On the one hand, liberals enjoy portraying themselves as models of tolerance and racial sensitivity. But woe betide those who run afoul of their orthodoxy. Liberals don't hesitate to bring out the crudest racial imagery to mock them.
We've all seen the vulgar caricatures of Clarence Thomas, Condi Rice and Ward Connerly. Updates: GOP candidate for senator from Maryland Michael Steele has been depicted as Simple Sambo, and former WaPo cartoonist Ted Rall used a variant on the N-word in drawing Condi. Hat tip to Michelle Malkin.
Add Joe Lieberman to the liberal media hit list. Have a look at the image of Lieberman that popped up at Huffington Post today. It's in a column by one Jane Hamsher, who, her bio informs us, is a 'progressive blogger.'
Guess being progressive means never having to say you're sorry for resorting to this kind of stuff to make a political point.
Update: No doubt stung by the criticism, Huff Post has pulled the offending photo. But having been noted at LGF, Best of the Web and here, among many other sites, it will live on in infamy. Given the way this story has resonated across the web, and is sure to explode all over the race in Connecticut on Friday, I'm predicting it will change the outcome, helping Lamont snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Additional Update: Turns out this isn't the first time Hamsher has photo-shopped a vulgar and unflattering image of Lieberman. Her personal web site contains this 'photo' of Lieberman giving a single-digit salute to the Dem party.
Hamsher Apologizes! This has now been posted on Hamsher's personal site:
"I sincerely apologize to anyone who was genuinely offended by the choice of images accompanying my blog post today on the Huffington Post. It’s also important to note that I do not, nor have I ever worked for Ned Lamont’s campaign. However, at their request, I removed the image earlier today.
"Unfortunately, Senator Lieberman’s campaign has used this in attempt to hurt Ned and score political points, mustering their own faux indignation in attempt to further distract from the issues important to the voters of Connecticut.
"For weeks, Senator Lieberman has attempted to woo African Americans by pretending to be someone he clearly is not. Meanwhile, his campaign has liberally distributed race-baiting fliers that have the "paid for by" Joe’s campaign disclaimer at the bottom, lying to the press about their intended recipients.
"But for some reason, more questions have been asked about me, a blogger. With so much at stake this election, is the choice of images used by a mere supporter really newsworthy?
"To the extent that rightwing Republicans like Michelle Malkin are trying to harm Ned Lamont with this ginned up controversy by "defending" his opponent with these absurd charges of racism — I regret it and I invite them to take it up with the person who did it, namely me. I answer to nobody and I operate entirely on my own volition. If you have a problem with something I’ve written, you know where to find me.
"But perhaps it’s also time people started asking why the Republicans suddenly feel they have a dog in this fight in the first place. First David Horowitz, then the College Republicans and now the rightwing blogosphere are all championing a particular Democrat in a Democratic primary. Perhaps they have come to admire what seem to be ever increasing Rovian tactics, such as that flyer accusing Lamont of being a racist (which inspired the satirical graphic in the first place.) Whatever it is, it certainly should give Connecticut voters pause as they consider whether they are really voting for a Democrat in the Democratic primary on August 8th."
Remember: Jane doesn't extend her apology to you unless you're 'genuinely' offended by the image! And if she doesn't understand why "the choice of images used by a mere supporter" are "really newsworthy," she should never have been permitted within a million miles of the campaign.
Update - hat tip to Caring White Guy: Check out Hamsher's blog from September 13, 2005. Jane has blackface on the brain - she posted another blackface photo then! Combine that with her boundless vulgarity and anger, and what does it say of Lamont that he made her a campaign insider?
