It’s hard to believe that the insulting invectives could go any lower than they did during the Clinton administration. Yes, Kenneth Starr dragged first lady Hillary Clinton into testify, putting her through hell even though it was all just for his grandiose political hunting. But at least Starr had the creativity to concoct a case that ended up in one of the great pornographic fiction compilations in U.S. political history. Not so with the cretins on right-wing talk radio.
But I certainly wasn’t surprised that the latest loaded bile to spew forth from the radio dial came from a guest host on the Laura Ingraham show. That it flew from the self-hating shrillness of Tammy Bruce’s lips was also fitting.
Huffington Post has the tape and the transcript:
“That’s what he’s married to,” Bruce said. “…You know what we’ve got? We’ve got trash in the White House. Trash is a thing that is colorblind, it can cross all eco-socionomic…categories. You can work on Wall Street, or you can work at the Wal-Mart. Trash, are people who use other people to get things, who patronize others, who consider you bitter and clingy…”
Yes, the “trash” talking was despicable. But the point worth noting is actually when Bruce spits “That’s what he’s married to. …”
In the classic attack of a faux feminist, Ms. Bruce does what the traditional coalition always does. She declares that Obama’s choice of wife is less by referring to her as “that,” an object in a relationship lowering her power and her personhood to worse than an appendage to the man, or his property, but to a thing. The first lady of the United States relegated to less than, not only a woman but a full human being in her own right, is a classic reaction put into rant that relegates Ms. Bruce’s entire shrieking monologue to a kin to racism, lowering Mrs. Obama to that, an object, property of… For what if anything is the black female but that, with President Obama married to “that.”
The moment that incensed Ms. Bruce having to do with the way Mrs. Obama talked. Classic stuff, really.
We’ve recently seen Ms. Ingraham attack Meghan McCain through the “plus-sized” label, going at this woman through her weight, something that always hits females at some level, while reducing her simply to a body. Now we’ve got Ms. Bruce going after the First Lady of the United States through her lack of personhood, reducing her to that which the President married.
How many times in American history has a white person relegated a black woman to an object, a thing? When you add in the leader of the Ingraham, Bruce bile set, Rush Limbaugh compiling a song called “Barack the Magic Negro,” it’s not surprising what Ms. Bruce said, but the continuation of a pattern. Republicans must be so proud of their leaders.
Naturally, the left-wing media is now trying to convince us that this James Brown-look-alike has all the allure, glamour and fashion sense of Jackie Kennedy. – Burt Prelutsky (Townhall)
I think if you want “trash” you only need to look towards Alaska.
And these are the same people who talk about respecting women? It’s laughable.
Actually, I don’t think you need to look toward Alaska. Ms Bruce only needs to look in the mirror.
Additionally, justlen, what do you expect to achieve or convey by such hateful and divisive comments?
Taylor
This is a great post. You so Get It. You have written in the vein many times. It is hard to understand how so many of your readers here obviously can’t or just don’t understand what you say.
How is mocking Palin divisive?
Hey, thanks djjl. …Sorry, that cut off too soon.
I’m not quite sure what you mean about readers not understanding, however.
How is mocking Michelle divisive? It simply is.
Taylor
I’ll send my response to you in an email later. I don’t want to distract from this post.
Wow! I went to huffpo and tried to listen to the audio and couldn’t get threw all of it. What a bunch of vile, hateful crap. I don’t know how anyone can defend either of these two sorry people.
Off topic, but China wants to dump the dollar from international currency reserves.
They are beneath contempt.I really get what Taylor is saying about objectifying women but I think a lot of it is about race.
Michelle is such an asset to Obama she keeps him real. Her life experience mirrors the American dream. She was a smart girl,she worked hard,ignored cultural influences and forged ahead. Her accomplishments are a role model that young people can relate to and aspire to as realistic.
I think her critics just can’t stand her success.
No other word for this harangue but “despicable.” How anyone can consider someone like this credible is beyond me. I won’t talk about anyone like this because it says nothing. If you have a legitimate argument against someone that’s one thing – use it! But to demean any human being like this shows what kind of person doing the demeaning is. As djjl says, “Ms Bruce only needs to look in the mirror.”
I agree Lake Lady, this has a lot to do about race and not just women. These dealers in hate have been doing this kind of stuff for years,and know all the code words the will insight their listeners. This is just par for the course with these rightwing loons.
I don’t understand – what is wrong with the way Michelle talks? Is this person trying to create a problem where there is none? I’m beginning to believe that the right wing loons have nothing left to say so now they are scraping the bottom of the barrel. This is the bottom of the barrel.
Taylor:
Thank you for taking the time to calmly lay out the ugliness beneath Tammy Bruce’s tirade.
All my comments are “expletives deleted”
Its funny how the MO of these vile hate mongers are all the same. Bill’O sent his clowns out to stalk a blogger from TP while she was on vacation because of a piece she did on Bill’O,s comments about rape victims. They staked out her house and then followed her for two miles to ambush her coming out of her hotel room. These sick rightwing smear merchants must be called out every time they try to spread their hate and personal vile smears.
I found the personal attacks against McCain awful. I think this is awful. (And I am not a Michelle Obama fan by any means — but name calling has no place here.)
I do object to people who think it’s just dandy to call Sarah Palin names (witness first respondent above), or any Republican names, but objects to the same thing when it happens to someone they like/admire. I am not a conservative, I am not a Republican — but I find it curious that over on Huffpost, people are going crazy about this remark (and another slam at Michelle that I think was on townhall, maybe?), but think it’s wonderful that someone called Scalia a homophobe.
The hypocrisy is stunning.
Jane Austen says:
24 March 2009 at 10:21 am
______
Tammy Bruce is one confused puppy JA. Her bio on her own site:
“openly gay, pro-choice, gun owning, pro-death penalty, voted-for-President Bush authentic feminist. A lifelong Democrat, in the 1990s she worked to help elect Senators Feinstein and Boxer, and aided the Clinton for President campaign. Before we knew he was a sexual compulsive”
add: voted for McCain/Palin and looooves Sarah Palin
like I said yesterday she’s a “cuckoo clock”
Tammy Bruce is probably not really a racist. She is just willing to USE and language to promote her schtick (a’la Limbaugh)and keep the coins dropping in her bag. She’s is beyond contempt.
Now that’s the last I’ll speak of her today. She isn’t worth it.
Michelle Obama is doing a great job. I’m happy for her and she should be proud of herself.
Beth, the big difference between someone who posts on some web site and someone who makes a living by personally attacking people with hateful smears and vile attacks on someones person are apple and oranges.
GeoT says:
24 March 2009 at 10:28 am
________
sounds like she has some issues herself, like not knowing who the hell she is. “voted-for-President Bush authentic feminist.” She sounds like a whack-a-do to me.
Beth in suburban Chicago says:
24 March 2009 at 10:28 am
but think it’s wonderful that someone called Scalia a homophobe.
The hypocrisy is stunning.
________
that would be Barney Frank that said that. I think he has standing on the issue of Gay Marriage which was the context of the comment.
Your point about Sarah Palin has merit but I have yet to hear anyone go off on her like what Bruce did on the First Lady. Emphasis on First Lady.
Jane Austen says:
24 March 2009 at 10:32 am
She sounds like a whack-a-do to me.
_______
5 minutes is all you could stand of her radio show on ANY given day.
Beth in Chicago – It’s hardly the same thing.
Scalia is a homophobe based on his opinions and rulings. That “someone” you mention is Congressman Barney Frank.
djjl says:
24 March 2009 at 10:30 am
Tammy Bruce is probably not really a racist
______
Probably, not really, maybe, could be…. I have no way of knowing, I’m guessing.
GeoT says:
24 March 2009 at 10:34 am
_______
I wouldn’t waste my precious hearing or eyesight, not one nanosecond on this person. There are so many worthwhile things to do.
Beth in suburban Chicago says:
24 March 2009 at 10:28 am
Welcome to the discussion. Really appreciate you engaging the debate around here. We need more voices of dissent so that these things can be hashed out fully and fairly on all sides.
djjl:
if you knew Tammy Bruce’s history you would not be so quick to dismiss the racist subtext to her rant… It’s a common theme on her show based on her “life experience” it’s not a gimmick.
djjl says:
24 March 2009 at 10:30 am
If she’s not a racist then why go to this type of rhetoric? I don’t know if I could lower myself to do this for all the tea in China. Me thinks there are racist underpinnings in her rants.
It’s not just Tammy Bruce— “certain sites” I’ll say, use similar and worse language towards Michelle on a daily basis. Why the need to go after her I don’t know, I guess she’s a convenient surrogate for Obama hate.
This is how cowards act.
(but I’ll move on with djjl)
All I can say is, if you use racist code words for whatever reason and then claim you are not a racist, I got bridge for sale cheap.
angels81 says:
24 March 2009 at 10:51 am
I got bridge for sale cheap.
______
Just long as it isn’t the Brooklyn Bridge; maybe the Bridge to nowhere?
Jane, Its a bridge up hear in Minnesota, and its already been taken apart, thou half of it is still in the Mississippi river.
angels81 says:
24 March 2009 at 10:59 am
_____
how’s the progress on replacing the bridge? will it be finished anytime soon? Hubby used to teach in Minnesota.
Jane the bridge is up and running. They finished it and it opened three or four months ago, and under budget to boot.
djjl says:
24 March 2009 at 10:30 am
Tammy Bruce is probably not really a racist. She is just willing to USE and language to promote her schtick (a’la Limbaugh)and keep the coins dropping in her bag. She’s is beyond contempt.
Now that’s the last I’ll speak of her today. She isn’t worth it.
Michelle Obama is doing a great job. I’m happy for her and she should be proud of herself.
OK everyone, I’ll clarify what I meant. I certainly wasn’t defending her. I just have doubts that she is principled enough. She is one who is willing to prostitute any principles to make a dime. I find her dispicable as I do Limbaugh.
In other words, she’s a whore.
In the dictionary sense, before anyone starts pelting me with rotten tomatoes:
whore (hôr, hōr) Pronunciation Key
n.
1. A prostitute.
2. A person considered sexually promiscuous.
3. A person considered as having compromised principles for personal gain.
intr.v. whored, whor·ing, whores
1. To associate or have sexual relations with prostitutes or a prostitute.
2. To accept payment in exchange for sexual relations.
3. To compromise one’s principles for personal gain.
Thread over, djjl wins the prize for the day.
Well said.
I was wondering how long it would take the racists to start talking about Michelle Obama this way. When BO first entered the primaries (being from the South and having some experience with racists), the first thing that came into my mind (after hoping the SS can keep him safe) was that an African-American woman in the white house would put many WAY over the edge.
This rant shows the frothing at the mouth sexism and racism that is still alive in some segments of American society today – where black women are held in lower regard than pets (yes, I mean like cats and dogs – pets) – where they are treated as the absolute bottom rung in society.
I am so happy that Michelle Obama is First Lady – what a wonderful role model she is for all African – American girls and women. That she is now in this position is huge in breaking down barriers and will help many believe they can reach their own dreams now.
Thank you justlen.
Anyone, how do you put up an avatar?
angels81 says:
24 March 2009 at 11:15 am
________
Don’t know how I missed that but I’m glad it’s up. Amazing it came in under budget which just goes to prove that something can be done without milking the taxpayer.
Just for the sake of accurate information. I read that the so called “bridge to nowhere” was indeed to an island that has a small population but the island was the only direction that the town could grow because of government ownership and land use restrictions in all other directions.There is also intention to put an airport on the island that would serve the large metro area.
I agree with Beth that much of the stuff said about Palin is also unacceptable in civil conversation.I especially hate it when her children are attacked.
AliceP says:
24 March 2009 at 11:18 am
_______
Not only has she become a role-model for African American girls and women I am finding many young white female look at her with a sense of pride not just because she’s African American but she seems to be able to connect with them too and they seem to feel her genuineness in the way she speaks.
Geithner and Bernanke are on the hotseat at the moment,live on MSNBC.
djjl says:
24 March 2009 at 11:22 am
Anyone, how do you put up an avatar?
_______
Wish I could help you djjl. The only thing I know is you have to go to Word Press, I think. My husband had to do mine otherwise I’d have still been trying to do it. GeoT can probably lead you or tell you something about it. I think he told me originally. Though when TM changed her site there were certain links. Sorry I’m not more tech savvy.
djjl, you use your login at wordpress.com and configure your account. After a period of time your avatar migrates to any other wordpress powered blogs you might be visiting.
I knew someone would come to djjl’s rescue.
and if wordpress already has your name registered to someone else (as is mine) you’re shit outa luck
Good mornin’ everyone. Home from work – blizzard all over the state and we’re still having flooding problems. When the snow melts by the end of the weekk, it’ll get really bad again.
Anyway, I certainly agree with all who hate the name calling. I don’t like to see it directed towards anyone and think the person doing it just loses their credibility.
I have come to admire Michelle in the past few months. I think she is a great asset to her husband and the country. I’m glad she’s in the White House, working for the people. I think she really connects with people, just like Barack has done.
In between my posting and now I looked to see who had made the homophobe comment — I can’t believe i forgot it was Barney Frank! I guess my comment was more directed at the approval/disapproval ratio of respondents, as opposed to the “media person” who made the remark in the first place. And by and large, if you’re in favor of Obama, you’re more than willing to trash those on the right. You approve writings that trash Bush (whom I loathe, by the way), Cheney (ditto) and all Republicans. You love to trash Sarah Palin. The remarks about her teen-age daughter were reprehensible, and there was more than a little bit of class warfare/culture warfare in them. And I find that hypocritical in the extreme.
I don’t have time now, but I’ll try, for arguments’ sake, to find some examples of media/columns that trash the right, and teh comments that get added.
And I still think the remark about Michelle Obama was rude, snide, etc.
Velvet, your weather makes me feel badly. I got my Dahlia tubers in a while back and I already have Gladiolas peeking out. Michele would approve of my tomato plants.
justlen says:
24 March 2009 at 11:36 am
djjl, you use your login at wordpress.com and configure your account. After a period of time your avatar migrates to any other wordpress powered blogs you might be visiting.
++++
the email address you enetr at WordPress has to be the same as you use here for the avatar to “follow”
pmichael says:
24 March 2009 at 11:45 am
and if wordpress already has your name registered to someone else (as is mine) you’re shit outa luck
___
____ that’s not true. My WordPress screen name is “ScribnersRevolt”
it’s the email address you register with that matters.
the email address you enetr at WordPress has to be the same as you use here for the avatar to “follow”
Thank goodness, or I’d end up with that other pmichael’s avatar *L*
Beth in suburban Chicago says:
24 March 2009 at 12:06 pm
if you’re in favor of Obama, you’re more than willing to trash those on the right.
_____
I am devoted to that proposition. Thank You.
I think there is a difference between trashing someone because you don’t like their politics and mocking someone that is so inept they are a caricature.
Lake Lady says:
24 March 2009 at 11:29 am
Just for the sake of accurate information. I read that the so called “bridge to nowhere” was indeed to an island
_____
well the rap against Palin is she claimed to have turned down the Federal money for the project which wasn’t true. And this week she’s grandstanding that she is going to “refuse” stimulus funds… also not true (the legislature has a say) Projects that could be very good for the people of Alaska are being called “pork” for political purposes.
Beth in suburban Chicago says:
24 March 2009 at 12:06 pm
I don’t have time now, but I’ll try, for arguments’ sake, to find some examples of media/columns that trash the right.
_____
ooo, ooo let me help, I’ve got an external hard drive chuck full
GeoT, don’t forget the earmarks. Remember her railing about earmarks? Alaska just got over $140M in earmarks. The highest per capita amount of any state.
Velvet says:
24 March 2009 at 11:54 am
Anyway, I certainly agree with all who hate the name calling. I don’t like to see it directed towards anyone and think the person doing it just loses their credibility.
_____
the sad part is she probably just boosted her audience, which was the idea all along. “Credibility” is not a requirement (or even an asset) in wingnut radio circles.
justlen says:
24 March 2009 at 12:29 pm
GeoT, don’t forget the earmarks. Remember her railing about earmarks? Alaska just got over $140M in earmarks. The highest per capita amount of any state
___
that’s what I mean, she’s disingenuous. At least McCain walks the walk on earmarks. If I’m not mistaken his total is “0″.
Bruce, in a way, can be compared to Dennis Miller.
Former liberals who have found a goldmine through their “conversion” into the conservative way of thinking. There are quite a few other examples.
I’m not saying there’s no such thing as a genuine change of philosophy btw. And a few have come the other way, conservative to liberal.
comic relief from Dave Letterman
Teleprompter Vs. No Teleprompter
(VIDEO)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/24/teleprompter-vs-no-telepr_n_178474.html
Ugh.
Until yesterday I had never even heard of this Bruce chick before.
What is it about right-wing radio that brings out the “Mean Girls” syndrome in adult women?
(of course I get it, Tammy Bruce will now get more hits on her website, will make more money on speaking tours and more idiots will buy her books. It is the whole Ingrham/Coulter game as a career choice. Smart move if you can stand the whole “selling your soul to Satan” part of the deal.)
For some reason there is an underclass within this country that really, really hates the fact that a black girl from a working class family has been sucessful on her own merit. Has a lovely family and is the First Lady.
This hatred seems to happen any time “regular” people end up in the White House and they really seem to hate accomplished women (those who have been successful within their chosen careers ie. made it on their own and do not really need a man) as First Lady.
(not that Mrs. Bush was not accomplished, just not a go getter, I always thought Laura Bush was a lovely person who seemed just a bit uncomfortable in DC.)
As for Ms. Bruce, would anyone want to make their mother look like she never taught them any manners, you know, things like “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t open you pie hole.”
DOW about to go positive for the day…. meaning Geithner did not fall on his face
I think its important to note that Palin, Bush, Cheney, McCain, Pres Obama, and any other comparisons I see above made are not private citizens. They are politicians that sign up for it and know what they are getting.
The first lady is pretty much a private citizen. I don’t remember any of us that went after Bush, going after Laura.
That’s a substantial difference, IMO.
maxadog says:
24 March 2009 at 1:00 pm
______
I agree.
And the clip Bruce played was Michelle in a classroom of young children with the basic message of “be yourself” and “be proud of who you are”
twisting that into something ugly was an accomplishment.