotten you were an attorney so thanks for the law school-related input
@Kevin – You’ve never let a Republican play with your tits? Oh, I highly recommend it. And your point towards, “The bigger issue here isn’t even the need to completely dismiss half the population in a most rude and demeaning way.” — that’s spot on. Is it not possible to achieve an agenda without being derisive and derogatory?
I am never surprised by the ignorance of people who are so narrow-minded they can’t see the other side of any argument. They are so blinded by their own opinion, they often disagree using outrageous accusations about the character of the people who make up the opposition. How anyone in his position could be so remiss and immature is beyond me. And, it’s important to note that he has removed those tweets from his history … but as we know, they will live on forever as a record of his true character.
Sweet revenge will occur about the time Mr. Erickson’s 4-year old daughter stands up for herself and tells daddy that just because she believes in choice, that doesn’t make her an ugly feminist, nor does it make her a feminist, nor does it make her more likely to get an abortion, it just makes her a woman with an opinion who believes that not all pregnancies should result in the birth of a child.
I have said millions of times in my life that any woman who votes, makes financial decisions on her own (whether at the damned grocery store or for her retirement), makes decisions regarding her own reproductive health (be it pro-life/pro-choice, no kids/20 kids) or any number of ways a woman shows her own strength, then that woman is a feminist. I do not give a flying monkey’s ass whether that woman is a conservative, liberal or sits on the fence. Strong women come from all backgrounds and, in my opinion, they can thank a feminist for the rights they enjoy today.
As a proud liberal woman (O.M.G) I didn’t pay much attention to that FotF ad. If the pro-choice movement was worried, perhaps they should consider raking up some cash and buying ad space. But based on what I read via my own Twitter stream I’d say they were more concerned with the atrocious domain name ads that have zero to do with domain names or the ads depicting women as emasculating shrews who do nothing more than to whip their men back to boyhood. This ad actually makes a good case for my first paragraph– a woman made a choice and found strength in that decision. Ultimately that commercial is more feminist than FotF would probably have preferred.
As for Erikson, well, I saw that pasty little fucker on Stephen Colbert and, regardless of his educational background, I’m pretty sure he invests heavily in the paid escort industry whenever he decides to get out from in front of the computer porn. For someone who just loves to wax macho, he sure was a disappointment. Just sayin’.
Given I just spent my day tramping around Dachau in the snow, I find anyone who uses the suffix “nazi” as derogatory to be a First Degree Asshat Cum Laude. I saw today what Nazis did. I saw ovens. I saw gas chambers. Alles war schwarz und Übel.
As of today, anyone that calls anyone a Nazi in my presence (unless it’s a real, live, card-carrying Herbert Von Karajan-type Nazi), I’m going to call them out, Southern Style. I played rugby, I can take care of myself, and more importantly, I can take very good care of a carelessly loose-lipped Scheißekopf.
So the timing here couldn’t be better.
Dumb people…no…scratch that…unwise or foolish people look at the world as one giant dichotomy. You’re pro or anti. You’re perfect, I’m a turd from the darkest netherworld of Satan’s cesspool.
Erickson (I won’t give him the honorific of Mister) is one such dichotomous simpleton. It’s the old simpleton logic:
1) “I’m right. I know that.”
2) “She doesn’t agree with me. She’s wrong.”
a) “and stupid”
b) “and evil”
c) “and hates God and wants to destroy me.”
I can see why he ignored your request for an interview. Why give a wrong person airtime?
Erickson lacks the integrity to examine his beliefs, since it’s all wrapped up in a nice, neat package, sealed with the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. He also lacks the Hoden*, and maybe even the skills, to interview someone with Erika’s wit and wisdom. My guess is he lacks both.
Here’s the weird thing…I don’t think abortion is really the issue here.
People ask me…so, are you pro-life? Obviously, since I self-identify as a Christian. I am absolutely pro-life. All of them, down the the sparrow that falls and the spiders I rescue from my basement.
Am I pro-choice? Sure. I believe everyone has the freedom to make choices and live with the consequences.
What many pro-lifers and pro-choicers don’t understand is that abortion is a medical procedure and nothing more. It doesn’t “end a life.” It ends a potential life, kinda, sorta. Sometimes it saves a life. It saved my mother’s when I was 10 years old. No Super Bowl commercial about that, right?
I think it’s time to separate the emotional knee-jerk reactions about procedures and talk about ethics.
You can do bad things legally and good things illegally. You can be indescribably evil and have the government sanction it. You can be a self-sacrificing paragon of all that is good and have the government kill you for it. I saw both of those things today.
Mr. Erickson, excuse me, but you need a visit to Dachau. It might keep you from using words so carelessly.
*Conjones
Great comment Darren. Thanks for visiting.
Darren, well said!
Darren – I have nothing to add to your eloquence. Thank you for stopping by, commenting and giving everyone (including Erickson) something to consider.
JennyJinx – High five and thanks for broadening the view of the term “feminist” for our audience. For the record, no one gave me $2.5M for a Super Bowl ad about protecting cyclists rights and sharing the road. It’s an issue that is pro-life (pro-fucking MY life) since I was just inches from being a smear on the pavement while enjoying a noontime ride on a gorgeous day. And yes, the offender had a cell phone in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Maybe next year, we’ll see the pro-choice audience scream less and pony-up more…along with the cycling community. They’re all issues we face regarding “life.” I almost just had my choice to continue living taken away from me just now. Startling. But I wouldn’t call the bitch a “Nazi.”
@Joann & @SuperHotFeminist – As well, thanks for stopping by. I’ve never understood how men with daughters can speak so ill of women. And vice versa, women with sons who can speak so ill of men. Childhood is a time to instill hope in minds that haven’t yet been colored by shitty episodes of Survivor and earthquakes in Haiti. And on that note – parent your own children. It’s a tough enough job without spending your time parenting anyone else’s.
I find if funny that people assume if you’re woman who’s pro-choice, you must be a feminist.
I don’t identify with being a feminist at all, really (I know, I’m weird). I’m a stay at home mom, barefoot (fuck the pregnant part…that ain’t happening), and I am solidly pro-choice.
I saw the first ad. It made me ill. I think the bait and switch that happened is the worst type of fear mongering and a poor publicity stunt to boot.
Some great points made in the comments section. Regardless of the political sway Erickson holds, nasty is nasty. That is exactly what it comes down to, a person just being down right nasty.
Reminds me of past “flame wars” where the only goal was to be as miserable and nasty to another person for the singular goal of beating your chest to signal how superior you are to everyone else.
Erickson is an educated man who made ignorant comments.
As always I find your commentary insightful, witty and full of humor and I couldn’t agree more with you.
I also wanted to mention that Henry Rollins did a great video letter to Anne ’shutthefuckup’ Coulter in his Letters from Henry segment from his show. If you need a great laugh I highly recommend it.
Why do big organizations think they are going to get anywhere with Bait and Switch???!!! It is a poor media strategy when you play the situation out to the inevitable end! Now, not only does CBS look like they have a poor media planning department to allow the whole bruha to ensue about the ad campaign. It also looks like FOTF doesn’t have the balls to actually do what they say they are going to do! Fearful of a public backlash on how they went about driving their point home? Fearful of offending their fat cat sponsors who also happen to love football, and hookers as the case may be.
It wouldn’t be offensive to most people, if the Christian Right lived what they say. It is all to often we get a taudry media story of the preacher surfing porn, or the pastor visiting strippers, or the minister with an open tab courting hookers.
It is perfectly okay to have an opinion, even a very strong opinion on the choices we face each and every day. Often, the information we are given in the course of making that decision, is skewed to one viewpoint or another, how can it not be. The mantle these organizations should take on is one of help and support. There will always be women who chose abortion, no matter what resources they have at their fingertips. What really pisses me off is the organizations that chastise women for choosing abortion over keeping the baby, yet offer up NO resources to help them cope or live. These men of God live in enourmous homes, with multiple cars, and yet, they don’t see fit to live on 10% of their income while donating the rest to their organizations or to non profit groups that set out to support teenage mothers being faced with the heart wrenching decision to abort. If God can live on 10% of what they give, why can’t they do likewise?
These organizations need to get their heads out of their holier than thou asses and wake up. Stop pushing your adgenda on everyone else. Why not try helping these women rather than preaching to them? Be the example of Christ he would want you to be! Stop wearing $1000 suits to Church on Sunday morning and start getting real.
Wow, Redhead. You have some passionate commenters. That is great. I’m less passionate but not without thoughts on the subject.
As you know, I don’t agree with Redstate’s (wow … that’s the third time he has your name, no? I’m starting to understand your animus) comments but I do agree with his point that the pro-choice crowd had overplayed their hand before the ad aired.
I do want to add though, that bombast and misogyny is not the sole providence of the right … anyone remember Keith Olbermann’s rant on Michelle Malkin? I believe his words included “mashed up bag of meat”. Even the self proclaimed progressive Tom Paine called him out for his behavior.
By the way, my only interest in your uterus … oh, nevermind. My wife is calling me for dinner.
@mesorrento – I’m on the floor…laughing
And you’re correct – the radical right has its equivalent in the left. Neither are above reproach. Thank again for sharing your insights from the right for a column left-of-center!
I loved the blog and each comment….especially the SuperHotFeminist pointing out that Mr. Redstate deleted those comments from his history (possibly in shame? Or is that too high minded a thing for such a slump?)
Its infuriating that this whole ad campaign was so well played. Once again the far right outplays the progressives and moderates with utter conniving brilliance. How can we find a balance? MOST of us aren’t willing to stoop to that level, we can’t seem to unite around a good cause (well Obama worked for a while but things aren’t going so well now) and our brainy approach to political matters really bugs people!
Meanwhile our rights, including the rights of my uterus, are being eroded little by little every frakking day. Dear Redhead….do you have the answers?
Anyway, thanks for the excellent opinions and some very good laughs!
I can summarize this blog in these 4 sentences…
I am a woman. Pro-abortion laws are good. Any other position is bad. Feel free to dialogue.
Darren – I appreciate your insight and look forward to reading more comments from you in future posts.
As the dust starts to settle I find myself focused on all the options of deserving causes $2.5 million could have benefited.
“Whoever you are, whatever you believe – kindly exit my uterus.”
Yes. This.
@ mesorrentino – But you know, although Olbermann is sometimes over the top, there is one thing you have to say was different between his rant & Mr. Redstate’s comments. Olbermann, at least, was making insulting comments about one specific person with whom he has a serious ideological disagreements. Was it rude? Yes. But he was rude to one person based on specific disagreements between viewpoints. Erickson, on the other hand, chose to insult hundreds of thousands, even millions, of women with gratuitous personal insults, without knowing anything them other than one specific detail.
Your incoherent and ignorant rant was painful to read. I sympathize with those who regularly subject themselves to your blog.
Wow, my head’s spinning, not like in the Exorcist, just that was a lot of information to take in and it’s late. I agree with Shelly and you that Erickson is an asshat.
The bait and switch was great tactics by Focus on Family if in fact they engineered it. Perhaps journalists just jumped on what they believed the ad would be because if came from FoF. Either way journalists’ integrity not great on this one. I put my 5 cents in as well on something I hadn’t seen so, damn, good lesson.
Nobody’s playing with my breasts (I can’t say the “t” word) so I think you’re lucky.
And yea, stay out of my uterus but I think both sides do the Ha-Ha thing.
It’s late, I’m tired, I was going thru some back twitter and saw the link, just wanted to peak, that’s all, nothing more. And then BAMM! I was hooked, and I kept reading. That was one rock solid post. I’m impressed. And kudos to the comments. Mine has no depth, only appreciation.
kristen
@smartdreamzzz
@Bill D. – You only got two things right, dear: I am a woman (shocker) and “feel free to dialogue.” I never said “Pro-abortion laws are good. Any other position is bad.” It’s obvious that you’ve missed the point entirely, as I’m encouraging the abandonment of of derogatory filth and taking issue with the shit-flinging. Thanks for stopping by, however…
@You’re the Asshat – I am? Truly? Insightful. (But thank you for calling me an Asshat with a capital “A!”) You’ll be saddened to know that I don’t stoop to such tactics, m’dear. As far as incoherency and ignorance, it’s likely more a matter that the positions I present aren’t in-line with your way of thinking. Heavens…that’s the only thing I can think of that keeps properly constructed English sentences from your comprehension. We appreciate you stopping by and giving ToyWithMe some traffic juice, nonetheless!
@Kristen – Delighted to virtually “see” you again! Hope all is well up in the mountains for you and yours. Thanks for stopping by – and don’t sell yourself short. Your comment has plenty of depth. I’m glad I hooked ya. I even hooked the guys who hated it and felt compelled to comment in a derogatory way. But hey – that’s what a dialogue is: offering other the change to weigh-in. Hopefully we’ll see you again soon.
@Camille – Welcome! I do wish I had answers, though I do know they don’t lie in vicious arguments or PR campaigns based on false premise. What I’m looking for from my elected officials is dialogue and the willingness to consider what the electoral process provides: a weigh-in from all to create a majority, thus providing a roadmap for ideas to become pathways. I just want those pathways to stay clear of my naughty bits, is all.
@Cherry – I’m lucky for many things aside from the boob action. Bottom line is we ALL weighed in based on information provided. Yes, the bait and switch was a snazzy task and both sides bit the line. Next time, I’m curious…will the media be so willing to bite? Will the public? And how will the left and right choose their mouthpieces? Yes, the loudest voices are heard first, but it’s the ill-constructed and poorly thought-out commentary that resonates the longest. Left, right, middle – no matter. Each side holds blame in this debate, yet no one’s taking ownership. Not surprising, but disappointing. Quite. Thanks for stopping by!
What an asshat indeed! Such narrow-minded people really piss me off. Well said by Darren.
“Those on the pro-choice (not pro-abortion) side of the fence” – I have to thank you for pointing this out. I am very strongly pro-CHOICE, yet it would take exceedingly extreme circumstances for me to actually abort a pregnancy. I don’t like the way many women and doctors use abortion, but for the most part I think that the government has no business denying this medical proceedure to women across the board. I found myself trying to defend this distinction in a constitutional law class recently, and it was intensely frustrating that the (predominantly male, many of whom were conservative) group had a lot of trouble grasping the fact that it is possible for a person to be both morally anti-baby-killing AND politically pro-choice.
@CatPS – Well said. It’s possible to be BOTH pro-choice yet personally stand more to one side of the issue than other. I feel that the greater landscape of those whom affiliate themselves with the pro-CHOICE side of the matter are not advocating abortion. Rather, they’re advocating the removal of the government from the “choice” side of things. And I believe it was Darren who pointed out “You can do bad things legally and good things illegally.” Thanks for stopping by and for your thoughts.
I thought our readers would be amused by the following information:
@ewerickson ReTweeted this post yesterday to his audience:
http://twitter.com/ewerickson/status/8984776097
And following it up by labeling our community “perverts and crazies.”
http://twitter.com/ewerickson/status/8987915169
Nice of him to stop by and weigh-in on our forum. Not that we expected he would in the firstplace. After all – we’s dirrrrrrrrrrty. Some people aren’t interested in dialogue. They’re more interested in name-calling. Erickson proves that again in spades. I’ll bet if I were Colbert or Jon Stewart, he’d have taken the interview
[damn those tits of mine and lack of a highly-ranked cable program!]
@TheBeerLady – I placed you next to the ReadHead (currently on top … hope that’s OK) on my infatuation list … I love beer!
To your point … Olbermann may have attacked only a single woman that time … but he does spread around his hate, check it out. That was not his only attack.
@Dear Redhead – I think the media will continue to bite … they’re not very bright as a group (either side). They still haven’t figured out how to handle how quickly information gets around. You can find example after example where they jump in without verification.
As to RedState not giving you an interview … all us troglodyte conservative types are afraid of strong outspoken red headed women. Especially those with pretty potty mouths, we just can’t keep up!
My only guess is that the combination of smoking hot and feminist is more than his feeble mind could possibly comprehend. And really, anyone who respects themselves enough not to become complicit in the systematic degradation of their gender by media, legislation, and habits of language is always smoking hot in my book.
Dear Redhead, you had me at “media fucktardery.” Brilliant! Love your column here. Makes me look forward to Thursdays!
Timely & smart, as I’ve come to expect from you! And I guffawed over ‘asshat.’ Actually guffawed. That doesn’t happen often. I’m adding it to my lexicon.
@Val Renegar – Thanks for stopping by the column, Val. And yes, sometimes certain combinations are more than any person can handle
@GI Joe & Mad Hatter – Delighted to have had some “fucktardery” brighten-up your days. Thanks for stopping by, welcome to the column. And Mad Hatter – I’m putting you down for “1″ in my “Made Guffaw” column
Cheers!
@mesorrento – You’re right. I DO have a potty mouth. How…feminist of me
Well, we CAN hold out hope for the media, can’t we? But as Erickson knows, sensation sells. What is it about drama that’s so engaging? *shrug*
Great post, pretty spot on as well. Regarding this ad and the media. I think it comes down to one thing. It’s about ratings and money for them. The current media structure seems to be to stir up controversy wherever possible, milk it for as much as they can, then drop it like a hot potato. That ad itself reminded me of an e-harmony ad. I kept waiting for that damn Doctor to poke his head in there somewhere.
When you combine this tendency with their extreme need to present “balance” to the point of creating a false equivalency then you will see this sort of thing keep happening. I don’t really understand why this happens. If something is bs, call it bs and move on I say.
Regarding the assclown (I prefer assclown over asshat though that word
)? He is a white male with all the privilege and none of the negatives that others have seen, especially women. So, lacking that thing we call empathy, he cannot understand, even as a mental exercise, why a woman might feel that way. He knows he can’t actually defend the position so he resorts to crass comments and attacks. I don’t think he feels threatened, instead he more like they are trying to attack what he views as the rightful way of things. I’ve known guys like this before, they think they have some god given purpose to be in charge or something. Strong women are ugly hags who can’t get a man. Men who actually can express emotion are girlie “fags” who aren’t real men. Men who respect women are “weak.” Etc, etc.
I don wonder though. Was any of this really about abortion to begin with or was it just some exercise to raise money and flex some clout? I have to wonder about this. A lot of these groups use a wedge issue to raise money and then push their own, power seeking, agendas. Abortion is probably the mother of all wedge issues next to race and guns.
Excellent points, all. I’ve come to find that the abortion argument is dominated by men who, for whatever reasons, feel that it is totally necessary for them to get into the way we control our bodies. I swear if men had babies, abortions would not only be covered, it’d be a guaranteed right.
Kind of like Viagra vs. birth control. Guess which one my insurance covers
.
Me? I am a staunch pro-life conservative. Erickson? An asshat. Some of our early feminists were pro-life. Susan B. Anthony, for one. “Roe” – from Roe v. Wade? Now pro-life. Regrets her decision.
For me? I believe humans have the right to live. Regardless of stage of development (is a toddler worth less than a teenager? Fetus, infant, toddler, adolescent, adult, etc. – All stages of development.), regardless of mental acumen, regardless of place of resident, race, ethnicity, physical development, gender and so on and so forth – they deserve the right to live. Empowering women(and men) to discriminate based on these matters is wrong — no matter who it involves — born or unborn.
I think Elizabeth Cady Stanton said it best:
“When we consider that woman are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit.” Letter to Julia Ward Howe, October 16, 1873, recorded in Howe’s diary at Harvard University Library
I think the pro-choice community should be ashamed of themselves for the literal shit fit they threw over Tebow’s ad. Being pro-choice means supporting all choices involved, including -gasp- life. I know, funny concept. Interesting how the pro-choice folks who shat their pants over this showed their true colors: they are pro-abortion. Pro-choice? Nah. If they were really pro-choice they would support chosing life just the same as supporting death, er, I mean abortion.
Interesting article. It got my blood boiling and my mind working. Thanks!
@ InsolentBitch – I think you make some good points, such as the fact that if people are going to be pro-choice, then we have to support EVERY choice, even ones with which we don’t agree. That said, Roe of Roe v. Wade CAN regret her decision now, but how many other women died trying to give themselves back alley abortions, or threw themselves down stairs to try and miscarry?
Giving people the freedom to choose means that sometimes they’re going to make, what you or I might consider, a stupid decision… but that’s their right. You have the right to vote for the “wrong” person, or the right to get shit-faced drunk. You have the right to dress however you want, even if someone else considers it to be “inappropriate.” The problem with taking away rights is that you have to have a standard. Which rights do you remove? Who gets to decide?
You can choose life. You can choose not to have that life. What *I* don’t understand is why we don’t maximize education both of women’s bodies and available resources so that girls and women really CAN choose. I think Dear Redhead had every right to get heated about this ad… it would have made a much larger statement if Focus on Family had DONATED the money it cost to run this ad to Planned Parenthood, where they do a huge amount of education. But instead they went for this silliness?
Commercials like this are pointless, inane propaganda.
@KinkyJew – I respect what you’re saying and I get it, but I still don’t agree. I believe human rights apply to every human, at every stage of life, in all circumstances.
I don’t believe we can say that one person has a right to choose abortion but another person doesn’t have the right to live based on their age or mental acumen (or other reasons) because what about that human’s potential right to choose? See how the circle goes on and on in my head? You are therefore putting the right to terminate over the right to live which in my mind is backwards because life, to me, is the most sacred thing. It’s what we all strive for – health, happiness, love, understanding, compassion – everything that life involves. But some humans are not given that chance, and to me that is discrimination and it’s wrong on every level.
I don’t believe in making something legal just to appease the minority or for the “just in case” scenarios. Over 90% of abortions are done for personal convenience reasons.
While I am staunchly pro-life, I can see the other side of things, like when life of mother or fatal prenatal diagnosis is at hand, I get that. I know most pro-life people say “put it in God’s hands” and that is wonderful if you are a believer but some are not. While I do not agree with it, I can understand this viewpoint.
What I find to be an absolute outrage is abortion for personal convenience or birth control (a tad too late, but you know what I mean). There is no excuse.
In cases of rape or incest there is plan b which can be ontained over the counter for a minimal amount of money (last I checked it was around $40 in my area, significantly less than an abortion) or from Doctors, county health departments, etc. It can be taken (recommended) up to 3 days after unprotected sex. I know it’s not 100% effective but it’s an option.
I just think personal responsibility plays a big role in this. If you choose to have sex you are choosing to put yourself at risk for HIV/AIDS, other STD’s and, of course, pregnancy. Choosing to abort because you don’t want a child is murdering a human. I know it’s cliche’ and most pro-lifers throw “murder” around like it’s nothing but “termination” sounds too cold to me. Call it what you will, but the end result is the same.
As for women who tried to miscarry on their own, that is tragic but a rare scenario. It’s like saying (forgive me for the lame comparison) we should legalize meth because some people score bad meth and die, so if we legalize it it will be safer and less people will die. You get my point.
That’s just a little bit where I am coming from. I do respect your opinion but I am so passionate about this and while I will hear the other point of view and consider it, it is likely I will never change my mind. All humans deserve the right to live – without the right to life we are taking away all other rights they were to have, including reproductive rights. In a female fetus at (roughly) 20 weeks the structures that will become the ovaries house roughly 6 to 7 million potential egg cells. In most areas she will not be viable. What about her reproductive rights?
The moment the sperm and egg combine the gender is determined. A unique human has been created. It is *not* part of the mother but think of it like a car parked in a garage (lame, I know).
Anyways, I know this isn’t very coherent. I am exhausted after a long day but I appreciate the retort and respect you for it. Have a good night.