Has Mike Barnicle called Sarah Palin stupid? Seems that way. In a Huffington Post column that Mika Brzezinski read on today's Morning Joe, Barnicle, referring to Palin, wrote of the:
preposterous pronouncements of a woman whose candidacy is an insult to intelligence.
Let's deconstruct. The normal formulation is an "insult to our intelligence," used to describe an assertion that is obviously unbelievable. For example, you might say Barack Obama insulted our intelligence when he claimed against all evidence during this week's debate that his only tie to ACORN is his past representation of the group in a lawsuit. But when Barnicle writes that Sarah Palin's candidacy is an insult not to "our" intelligence, but to intelligence itself, it's hard to read that other than as suggesting Palin is something other than smart. Throw in his reference to "preposterous pronouncements" and there's little doubt that the person Barnicle intended to insult is Palin herself. Mika seemed to acknowledge that Barnicle meant to slur Sarah, observing, after reading that last line, "that's rough stuff."
I'd say that a woman who had ability to take on and defeat an entrenched old-boy network in her home state, and the moral intelligence to make the family decisions she has, is plenty smart. As Forest Gump said, Mike: stupid is as stupid does.
Note: If the Morning Joe folks look cold, it's because they're sitting on an outdoor set in windswept Hyannisport, Massachusetts the morning after attending last night's game at Fenway, whose result will be quickly forgotten once the Rays set things right down in Tampa.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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WTH?
October 17, 2008 - 06:27 ET by ToddonCapeCodIt's not that cold here, on the Cape, that people need gloves on!
What wusses! Especially that Barnicle. Used to love him. He's just a friggin' idiot now.
Well, then thankfully,
October 17, 2008 - 06:44 ET by SickofLibsWell, then thankfully, Barnicle is not insulted.
But thanks for sticking up for the rest of us!
Kettle, meet Pot.
October 17, 2008 - 07:04 ET by motherbeltKettle, meet Pot.
Glass houses, Mike.
Rubber, glue.
We know you are, but what is she?
OK, I'm out of grade-school comebacks.
Get the point, Mike?
Where did Mike B
October 17, 2008 - 07:23 ET by T-Bone Masssteal that comment from.
Barnicle is even an insult
October 17, 2008 - 07:58 ET by Gat New YorkBarnicle is even an insult to plagarists.
set things right?
October 17, 2008 - 07:27 ET by MattHehe-- Game on
Just another example of how
October 17, 2008 - 07:41 ET by Ruths husband BenJust another example of how the press just doesn't get it.
“But maybe you obviously have a better memory about that."- Wolf Blitzer
media gets it
October 17, 2008 - 07:54 ET by AgnosticThey get it! That is why the ignore it, obscure it, hype it or whatever it takes to get their agenda across.
Chicken...Egg Which came first?
Democrat Party...MSM Who sets the agenda?
Mike, that comment
October 17, 2008 - 08:02 ET by IamTinmanMike, that comment was an insult to OUR intelligence!
That kind of juvenile commentary has no place in serious political discorse. You and the people who pay you should be embarrassed at the level of your rhetorical ability. Of course looking at the intellectual level of your Hufpo readers, maybe you're spot on, but normal people operate at a level a little higher than 5th grade. (my apologies to fifth graders)
Name
October 17, 2008 - 08:08 ET by MES41067His name says it all.
Wow, more boorishness not
October 17, 2008 - 08:42 ET by dscottWow, more boorishness not seen since the 1950's, a woman who has executive experience as governor and mayor is stupid and less qualified than a male who has NONE. A woman who negotiates a great deal for the State of Alaska with the oil companies is obviously more stupid than a guy who directs spending of over $50 million of the Annenberg grant money to no discernable effect. Talk about your sexist attitudes. Ironic that Obama ran campaign spots decrying women making only 77 cents on the dollar in pay when he condons the boorish behavior of the left.
Here you go feminists, who is the party of paternalism? That would be the Democrat Party where women with experience and accomplishments are LESS qualified to do anything than an inexperienced man whose record is one of incompetence because he can talk a good game. At some point a person who just listens is less supportive than a person who is a doer. There, there honey, you are too stupid to be responsible, just do as we say. Of course it goes without saying you Hillary supporters are racists because you didn't vote for Obama in the primaries, just listen to Jack Murtha he said it all.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
Hoping for a Red Sox revival
October 17, 2008 - 08:46 ET by KC MulvilleThe Red Sox need to extend the Rays just a little more. (Full disclosure: I'm from Philly, and anything that will hamper the Rays is good news for me. I loved last night's game.)
Barnicle merely says out loud what the liberals are all thinking, if you can call that thought. Sometimes, however, in the attempt to portray others as stupid, they reveal their prejudices. Barnicle is one example, but Letterman did it last night with McCain. I'm sure that interview will come up again today on this site, as well it should. Letterman, who's a lightweight and an obvious liberal (although he hilariously said that he was a registered independent), repeatedly asked McCain about whether Palin could lead the country. Dave couldn't take yes for an answer, and it became painful to see him struggle. Letterman kept asking the same question -- leaving viewers to wonder whether Dave was too stupid to see that he was getting nowhere. What did he think McCain was going to do, break down under Dave's stare and publicly apologize for Palin?
Palin is becoming a Rosetta Stone for liberalism. No matter how they try to obscure it, these lightweight liberals can't help but reveal their prejudices when she's discussed.
This morning, watching
October 17, 2008 - 09:03 ET by marpelThis morning, watching Morning Joe, I braced myself when Scarborough said that it was posted on the Huff Post...I knew it was going to be derrogatory as hell. And, Barnicle didn't let me down.
Barnicle tried to be elegant while he insulted the intelligence of every conservative in the country, but he came off as boorish. I wish these people would just shut up. With the poles starting to even out, I still have hopes that McCain/Palin will pull off an upset. Then, I will watch MSNBC with particular glee...
Mike,
October 17, 2008 - 09:27 ET by NorthCoasterYou can't be serious. Look at the backgrounds of our founders and you will see men and women with histories like Sarah Pallin and Joe Wurzebach. Your elitist snobbery is what is wrong here.
Everyone knows that
October 17, 2008 - 11:53 ET by fitzfongEveryone knows that Barnicle is fronting for Ohvomit/Biden...all plagiarists stick together.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com
Barnicle has no intelligence to insult
October 17, 2008 - 13:59 ET by nkviking75Hey Mike, Sarah can't insult what you don't have.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
"take on and defeat an entrenched old-boy network in Alaska
October 17, 2008 - 14:18 ET by dilligafffAre you serious?
That's like saying Mr. McCain wasn't screwing around with Cindy while married to his first wife!
Ms. Palin, appointed by Gov Murkowski "old-boy network" to the $125k Oil & Gas Commission position, "ratted-out" another member, a political rival who just happened to be the chairman of the state Republican party, for conducting "state republican business" while working on the comission. Ms. Palin ran her campaign for Lt. Governor while she was mayor of Wasilla from the mayor's office.
And after Ms. Palin "resigned" from the Oil & Gas commission she served as a director, at a salary of $120k, of an independent political group organized by Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, "old-boy network", who is himself on trial at this very moment!
Ms. Palin was recently found to have abused her authority and broke state ethics law by trying to remove her former brother-in-law from his job as a state trooper!!!
Oh I see, Palin was
October 17, 2008 - 15:38 ET by dscottOh I see, Palin was supposed to have tossed all those people out first then took those jobs, right? Which is harder to do, oppose a person who appointed or hired you or take pot shots at someone in another department??? You aren't serious.
You wouldn't have fired someone for showing poor judgment by not getting rid of a law enforcement officer abusing his position tasering his own kid? Wow, and I thought liberals were supposed to be for the defenseless, Guess Not.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
Great, dilligafff. Your post
November 1, 2008 - 12:15 ET by cocodrieGreat, dilligafff. Your post earns you the gross distortion award of today and as your name suggests you get three f's. you can be as proud of those as Kerry is of his three bogus purple hearts.
Ms. Palin was recently
November 1, 2008 - 12:04 ET by Jack BauerThat's NOT TRUE. So are you a liar, or just uniformed?
it's both Jack:) obama has
November 1, 2008 - 12:45 ET by TruthMongerit's both Jack:)
obama has no GRAVITAS - even less with biden
I heard Mika read this
October 17, 2008 - 14:21 ET by bigtimerI heard Mika read this early this morning...
Pathetic....this is one maybe he didn't plagiarize.
I have got to where I barely tolerate this show anymore anyway.
Barnicle is an insult to my intelligence.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Barnicle
November 1, 2008 - 11:36 ET by east tennessee johnSarah's comments are her own, she's never been accused of plagerism; these Beltway liberals and Boston intellectuals were the ones who also showed disdain to the now hallowed Truman(no college, no successful work experience); they're elitists pure and simple who feel the burden for caring for us prols and we just don't kiss their collective asses enough in appreciation. 3 days before the election and the only thing Barack, "I'm going to send you a check", has done is spend his entire life working to undermine the system he wants to run and run for President. That's his resume and Sarah is "unqualifed "in the eyes of an ex-TV weatherman turned late night show host. Can you believe this?
Gov. Palin is an insult to a
November 1, 2008 - 11:55 ET by cocodrieGov. Palin is an insult to a voter named Peggy Joseph who stated she will no longer have to pay her mortgage nor pay for gas after Obama is elected. Goverment education in cahoots with ACORN, I suppose.