Liberal Fox Contributor Takes on Left: 'Rush Limbaugh Isn’t the Only Media Misogynist'
NewsBusters readers likely know Kirsten Powers as one of the many intelligent, reasonable, liberal contributors to Fox News.
On Sunday, Powers published a piece at the Daily Beast entitled "Rush Limbaugh Isn’t the Only Media Misogynist" that is guaranteed to be applauded by the Right and heavily ridiculed by her colleagues on the left:
Did you know there is a war on women?
Yes, it’s true. Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, Bill Maher, Matt Taibbi, and Ed Schultz have been waging it for years with their misogynist outbursts. There have been boycotts by people on the left who are outraged that these guys still have jobs. Oh, wait. Sorry, that never happened.
Boycotts are reserved for people on the right like Rush Limbaugh, who finally apologized Saturday for calling a 30-year-old Georgetown Law student, Sandra Fluke, a “slut” after she testified before congress about contraception. Limbaugh’s apology was likely extracted to stop the departure of any more advertisers, who were rightly under pressure from liberal groups outraged by the comments. [...]
But if Limbaugh’s actions demand a boycott—and they do—then what about the army of swine on the left?
Powers then shared numerous misogynistic episodes by folks like Matthews, Olbermann, Taibbi, Schultz, and especially Maher - many of which having been reported by NewsBusters - noting how the same folks on the left heaping scorn on Limbaugh and calling for boycotts of his sponsors turn a blind eye to far worse sexism from these "swine."
She concluded:
This is not to suggest that liberals—or feminists—never complain about misogyny. Many feminist blogs now document attacks on women on the left and the right, including Jezebel, Shakesville, and the Women’s Media Center (which was cofounded by Steinem). But when it comes to high-profile campaigns to hold these men accountable—such as that waged against Limbaugh—the real fury seems reserved only for conservatives, while the men on the left get a wink and a nod as long as they are carrying water for the liberal cause.
After all, if Limbaugh’s outburst is part of the “war on women,” then what is the routine misogyny of liberal media men?
It’s time for some equal-opportunity accountability. Without it, the fight against media misogyny will continue to be perceived as a proxy war for the Democratic Party, not a fight for fair treatment of women in the public square.
Indeed. I would also note that Limbaugh apologized for his comments which should diminish accusations of his misogyny. By contrast, it's a rare thing for a liberal media member to ever acknowledge wrong-doing in this regard.
Maher on Friday even said it was okay for him to call Sarah Palin the C-word because he's on HBO and therefore doesn't have sponsors.
That will likely be the extent of his mea culpa without any pushback from his supporters who would be going berserk if he were making such comments about Democrats.
Brava, Kirsten! Brava!
(H/T @imau2fan)
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Comments
Limbaugh's apology was likely
Submitted by motherbelt on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 12:39pm.
Limbaugh’s apology was likely extracted to stop the departure of any more advertisers, who were rightly under pressure from liberal groups outraged by the comments. [...] (emphasis mine)
When conservatives pressure advertisers to bail on a liberal, liberals call it "censorship."
Sandra Fluke could go a long way toward ending this if she would accept Rush's apology.
I wonder if she has as much class as Laura Ingraham.
class?
Submitted by Paul G on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:41pm.
That was rhetorical right? lol
I'd like to time how long
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 12:42pm.
this creep would be on the air if he call Moochelle what he so proudly and frequently calls Palin. I'm betting he'd be on the street in less than 48 hours.
Never going to happen.
Submitted by JohnP in OK on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 12:52pm.
I mean, let's get real here. Maher wouldn't have the cojones to direct ANY of the insults he routinely uses at Moochelle. She'd come down there and beat his head in, and he knows it! And Barack would hold her coat for her.
Kirsten got part of it wrong.
Submitted by UpNorth on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 12:52pm.
Fluke was not testifying before Congress. Rep. Issa correctly declined to let her testify before his committee, as she wasn't testifying about government forcing an entity to subsidize something that goes against their tenets.
So, Fluke probably didn't commit perjury, as she wasn't under oath before Congress, the "House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee" isn't a committee under Congressional rules, they can't issue subpoenas, all they do is stage dog and pony shows.
That said, Powers was correct when she said, "It’s time for some equal-opportunity accountability. Without it, the fight against media misogyny will continue to be perceived as a proxy war for the Democratic Party, not a fight for fair treatment of women in the public square".
So, all the caterwauling is just that, noise for the sake of noise.
Well Kristen
Submitted by MacWell on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 12:54pm.
You've gained a lot of credibility in my eyes, not that that matters a whole lot to you. There is hope for some liberals, I hope Kristen comes to realize that much of what spews from the left is BS. Sometimes people become conservatives at an older age, maybe Kristen will see the light.
The power
Submitted by grammajane on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 12:57pm.
of the liberal media is out of control. The numerous and hateful remarks coming from radical libs on cable is never acknowledged because they are all on the campaign trail to get their man re-elected. They are all causing this war on women when the issue is war on religion. It was reported that their man was becoming very un-popular with women voters, this time around so spin the news to blame Rush. Did the pres. apologise to Palin for what letterman and maher said??
Thank you Kirsten Powers.
Submitted by Gary Hall on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:01pm.
Thank you Kirsten Powers. Wonder what name Bill Maher will have for you on his next show.
I'm still miffed over the "sponsor" defense.
Look at this:
July 31, 2009|Bill Maher | Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Hmm - the Los Angeles Times have sponsors?
And, as has been noted, Maher is often a guest political pundit/analyst on Wolf Blitzer's show on CNN. They have sponsors.
Why is not having sponsors a defense for ethical violations?
I wish someone would explain to me how the anti-capitalist left - the anti corporate sponsor left - feel that having corporate sponsors somehow puts a lid on what you can say, and not having them does not? Shouldn't this be more about what is said, or shown, "publicly?"
(;~/ gary
Agreed. But with Maher, it's like HBO tells him
Submitted by merly1 on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:05pm.
to say the most outrageous, misogynistic things possible. How else
does he keep his job?
mely1 - Maher keeps his job, because
Submitted by Gary Hall on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:39pm.
mely1 - Maher keeps his job, because after Maher says these horrible things on TV, etc., the next day, there is not a word about it anywhere to be seen in the national media. He keeps his job because the entire national MSM doesn't care about women being called the C-word, or the T- word, or the S-word. They only care when they can use it against the other side - the Republicans. If they do care, then the bias is even worse.
(;~> gary
Gary Hall, Your link sends
Submitted by Liberallies on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:15pm.
Gary Hall,
Your link sends us to an LA Times opinion piece on birthers....
Liberallies - yes
Submitted by Gary Hall on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:35pm.
Yes, it does. An rather pathetic article, by the way, by Bill Maher - who is identified as a LA Times Staff Writer. He still publishes columns for the LA Times from time to time. They still do interviews with him. They are outraged by Rush's sad outburst. They have no problem with Maher. And, by the way, Maher seems to be rather ignorant on the birther issue - doesn't seem to understand that it was created by the Democrats (connected to Hillary's campaign) during the dirty 2008 Democrat primary battle.
This is about the national MSM's pathetic bias.
(;~/ gary
Maher
Submitted by jakesnake on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:01pm.
Mr Maher---Please cover your Proboscis.
My young daughter saw you picture on the computer screen and ran into the kitchen screaming, "Mommy, Mommy, there is a naked man on the computer screen."
Kirsten Powers
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:02pm.
Kirsten, now hide and watch as the buffoons you just lambasted go first to the "What do you expect, she works for FOX" rationale.
Cool Arrow, It is exactly
Submitted by Liberallies on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:11pm.
Cool Arrow,
It is exactly the same thing I was thinking. She will now be the receiver of countless anti-women attacks.
You know, Rush Limbaugh ended his Friday show by going after Bill Maher. Bill Maher responded. Now Kirsten Powers writes this article. I am wondering if Rush believed he could take this whole thing in this direction, point to the Liberal hypocrisy of how they treat women they hate and how they have a collective baby tantrum when a Conservative like Limbaugh says something Liberals need to desperately believe is anti-woman. Hmmmmmm.....
and i have zero doubt Limbaugh has been inundated by phone calls and emails from Republican politicians begging him to back off since it was creating a storm for their political campaigns.
The GOP elite are not fans of Rush anyway
Submitted by Radical1979 on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 2:26pm.
Because most of them are no longer true conservatives. They are Washington insiders looking for power and Rush has been known to call them on it. No doubt many of them are pleased about this.
Rush is right 99.2% of the time, Gosh he ain't perfect.
Submitted by upcountrywater on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:09pm.
Rush apologized because it was the right thing thing to go..
I'm sure he will find a better word for that lefty user pond scum, come Monday.
He didn't apologize because he's, afraid of loosing money.
Hay he runs a business, the advertisers all think they are being charged too much, so what a great way to re-negotiate a contract.
He apologized for EIB and to all of his employees...all the way down to the person, with rags and stainless steel polish keeping the sea breeze from corroding his huge x ray machine.
You Didn't Build That.
Moocher or Parasite come to mind
Submitted by mom_rox on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 3:23pm.
Perhaps a University Agitator? Rush would not have gotten into trouble if he had used any of those descriptions.
"Kirsten Powers, worst person in the world."
Submitted by SickofLibs on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:20pm.
Too bad nobody will hear him say it.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Submitted by liberalsarefunny on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:25pm.
Watch the lefties savage this Powers person.....
All one has to do to see
Submitted by Liberallies on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:25pm.
All one has to do to see Liberal mentality and hypocrisy is read the comments that are at the bottom of Ms. Kirsten Power's article.
In one sentence the Liberlas will say how outraged they are over Limbaugh's attacks and insults on women and on the next sentence they will call Conservative women all type of degrading and digusting things.
Or, they will simply go on a rant how it is ok to go after Conservative women.
Maybe we should give this all a few more days. Some of rush's sponsors jumped ship a bit too soon, I think.
Jer, where are you? Waiting for you to say, "Liberallies, no, no way! I read one or two Liberal posts on the Daily Beast agreeing with Ms. Powers, so you see, we Liberals aren't that bad. out of thousands of Liberals posting, two of us agree with Ms. Powers. This means that Liberals agree with Ms. Powers." hahahaha....
Liberallies...
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 03/05/2012 - 3:37am.
For at least the third time, I was simply pointing out your contention that criticism or outrage from the left was "nonexistent" after Letterman's Palin joke was incorrect [and I referred to the liberal pundit Mark Shields whose negative reaction was mentioned by Letterman himself in his apology]. And, by the way, not a single lib poster at NB defended Letterman but expressed doubt he was speaking about the younger Palin daughter.
In any event, NOW also condemned Letterman's "joke". And I'm confident there were many others on the left or perceived as liberal-leaning who did likewise. The following is an excerpt from a Fox News article.
The National Organization of Women also blasted Letterman for inappropriate "jokes" on its Web site Thursday.
"Comedians in search of a laugh should really know better than to snicker about men having sex with teenage girls (or young women) less than half their age," NOW said.
"The sexualization of girls and women in the media is reaching new lows these days — it is exploitative and has a negative effect on how all women and girls are perceived and how they view themselves."
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525882,00.html#ixzz1oE27LLaD
Jer
What's next?
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 1:48pm.
How about we summon men up to Capitol Hill and have them testify they informed the women with whom they'd been intimate they didn't want children, but were forced by these women to pay child support anyway?
Certainly there must be a place at the government trough for upstanding men such as these, who dare to stand up to the injustice to which they've been subjected.
OK, I'm kidding for now, but that doesn't mean the day isn't coming.
Ms Fluke might still
Submitted by Bodini on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 2:01pm.
Ms Fluke might still be in bed "working" her way through law school and doesn't even know that EL-Rushbo has even apologized. If that sounds a bit insensitive, I do APOLOGIZE ... lest I lose my GM Chevy Volt sponsorship!
We Got Flucked
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 2:14pm.
It's what the left does best.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html
Rush is becoming irrelevant
Submitted by cbeyer on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 2:18pm.
For years, I have been a devoted fan of Rush Limbaugh and have marveled at his brilliant political insights. In this case, he could have made the same point more effectively without using the term 'Slut'.
I also have lost respect for Rush for his daily bashing of Romney. I have listened to programs where he spent more time bashing Mitt than Obama. If Romney does get the nomination, Rush has been so strident in attacking him....it is doubtful that he will give much support if any to the Republican candidate. Perhaps he has concluded that Obama's extremism is good for his show and he is looking forward to four more years.
he's always in the news -
Submitted by TruthMonger on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 2:18pm.
he's always in the news - evidently he is more relavent then ever..
Congratulations Jimmy Carter!
~How do you have time to post
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 2:21pm.
when all your time is clearly taken up by your full-time job of sucking Romney's toes?
Being Liberal Means
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 2:19pm.
Never having to say you're sorry.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html
Bavro, Kirsten Powers!
Submitted by Galvanic on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 2:52pm.
Over the years she has established herself as a liberal with integrity and a sense of honesty. The women of the MSM such as Andrea Mitchell, Soledad O'Brien, Ann Curry, et al should to listen to her and learn. But we know that they won't.
LIKE. . .
Submitted by rickbren on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 4:57pm.
Like.
Ms. Powers
Submitted by fivestring_assassin on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 4:14pm.
is an outstanding example of a highly indepenent thinking woman. So refreshing. Unlike the idiots MSNBC pimps out to spew hatred such as Alex Wagner, Melissa Harris-Perry, and of course, their biggest idiot to date Rachel Maddow
Kirsten is back on my Hot Liberal Babes list.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 5:12pm.
In fact, she was the ONLY one ever to be on that list. I had to drop her off when I found out that she used to date that POS, Anthony Wiener!
I love what happens to the liberals who come over to Fox and are exposed to actually sane people who think. Sooner or later, they start to catch the "conservative disease," I guess.
Good job Kirsten
Submitted by Model850 on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 5:23pm.
Good column but with one glaring omission: She failed to mention the Hypocrite-in-Chief's double standard.
He chastises Rush and calls Ms. Fluke to express his support but can't bring himself to criticize Maher or call Ms. Palin, and in fact apparently is OK with his SuperPAC accepting $1 million from the vile, disgusting Maher.
Hypocrisy thy name is Obama.
@Model850
Submitted by Timothy H on Mon, 03/05/2012 - 11:10am.
So true. So very true. This should be the biggest part of this story...if there were any true journalists left in the MSM, anyways.
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. -Albert Einstein
And for blonde:Some days it just doesn't pay to chew through the restraint. -Timothy H
Can we stop with the
Submitted by ckc1227 on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 6:32pm.
Can we stop with the "misogyny" crap? Just because the person being criticized/ridiculed for saying something stupid is a woman doesn't make it misogyny.
It does if you're a liberal
Submitted by Model850 on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 6:59pm.
Just like any criticism of the current White House occupant is racism.
~Yeah....
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 7:01pm.
You don't have any credibility when it comes to anything involving women, especially women and sexual matters. Aren't you late to your "Make Whores Legal. Please." meeting?
If they are going to cry racism I'm going to cry misogyny
Submitted by Radical1979 on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 8:29pm.
Gloves are off.
i think all liberal women are c
Submitted by jimtrees on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 8:20pm.
well, you know.
~Stupid?
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Sun, 03/04/2012 - 8:26pm.
Deceived? Ignorant? Misinformed? Deluded?
Because if you're going to try to go down the road you're peeing on the side of at the moment, well, I happen to have a bit of time on my hands right now, and I'd be pleased to spend it kicking your sorry @ss for you.
Letterman
Submitted by Lindamae on Mon, 03/05/2012 - 2:27am.
And let us NOT forget Letterman's jokes about Spitzer and Willow Palin - the 12 year old daughter. He also mentioned the Yankees player but it was Spitzer who had sex with under-aged prostitutes. Letterman was defended by the elite media as telling a poor joke. He should have been bounced. Or what about the Roots on Fallon's show playing their ".....bitch" song to welcome in Bachmann. Plus, they bragged about it prior to the show!!!
Kirsten Powers
Submitted by amyshulk on Mon, 03/05/2012 - 7:20am.
Gets a lot right, but it's where she goes wrong that I find disturbing!
Ronald Reagan
I'm pissed at Rush
Submitted by texasborngranny on Mon, 03/05/2012 - 1:48pm.
for such incompetence!!
Why did he waste his 'podium' by lowering himself to the left's lever?
He should have been using his forum to expose the left's attack on the First Amendment, not playing into their hands and bolstering their claim that the right is attacking women's right to contraception.
It was a stupid move on Rush's part and I am sorely disappointed.