MRC President and NewsBusters Publisher Brent Bozell appeared on the September 11 "Fox & Friends" to talk about media coverage of Sen. Barack Obama's lipstick-on-a-pig remark and on the continued fallout from MSNBC's biased convention coverage.
Bozell noted that the liberal media just "don't get it" about widespread anger over the lipstick remark, but cautioned the Fox News anchors from labeling Obama's remark as sexist:
BRENT BOZELL: There are women all over America who are outraged. Whether or not he meant to say it, he did say it. Period.
GRETCHEN CARLSON: And so, do you believe, though, that it was a sexist comment?
BOZELL: Gretchen, I think we have to be a little bit careful with all these "-ist" comments that we have out here. Sooner or later, no one's going to be allowed to say anything. I don't know that it was sexist in the sense that I don't know, I can't get into Barack Obama's mind as if he deliberately was targeting Sarah Palin. The fact of the matter is, you do have a vice presidential candidate on the other side who is a woman, and she has been in the news.... If he didn't mean it, he should have said so.
Minutes later, the "Fox & Friends" hosts asked Bozell about MSNBC shareholders upset at MSNBC's convention coverage:
BOZELL: Well, it's a complete meltdown at MSNBC. These people simply-- talk about not getting it. These people at MSNBC just refuse to accept reality. The reality is that the public doesn't want left-wing rants and call it news journalism.
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Curious, did Brent say
September 11, 2008 - 09:41 ET by balboaCurious, did Brent say something like this during the "macaca" incident?
"There are Indians all over America who are outraged. Whether or not he meant to say it, he did say it. Period."
No? Hm...
No
September 11, 2008 - 10:02 ET by cvgbuckeyeNo bal. You see, it takes Brent and about 5 million other Conservatives to point out dem hypocracy since the media does not.
We have you to point out the other side and you barely have a part time job.
Macaca...
September 11, 2008 - 10:44 ET by Scrapironbalboa
"Curious, did Brent say something like this during the "macaca" incident?
"There are Indians all over America who are outraged. Whether or not he meant to say it, he did say it. Period."
No? Hm... "
Are you that dense, not over two people in the United States associated 'macaca' with an insult until the Lame Stream Media had time to find some small tribe in some unheard of area of the world that use a 'similiar' word. No Indian in this country was insulted since it was not and can not be associated with Native Americans. The entire thing was phony outrage from liberals. I'm glad they got a future child molester elected and if you read Webb's books you'll see that's what he is. Why do you think he visited Thailand, sex with children is rampart there and available for a couple of dollars.
Go hide under your slime rock and try to come up with another excuse to cover for the chosen one with the admitted 'Muslem faith'.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
Are you that dense Bal is a
September 11, 2008 - 11:50 ET by NewsbusterbrownAre you that dense
Bal is a likeable guy, but, yes, he is that dense.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Um, Bal, you may recall
September 11, 2008 - 11:24 ET by KillgraveUm, Bal, you may recall that George Allen got crucified by the media over that "macca" crack, and it sunk his campaign.
Meanwhile, your jug-eared phony gets to chug on his merry way, and the same media is giving him a 100% free pass. "Nothing to see here" "Move along".
So I fail to see where you get your outrage from your analogy.
bb-head, you need to quit
September 11, 2008 - 12:35 ET by marvlbb-head, you need to quit dining on those mushrooms you've been finding beside your outhouse. I think some of them are either poisonous or maybe filled with your own crap. They're causing you a mental meltdown.
Phony
September 11, 2008 - 09:50 ET by cvgbuckeyeAdd to all this the phony, yes I said phony reaction of Olbemann to the playing of the 9/11 tape.
I would halfway accept it if it was legitimate remorse but it was all phony reaction and an act;;;;;;;and a poor act at that. That idiot could care less about 9/11. The only thing that he thinks it is worth is to slam Conservatives and George Bush.
MSNBC
September 11, 2008 - 09:52 ET by MoxieDid he say "Rachel MANdow"? or am I just new here?
I am so glad people are openly talking about this. My mom did not believe me about their convention coverage--I told her, before it started, to watch ANY other network. Once she saw this on FoxNews, she called me and said she was going to listen to me about all things political for this election ("political", I say), since she barely follows the mainstream political news, nevermind the internet. Moxie - PA
MSNBC - Matthews
September 11, 2008 - 10:15 ET by mustangsallyI was so angry watching Matthews steamroll the Republican talking head on this issue (why do they always get the "deer in the headlights" folks to represent the GOP perspective) I was shouting at my TV. This is the same guy who sensed "racism" in the "community organizer" jabs by Guillini and Palin who is refusing to admit the connotations of Obama's remark.
Of course, on a literal level, Obama was referencing McCain's policies. But context is everything! In the context of Palin's speech and domination of the news cycle, Obama's remark was a personal jab. He went on to say something about an "old fish". Again, the crowd was very aware of the connotations of that remark towards McCain.
A broken clock is correct twice a day; Bill Mahr was correct when he said that it seems Matthews just wants to make love to Barak Obama. Russert must be rolling in his grave ..
Hussein said what he said because....
September 11, 2008 - 10:27 ET by ScrapironHussein O said what he said because that's what the setup was. A graphic 'Obama on Palin' was flashed to those attending just before he made his'lipstick on a pig' slander of Palin. That's why the crowd was ready to roar approval. I'm ashamed of any of my neighbors who participated in that pitiful show.
It seems that a lot of people are accepting the brainwashing by the Lame Stream Media just as a lot of Germans accepted Hitler's brainwashing tactics. People with low brain power/low self esteem seem to fall for brainwashing over and over. It looks like the takeover of the school systems by left wing liberal democrats with a drive to destroy Ameica is having it's effect.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
While pursuing a degree in
September 11, 2008 - 11:06 ET by BuffNBoneWhile pursuing a degree in public administration, I shared some courses with the poly sci crowd. A caution that has remained with me was about the danger in using humor because someone or many could take offense. This whole episode is a great example of why to avoid using humor.
The media pundits supporting Obama have been using the tack of the comment should be seen in the context it was given. In doing so they suggest that people should read the transcript but this totally ignores the delivery aspects of communication. This component is most often the majority of the message. In this case he effectively used the comedic pause. Most of the videos being shown stop shortly after Obama's first mention of lipstick. But when seen in its entirety you see him milking the crowd for extra response, much like they were part of an inside joke. To me this implies he knew full well what he was doing. As part of the defense package, the media offer videos of other politicians (both side of the aisle) using the same joke but what is obvious is they do not drag out the punchline as he did. Interestingly the only democrat I saw was John Edwards (but that's another story.)
While Obama is not trying out for the position of First Comedian, saying he didn't intend the comment was a putdown of Palin speaks volumes about how well he can be trusted.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
I think Obama initially was
September 11, 2008 - 11:33 ET by marpelI think Obama initially was not referring to Sarah Palin, but what was he thinking when the crowd reacted the way it did? That's the issue here. Once he saw that reaction and/or thought about what he said, he should have explained himself right then and there. If the audience had not reacted the way it did, I think less would have been made of this whole thing....I could be wrong.
MSNBC is no different than it was before KO and Chrissy were removed as "MCs". All they did is shift things around....like the "shell game". They really must think their viewers are stupid because they insult their intelligence every minute of the day.
I'm not so sure ...
September 11, 2008 - 11:57 ET by Kevin HalpernThat the line was not put in the speech as an attempt to demean Gov. Palin. I don't think his speeches are off-the-cuff. He must read over a script in advance before getting up and starting to talk.
lipstick hypocracy
September 11, 2008 - 11:36 ET by hugonewfieWow, this is beyond ridiculous. Where was the "widespread anger" and "sexism" when John McCain used the exact same analogy about Hillary Clinton (Iowa 10/11/07)? Hypocracy? You bet!
»→ Right on hugo
September 11, 2008 - 11:43 ET by Cool ArrowAnd where was the "widespread anger" when Obama and his thugs accused Bill Clinton of racism over a "fairytale" comment.
OK, so you're willing to admit Obama's a race baiter. A thinskinned, elegant little pansy, crybaby, race baiter.
We could spend hours listing
September 11, 2008 - 12:58 ET by hugonewfieWe could spend hours listing every disputed statement from this presidential campaign, so try to stay on topic, Arrow. If you're going to argue that Obama was sexist, or wrong for using that analogy this week, then you have to concede that McCain was equally sexist and wrong when he used the same analogy. This current 'controversy' is a trumped-up charge to obscure more important campaign issues. You call Obama a 'thin-skinned crybaby' (and several other childish terms...), but it sure looks like the republicans can whine with the best of them.
»→ You're easy hugo
September 11, 2008 - 20:48 ET by Cool ArrowI got exactly the response from you I was trying to extract. Just because I knew I could. You were leaning in for a curve ball, so I threw high and inside.
I've said in other posts the lipstick comment was was good political tactics and I hoped the McCain/Palin would continue the banter with a reference to the Obama/Biden cartel being porcine experts, having a proven record of smuggling pork.
BTW, I notice you didn't refute my calling Obama a race baiter.
Clever, but stupid
September 11, 2008 - 20:33 ET by otisI have seen defenders of Obama show a litany of Republicans use the lipstick/pig phrase and Obama says it is very common in the political world. So someone please give an example of this being a frequent saying of Obama's before now. Maybe it is.
But it's pretty hard to believe that lipstick/pig was not a reference to Gov. Palin, just as the smelly fish was surely aimed at Sen. McCain. Lipstick/Palin; Old fish/McCain. Taken at face value, I could almost say it was clever. Almost. What I can definately say is that it was stupid.
Obama certainly has heard Gov. Palin tell the lipstick on a pit bull joke. How would you expect people to take his lipstick comment? Exactly the way the I took it on my first hearing and the way it was obviously taken by the laughing crowd at his speech.
Was it an intended sexist attack on Gov. Palin? Beats me. It was tacky, tactless and stupid for a man who's supporters claim is so intelligent and refined.
Just another cheap shot from Obama
September 11, 2008 - 21:12 ET by chazskiWhat appalls me is that FOX News caved on this issue. On Tuesday after Obama made his pig dig at Gov. Palin, most of the FOX News crew recognized that it was a dig at her lipstick jest. But on Wednesday, they seemed to be universally unable to find anything wrong in what he said. The worst was Cavuto who played back to back bytes of Obama’s statement, the first when he paused after the first part to allow the audience to react, and the second when he made the full statement without a pause. Cavuto said he had read the statement hundreds of times and couldn’t see any problem. But the problem was in the pause which can’t be perceived by reading and which Obama did to allow the audience to react to the lipstick connection, which they did enthusiastically. It is exactly that pause which makes it a jab and not, as claimed by Obama, just a frequently used cliché. No, Obama wasn’t calling Palin a pig, and, no, there was nothing sexist in it. It was nothing more than a cheap political shot which merely mocked her statement about lipstick and pit bulls. The reason for mocking her was that her statement, made impromptu, had been so effective and had garnered such widespread attention. But it was just a cheap shot, even if Cavuto couldn’t recognize it as such, and nothing more. Remember, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar ... and a cheap shot is just a cheap shot.