[gDGwm8BC]

TPM:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...rd.php?ref=fpa

Sarah Palin continues to defend Dr. Laura Schlessinger's use of the word "n****r" and blame liberals for forcing the controversial conservative radio show off the air. But just a few months ago Palin was adamant that using the "N-word," and other offensive terms, should be a firing offense...if you're a Democrat.

"I would ask the president to show decency in this process by eliminating one member of [his] inner circle, Mr. Rahm Emanuel," Palin wrote in February. "The Obama Administration's Chief of Staff scolded [liberal critics] calling them, 'F---ing retarded,' according to several participants, as reported in the Wall Street Journal. Just as we'd be appalled if any public figure of Rahm's stature ever used the "N-word" or other such inappropriate language, Rahm's slur on all God's children with cognitive and developmental disabilities - and the people who love them - is unacceptable, and it's heartbreaking."

Fast forward to last night, when Palin had a change of heart.
"Dr.Laura:don't retreat...reload! (Steps aside bc her 1st Amend.rights ceased 2exist thx 2activists trying 2silence"isn't American,not fair")," Palin wrote in an inscrutable Tweet.

The distinction, she argues, is that Emanuel directed his insult at a group of people, while Schlessinger just argued that she should have a right to call people "n*****" even though she's white.

"Black guys use it all the time," Shlessinger said on her program. "Turn on HBO, listen to a black comic, and all you hear is n****r, n****r, n****r. I don't get it. If anybody without enough melanin says it, it's a horrible thing; but when black people say it, it's affectionate. It's very confusing."

[JohnMitchel]

The woman made a decision to quit so that no one could further trample on her 1st Amendment rights. That's what she said. Nevermind that no government entity has trampled on her rights and, nevermind that she seems to be very confused on the difference bettween the Bill of Rights and public criticism, she quit. If Sarah Palin doesn't want Dr. Laura to "retreat," then perhaps she should counsel her on another tactic, such as never admitting you're wrong and just pretending nothing happened. It works for Palin.

[CiccoineFed]

Yes, the ability to retain sponsors on your radio show after saying offensive things is not a first amendment issue. She bailed because the job became too hard. In that context, it's no surprise that Sarah Palin has bonded with her. She bailed when her job got too hard, too.

[courlerwele]

.... she seems to be very confused on the difference bettween the Bill of Rights and public criticism....

Does this seem like someone else we know, perhaps a member or members of this board, when speaking about the Ground Zero Mosque?

[kilibry]

Does this seem like someone else we know, perhaps a member or members of this board, when speaking about the Ground Zero Mosque?

No. There is a difference, Paul. The community center is not claiming any rights have been violated, whereas Dr. Laura has. Moreover, Dr. Laura has quit her showing citing her 1st Amendment rights as a reason. Park51 is not quitting anything. The 1st Amendment allows a religion to build a community center, church, mosque, basketball court, school or temple without interference from the government, despite public outcry. That's exactly what Park51 is doing. Members here are correctly supporting that right.

[Hbkj89D2]

Does this seem like someone else we know, perhaps a member or members of this board, when speaking about the Ground Zero Mosque?

Quite simply, the First Amendment guarantees both the right of Imam Rauf to build the community center and the right of those who oppose it to speak out. There's really no confusion about that here on this board.