If you’re going to have to apologize, don’t say it. But if you do say it, man up and live with it and the consequences
There are going to be very few times Bill Maher and I essentially agree. Today would be one of those days. Apparently he doesn’t like the world Media Matters has created. He begins his NYT piece defending Robert De Nero’s recent nonsense.
THIS week, Robert De Niro made a joke about first ladies, and Newt Gingrich said it was “inexcusable and the president should apologize for him.” Of course, if something is “inexcusable,” an apology doesn’t make any difference, but then again, neither does Newt Gingrich.
Mr. De Niro was speaking at a fund-raiser with the first lady, Michelle Obama. Here’s the joke: “Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?”
The first lady’s press secretary declared the joke “inappropriate,” and Mr. De Niro said his remarks were “not meant to offend.” So, as these things go, even if the terrible damage can never be undone, at least the healing can begin. And we can move on to the next time we choose sides and pretend to be outraged about nothing.
This is an example of the left’s propensity toward faux outrage at every utterance from the right backing up on them. And, since Mr. Maher has been the target of that, he’s all for settling this once and for all.
In essence, Maher wants to be able to say anything he wants and not have to apologize for it.
I agree.
Please, do so. And don’t apologize. That is fine with me.
But … and you knew there had to be one … that doesn’t mean what you say is consequence free. You still get to pay the price for what you say.
That’s really what Maher wants to see go by the boards, make no mistake about it. No-penalty “free speech”.
Sorry, no such thing. Never has been, never will be.
However, the faux apologies to address the faux outrage (and hypocrisy), yeah, I can do without those. They’re only trotted out when the consequences of stupid, degrading or demeaning speech put the speaker in an untenable situation.
Here’s an idea – think before you speak? Exercise a little self-discipline?
Nah … way to restrictive, huh?
~McQ
Twitter: @McQandO
Goose, meet sauce…
I also fail to see why it is incumbent on Obama to apologize for something De Niro said.
@looker The same way Republicans are held responsible for any and everything said.
@The Shark Oh, I know WHY Gingrich did it, but I don’t agree.
@looker neither do I really, but kids never learn not to play with matches until they get their fingers burned…
@The Shark I used to think people with principles got ahead, we’ve turned the nation into an experiment to prove the contrary.
“think before…” You have discovered the problem right there!
I love the fact that at this stage of the issue, Rush has filled his advertiser slots (even getting to tell at least one who wanted to come back to get lost) while Carbonite has tanked, Media Matters has been exposed for it’s astroturf boycott, Maher and Obama have had been made uncomfortable, the left’s doublestandards have been very exposed….and now libs Bobby D and Tom Hanks have to apologize for race-based remarks and participating in a minsterel show respectively. It’s the rules they wanted, we’re finally playing by them. Hello Alinsky! Which scalp shall we collect next?
Media Mutters may be on offensive as a defense.
clarice notes above that it appears one of its major donors has backed out.
Alan Dershowitz (sp dubious) is outing Media Mutters as the anti-Semitic outfit we’ve known it to be for years, and he is going after them full-tilt.
The Daily Caller has been exposing them as the nut-hatchery they are, with the typical Collectivist SINGLE standard (i.e., NO standards and certainly not the ones they try to impose on all of us.
They are being self-identified as the lie factory we’ve known them to be, more and more each day to Americans generally. Generally, the only people who believe their lies are the moonbats who CHOSE to believe lies and love them.
Peter Lewis http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2012/03/22/MMfA-Think-Progress-Lose-Top-Donor
@Ragspierre Odd for me to be rooting for Dershowitz, but there it is. Strange bedfellows and all that.
@looker Occasionally, you find someone for whom the Collective is secondary. Joe Lieberman is another one. They are rare.
@Ragspierre Yes, agreed, Lieberman is another one.
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