MAHER: “To compare that to Rush is ridiculous - he went after a civilian about very specific behavior, that was a lie, speaking for a party that has systematically gone after women's rights all year, on the public airwaves. I used a rude word about a public figure who gives as good as she gets, who's called people "terrorist" and "unAmerican." Sarah Barracuda. The First Amendment was specifically designed for citizens to insult politicians. Libel laws were written to protect law students speaking out on political issues from getting called whores by Oxycontin addicts.”

Even if you accept that it's okay to use degrading, misogynist language on politicians (a dubious assertion in the first place), but not others, that only applies to Sarah Palin...not to her daughter. Bristol Palin isn't a politician, and is only more of a "public figure" than Sandra Fluke in that she is better known (or was prior to Limbaugh's douchebaggery). Both chose to make themselves (minor) public figures, but is that really something that makes it okay to use vulgar insults against them? Not in my book.

and is probably set for life (if she's smart enough to invest wisely) based on nothing more than the fact that her mother is a controversial public figure. It seems to be the Palin legacy to grab onto any passing opportunity. I agree with you that neither of these young women should be "fair game" to the Limbaughs of this world. Sandra Fluke and her situation, however, bears no comparison to Bristol and hers.

Bristol became a public figure them moment she decided to cash in on her mother's fame. By the way, I have always thought Maher to be smarmy and misogynistic but I'll shed no tears for the Palin gals

And Sandra Fluke became a public figure when she elected to testify before Congress. I consider Fluke's motivations to be far nobler, but that's not really relevant. Neither one of them deserve to be insulted by misogynist assholes.

I said neither deserved to be the target of misogynist insults. RIF...

Bristol could have walked away from the limelight, said she wanted a private life. She was the one that decided to do reality TV (now she's up to 3 with a new one coming out). She's the one that decided to write a book of memoirs, like a 20 year old girl with no high school degree and a kid actually has memoirs that are worth reading (and I suspect it, along with that 'You can call me' comment were all ghost written). Sarah Palin and the Palin bunch ended their 15 minutes the moment McCain conceded to Obama on election night. Bristol could have gone back into a private life, perhaps doing a few public speeches here or there but in general being a private citizen. SHE made that decision to stay in the limelight. She is an adult and she is fair game.

I don't like the Palin clan one little bit, myself. They're grifters (and their politics suck). That doesn't make it okay for Maher to sling vulgar misogynist insults at her.

She might think it would work better if her bra was tight enough for her breasts to hold the aspirin in place.

Can you sign the Soul Scroll please? (If applicable, of course. I think it is in your case)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1187856

Thanks!

Signed. . .thanks for the tip!

http://articles.cnn.com/2008-09-01/politics/obama.palin_1_bristol-palin-sarah-palin-illinois-senator?_s=PM OLITICS

"Sen. Barack Obama said firmly that families are off-limits in the campaign for president, reacting to news that GOP running mate Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant.

"Let me be as clear as possible," Obama said. "I think people's families are off-limits, and people's children are especially off-limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as governor or her potential performance as a vice president."

Obama said reporters should "back off these kinds of stories" and noted that he was born to an 18-year-old mother

about Bristol's pregnancy if Sarah hadn't chosen to make her daughter and baby daddy Levi part of her campaign (opening up all kinds of crazy later).

This is pretty rich. She's just as narcissistic as mama thinking the GODDAMN PRESIDENT OF THE US would even entertain this "request." Mom and daughter - two pea-brains in a pod!

attention they need in order that her and her mothers names create enough of a buzz so that they can continue getting paid for speaking engagements and other things like books.

President Obama should call me and apologize.

I'm waiting.

WTF is wrong with these peoples?

for naming her after a southern Nascar track.

including her idiot mother, in order.

While her mother ran for VP with McCain, she was unfairly targeted by a lot of folks. She did not ask for it. I felt that she was done badly, but I'm always bothered by the targeting of kids of candidates no matter who does it.

My sympathy, however, has limits. If the kid is of age, actively campaigning and giving speeches...sorry, Charlie. You have made yourself a target.

Bristol is not a kid anymore. She is now an adult. She has made the conscious decision to become a part of the entertainment industry and speak out as she sees fit. There is no reason to not criticize her.

BTW, Bristol...honey, you're not a kid anymore and the one that should have called you was bush jr. who was in the WH at the time. Get over it and move on.