In the wake of the Don Imus, Opie and Anthony scandals, one would think a press figure suggesting that killing a dog was worse than raping a woman would draw a lot of media attention.
However, a CNN sports anchor named Larry Smith made such a comment on Thursday, and I would venture to guess that few readers had even heard about it.
Think there'd be such media silence if a well-known conservative made such a remark?
While you ponder that question, here is the partial transcript from Thursday's "Nancy Grace" on CNN Headline News when the topic of discussion was the Michael Vick dog-fighting scandal:
NANCY GRACE, HOST: Today, his lawyer says that he took the first step in proving his innocence. But do you remember this? Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOBE BRYANT, LOS ANGELES LAKERS: I`m innocent, you know? I didn`t force her to do anything against her will. I`m innocent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE: That is Kobe Bryant after rape allegations were leveled against him, which he beat, I might add. And sitting next to him in that exact presser was his wife.
Out to Larry Smith, CNN sports correspondent and CNN anchor. What`s Vick afraid of? Come on. He`s been in front of the camera a million times. What`s so hard about declaring your innocence?
LARRY SMITH, CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, that`s -- he`s been in a lot of trouble lately, when you think about all the other incidents, and this is just the worst one of all. Keep in mind, too, that while Kobe Bryant is a situation we can sort of compare this to, this really is much worse. Not only can you argue that the crimes are much worse in terms of, you know, killing dogs and that kind of thing, but as an NFL starting quarterback, you are the most visible face in that city. I`ve said all along, in fact, you know, if you go through and, you know, very quickly name 10 mayors of major cities in the country...
GRACE: Larry Smith, did I just hear you say...
SMITH: ... you could have a harder time doing that...
GRACE: ... mistreatment of...
SMITH: ... than naming 10 NFL starting quarterbacks.
GRACE: Did I just hear Larry Smith, CNN sports correspondent and anchor, state that crimes on a dog are much worse than crimes on a woman? Did I hear that?
SMITH: I`m sorry. You -- I`m saying they could be. I`m not arguing for which is worse, which one is worse. I`m just saying that in terms of his visibility is much worse. His visibility is much worse than what Kobe Bryant`s is. Kobe Bryant is a superstar in the NBA, but at the same time, he plays in Los Angeles, which is a city full of stars. Michael Vick is the most visible person in the city of Atlanta, maybe ever in the history of Atlanta sports.
Wow! Think Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity's career might be in jeopardy if either of them made such a comment on the air, regardless of the finishing qualifier?
Yet, apart from a few blogs, in particular one called Feministing, this issue has nicely been swept under the rug.
Why?
