UPDATED: Convenient Outrage
I’m all for tastefully conducted, above-the-belt political debate (if any such thing ever existed), but where was the outrage when the sitting governor of Alaska was pilloried with attacks far worse than what Pelosi is said to endure in this instance?
Comparison to a James Bond villainess is worth being outraged about? Ms. Pelosi’s position must be far more precarious than I had imagined. But wait! There’s more to be outraged about (supposedly):
[T]he waterboarding conflict has been accompanied by a cascade of attacks on the speaker, not as a leader or a legislator, but as a woman.
Earlier this week, Pittsburgh radio host Jim Quinn referred to the speaker on his program as “this bitch”; last week, syndicated radio host Neal Boortz opined “how fun it is to watch that hag out there twisting in the wind.”
There has also been a steady stream of taunts about the speaker’s appearance, and whether it’s been surgically enhanced. On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Republican strategist Alex Castellanos said, “I think if Speaker Pelosi were still capable of human facial expression, we’d see she’d be embarrassed.”
Even erstwhile presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee took the time to pen a poem that begins:
“Here’s a story about a lady named Nancy / A ruthless politician, but dressed very fancy.”
The horror! But I’m not referring to the attacks. I’m talking about the hypocrisy.
Come on, folks. After “Abort Palin” and all that nastiness, you’re crying foul a little too late. That bird has flown. Female politicians in this country were set back by decades during the last election. And the GOP had nothing to do with it.
Related: commentary from Dan Riehl.
UPDATE: Legal Insurrection: Distortion and Hypocrisy Galore.
MORE: Darleen Click is giggling on Protein Wisdom (and is joined by Fausta and Little Miss Attila on their own blogs), but Jane Hamsher wonders if it’s time for women to leave the GOP. Strange. I don’t recall any such concern for women abandoning the Left when Palin underwent attacks much worse than being compared to an anatomically-named Bond villainess.
Another good question: how many of these defenders of womanly honor stood up for Carrie Prejean? Show of hands…Anyone? No? Didn’t think so. Just hoping against hypocrisy, that’s all.
ANOTHER ONE: With all due respect, how much you wanna bet this Republican is not speaking for the base? Talk about pulling a McCain. It’s ok to keep it classy, but give me a break. This ad crossed no line other than the one that separates the glamorous world of James Bond movies from the tacky one of Madam Speaker.
