’)Sen. Obama said family was off limits. Neither he nor Joe Biden went after Palin’s family. And once again the GOP beats the left in the race to the bottom.
After Sarah Palin’s daughter, Bristol, her teenage pregnancy, and her high school boyfriend were run through the media wringer last week, Republicans are now pointing to Joe Biden’s daughter, Ashley, to make the case, ostensibly, that no candidate has produced perfect children.
Republican sources have been circulating a 2002 news story (from the Tribune) that reported Ashley Biden was arrested for obstructing a police officer in Chicago in August 2002 after getting into a verbal spat with a cop in a late-night nightlife district. The charges were dropped after she apologized to the officer involved. Ashley Biden, then 21, was a Tulane University student at the time. She now works as a social worker in Delaware.
Of course, John McCain made dirty jokes about Chelsea Clinton, so the excrement rolls downstream.
How exactly has the GOP beat the left in the race to the bottom when, you know, the whole Bristol Palin thing happened first? Do you have a post up with the headline, “Dishonorable Obama Supporters Go After Palin’s Daughter” that I somehow missed? Or are you just being your usual hypocritical self?
From all appearances this attack on Biden’s daughter isn’t coming from random guy on the internet, but actual Republicans.
And so cons continue to play the moral equivalency game. Shameful.
the DNC and MSM didn’t touch the Bristol Palin story until the McCain campaign issues a press release stating that she was pregnant.
Bristol is no role model.
Neither he nor Joe Biden went after Palin’s family. And once again the GOP beats the left in the race to the bottom.
But Obama supporters (you’re singling out McCain ’supporters’) did go after Palin’s family. They did attack Sarah Palin saying she was a bad mother. They did go after McCain’s family. The left and the Democrats were sliding around in slime about 30 mins after Palin was chosen.
Please be careful that your huge balls don’t crush your wiener dog.
How exactly has the GOP beat the left in the race to the bottom when, you know, the whole Bristol Palin thing happened first?
Although the pregnancy certainly took place before the campign, I think it has been pretty well established that the father of Palin’s grandchild was not a member of “the left.”
Palin herself, and not any member of “the left” broke the story of Bristol’s pregnancy, so apparently she beat everyone to the bottom. Since it was already well known in Wasilla, the National Enquirer, the “leftist” rag that outed noted conservative John Edwards’ mistress, had the goods and Palin knew it. Hence the release of the news that would have emerged anyway.
Having released the news of Bristol’s pregnancy HERSELF, and because she has taken a stand on sex education that obviously failed in her own family, there are legitimate questions that should be asked. But as we know, Sarah only gives speeches written for her, and does not answer questions on any subject, even those she raises herself.
From the link – “Republican sources” – thats it? Thats the only reference to source that I can find. Surely you have something meatier than that?
Heres a hint Redpack – why did Palin release that information HERSELF, as you capitalize. Just for kicks? What could have possibly prompted her to do that?
To push an entire mountain of phony outrage out there.
Oh, right, I forgot. Karl Rove and his devious plans. That guy is everywhere! He’s in your head Oliver!
They did attack Sarah Palin saying she was a bad mother.
Why don’t you quote the person who said she was a bad mother? Was it someone who works for Obama? Was it Obama himself? I never heard anyone from the Obama campaign say that, although I have heard ordinary citizens unconnected with either campaign say that. Apparently a lot of Americans think she’s a bad mother, but of course they do not speak for Obama or for me or “the left,” they’re just people like you who have formed opinions based on undisputed facts.
Or did you just make that “bad mother” quote up out of thin air, because that’s what Republicans do?
I think you made it up, but if I am wrong, I’ll be interested in seeing who said that about her and in what forum it was said. If anyone REALLY said it, which I doubt.
Heres a hint Redpack – why did Palin release that information HERSELF, as you capitalize.
It’s REPACK, (click my link to find out why). Does this mean that the talking point that “the left” outed her has been abandoned? That didn’t take long.
I do not know the workings of Palin’s mind, so I can’t answer your question, although the Enquirer was already all over it like white hair and liver spots at a Republican convention. I would bet the rent that most of Wasilla knew about it, and pregnancy is one of those secrets that can’t be kept forever.
But it would be a great question to ask HER, so why don’t you? If she ever took a question, which is unlikely.
Is this the source or the beginning of the Hillary lesbian claims? This joke should have been made public. I never heard this joke.
Why is the majority of inappropriate Republicans comments and jokes sweep under the rug? As distasteful as it maybe, people need to the know awful the conduct of our leaders in order to vote them out. What’s worst that these jokes are the insincere apologies.
McCain’s reputation should have been ruined years ago so he wouldn’t even think about running for President. This crap is why there are so few good people are willing to subject their children to be the objects of dirty old bastards like McCain jokes. No wonder McCain didn’t object to Obama describing him as a stinky old fish.
Forget one minute about the nasty joke and consider John McCain’s judgment. Bill Clinton was John McCain’s president. He was and is a US Senator with a wife and daughters. Hillary Clinton is the First Lady, Janet Reno is the US Attorney General and Chelsea was the daughter of the President of the United States.
Having released the news of Bristol’s pregnancy HERSELF, and because she has taken a stand on sex education that obviously failed in her own family, there are legitimate questions that should be asked.
Congratulations. You’re stupid enough to be repeating another lie about Sarah Palin and that she supports abstinence only sex education. And go before you ask for proof, go take your lazy ass to Snopes or Factcheck.org and look it yourself.
And the news of Bristol’s pregnancy was released HERSELF thanks to Obama supporting scumbags at the Daily Kos (remember, Obama was at the Kos Convention) and Andrew Sullivan were spreading the disgusting rumor that Sarah Palin was actually Trig’s grandmother. You seemed to have forgotten about that apparently.
Was it someone who works for Obama? Was it Obama himself? I never heard anyone from the Obama campaign
But we’re not talking about Obama or people that work for him or his campaign. Oliver is talking about “supporters.”
And go use Google. Search around for dirtbags talking about her flying while pregnant and going to work shortly after Trig was born. It’s out there and for you to question my veracity is proof positive that you just haven’t been paying attention.
Do you want Obama to lose? Stop talking about this sideshow crap!!! Focus on the issues that Obama and the Democratic Party are trying to fix. All stories like this do is contribute to the noise…
Plausible deniability is the favorite couture of designer Steve Schmidt
How’s that old saying go? “You reap what you sow.”?
After following this and all the other RW faux outrage over the last 8 years I know realize that when LIBS engage these Republicans we are essentially FEEDING THE TROLLS. This post is a prime example we libs are wasting our breath trying to justify to Republicans why families are off limits. No matter that Palin released her family information in a press release, no matter that Obama and Biden no less than 6 separate times families are off limits, no that doesnt matter. What matters is the rank and file GOP mindlessly regurgitate the agreed upon GOP narrative to divert their attention from the failed policies and promises of their precious conservative movement.
In an effort to allow these mindless sheep to see the errors of the GOP way, please do not feed them and further distract them from realization that the modern conservative movement over the last 28 years is a complete and utter fiscal (huge deficits, stagnant wages), cultural (acceptance of gays, roe v wade still on books) and legislative (largest expansion of government in history of USA) failure.
Thank you
If I had an unwed teen daughter, many Republicans would say I was a bad, immoral parent (e.g., O’Reilly on Jamie Lynn Spears).
By her own logic and standards, Sarah Palin is a terrible mother.
That’s not my opinion, it’s the one she held of others until very recently when it became a “gift from God,” etc.
Republicans: Still hypocrites. If you guys are going to make the rules, don’t be surprised when you get burned by them.
As for Biden’s daughter, it looks as if six years ago she got drunk and did something stupid in college. She apologized. She didn’t commit an act that will condemn her to hell, a la Bristol Palin.
Again, your rules, not mine. Get used to being held accountable to them.
And the news of Bristol’s pregnancy was released HERSELF thanks to Obama supporting scumbags at the Daily Kos (remember, Obama was at the Kos Convention) and Andrew Sullivan were spreading the disgusting rumor that Sarah Palin was actually Trig’s grandmother.
Poor widdle thing. Politics ain’t beanbag, and keep in mind the rumors in 2000 spread by the Bush camp about McCain’s offspring. Perhaps you noticed that the bogus discussion was removed quickly from DKos and not repeated. Or perhaps not. It’s not Obama’s site. Anyone can post on DKos, and sometimes there are even provocateurs to make fools like you think that a single post represents a community of 200,000.
But if someone spreads scurrilous lies about you, the truth is a good defense, and the truth is that the daughter WAS in fact pregnant but hadn’t borne hers yet. That truth, which would have surfaced eventually despite all the PR-spin that money can buy, has elements of Jerry Springer-ness to it, and suddenly makes hypocrites of every conservative who condemned the Spears kid’s parents over her pregnancy.
And then there is the ex-brother in law, the librarian, the police chief and the “privileged” emails that were copied to First Dude, the snow machine mechanic.
Komedy Gold.
BTW, I’ve BEEN to Wasilla, in the ’80s while following the Iditarod for a couple of hundred miles, through Knik and Sqwentna. Who would have ever guessed?
“…(remember, Obama was at the Kos convention)…”
Why should anyone “remember” this fact? Obama appeared at the convention BEFORE the Kos website made this stupid accusation regarding Bristol and Sarah Palin.
And the news of Bristol’s pregnancy was released HERSELF thanks to Obama supporting scumbags at the Daily Kos (remember, Obama was at the Kos Convention) and Andrew Sullivan were spreading the disgusting rumor that Sarah Palin was actually Trig’s grandmother.
That just doesn’t make sense.
Some guy on the Internet reports a rumor that Gov. Palin didn’t really give birth to her son. So she’s forced to reveal that her daughter is pregnant?
OK.
Not how I would have done it, but I guess anything’s possible.
As for Biden’s daughter:
1) So what?
2) Who cares?
Good grief, these people whining about the (again, stupid) Kos writer allegation regarding Bristol and Sarah Palin are some (emphasize the word “some”) of the same radical rightists who love Rush Limbaugh…the same Rush Limbaugh who read on the air as if it was some credible accusation the claim by some right-wing investment group that Vincent Foster was murdered in an apartment owned by Hilary Clinton and then his body was moved to Fort Marcy Park. Limballs has never apologized for this slander and almost certainly never will. Tell me, right-wing idiots, which is the more serious charge?
By her own logic and standards, Sarah Palin is a terrible mother.
Actually, she’s a terrible mother for naming her son “Triginometry”. As if getting through life with Down’s Syndrome wasn’t hard enough.
There’s one party, America, that wants to legislate what you do with other consenting adults in the privacy of your bedroom. Hint: It ain’t the Democrats. There’s another party that wants to tell you how to conduct your personal life with regards to with whom and how you have sex, but at the same time they will act in ways directly contradictory to how they want _you_ to behave(Palin, Vitter, Craig, Foley, etc.). If you have a teenage, unwed pregnant teen, you are a bad, hell-bound parent indicative of the ills of the welfare state. If you’re Sarah Palin, it’s a “gift from God.” Go figure.
Beyond that, I’m excited that Jay has decided that since Cheney spoke at CPAC a few years ago where Ann Coulter made the “faggot” comment about John Edwards, then Dick Cheney called John Edwards a “faggot.”
Way to go Jay! Thanks for being logically consistent once again! I can always count on you guys for that.
Oh, and since Obama spoke before Evangelicals not too long ago and won many of them over (not that they’ll vote for him, but he was well received) I guess _that_ means Obama should now be getting the vote of every right-wing Christian in America. Because if you speak at a convention, you automatically endorse every position taken by everyone who’s a member of that group. Evar.
Republi-logic! I lurve it!
…keep in mind the rumors in 2000 spread by the Bush camp about McCain’s offspring.
Or, more to the point, the outright lies about Obama told not by “McCain supporters” or nameless wingnuts on some blog, but by McCain himself, as for instance in the McCain-approved ads saying that Obama wants to show porn to kindergartners.
That is what is really disgusting: John McCain and Sarah Palin out there on the campaign trail telling bald faced lie after bald faced lie, in the assurance that the complacent, frivolous brain-dead media in this country won’t get around to calling them on it till sometime next February, maybe.
John McCain:
man of honor? my ass.
straight talker? my ass.
free-thinking maverick? my ass.
scourge of corruption? my ass.
seasoned and sober leader? my ass.
selfless public servant? my ass.
uniter not divider? my ass.
“I will end partisan rancor in Washington?” my ass.
John McCain: an ass.
Sarah Palin: the lipstick on the pig’s ass.
Careful Wilbur — since you support Obama, Obama is now accountable for everything you do or say from here on out.
See, that’s Republi-logic.
Now, when a Republican shoots up a liberal church in Tennessee, it’s obviously the act of a “bad apple.” Ted Stevens being a crook? “Bad apple.” Mark Foley trying to fuck teenage boys? “Bad apple.” David Vitter fucking prostitutes? “Bad apple.” Larry Craig cruising for blowjobs in a public restroom? “Bad apple.” Ted Haggard preaching morality but fucking hookers and snorting meth in private? “Bad apple.”
I think you can see where I’m going with this. And here’s what Jay’s going to say “WILLIAM JEFFERSON ZOMG BILL CLINTON ZOMG GERRY STUDDS.” And he’ll miss the point yet again — Republicans are hypocrites on every single issue I can think of. Bill Clinton was a sleazy guy, but he never built a career on telling _you_ not to be sleazy. The Republican party? “Do as I say, not as I do.”
Shorter version: Could any reasonable, sane adult really vote for McCain knowing who they’re going to put up for the SCOTUS? This is the argument I’ve been using for undecided friends and family, and it tends to work pretty well. Maybe Obama lacks experience, but do you _really_ want another Medieval Theologian sitting on the high court?
“The left and the Democrats were sliding around in slime about 30 mins after Palin was chosen.”
Once again, Jay comes through with those high and mighty “principles” he holds all politicians up to equally. Yup, the Dems did it “first” so what’s your beef, Oliver?
This just in: the McCain camp is circulating rumors that Obama has fathered a black child.
I’m thinking before this is out the white woman that Obama dated in college will be marched before the press by the McCain campaign. The meme worked in the Harold Ford Jr. race in Tennessee.
Took my monthly gander (it’s all I can stand) at redstate.com last night. Were they talking about McCain’s ideas for the economy? No (oh, that’s right he doesn’t have any, does he?). Were they talking about Palin’s ideas on the Middle East? No (oh, that’s right…)
Instead of anything positive or constructive it was post after post of them wailing like babies with dumps in their diapers about this or that “insult” from the Democrats. It was either the pig thing or something else, none of them rising to the level of the repeated and -official- attacks from the Republican side on Obama’s family, patriotism, religion
This is really their election strategy: cover up their ticket’s lack of experience, temperament, ideas and a clue by hurling mud at the democrats and howling “suh! you are addressing a lady!” whenever the democrats hurl any back.
And one of these heinous “insults” they were bawling about was some woman in S. Carolina saying that Palin’s only qualifications for VP was that she had refused to have an abortion.
Well excuse me, but is that an insult or the truth? What other qualification does she really possess for the job? Every other one that has been put out there has been exposed as a lie or a myth. Oppposed the bridge to nowhere? Nope. Anti-earmark crusader? Haw. Fiscal conservative? Negatory. Forthright and honest? Yeah, sure.
She did, though, choose not to abort her Down baby, and I applaud her for that. Though the fact the right-wingers are treating her decision as a _choice_ she was free to make tells you a lot about their anti-choice attitudes: abortion restrictions are for other people, not for us.
I’m new here, but I have to say that I am totally not surprised that this Jay character is a Yankees fan.
Although our side can resort to that as well, I really can’t blame McSame for making that the focus of his campaign. He’s got nothing else. Does he really want to run on the Republican record of the past 8 years? Does Sarah Palin want to run on her “record” of the past 18 months as governor of the least populous state?
I think a lot of the Sarah Palin choice was so she could be an attack dog (OH NOES HE CALLED HER A DOG). Cons whined for years how they supposedly can’t attack the handicapped, military records, minorities, women, because of their status (never stopped them though). Now they figure they’ve got one of their own, and as you see from the odious trolls here, they trot out the sexism card for every single criticism of Palin, McSame, or any Republican for that matter.
[...] of the story he links to says “Republican sources” have been circulating this story. He writes: And once again the GOP beats the left in the race to the [...]
all over it like white hair and liver spots at a Republican convention.
Bwah-HA!
you’ll never lose money betting on the republicans to conduct themselves like animals when it comes to campaigning.
the mccain folks smell blood thanks to obama’s unwillingness to mix it up with them and it’s going to hit a fever pitch in the next few weeks.
obama’s strategy (as i perceive it) seems to be: let the republicans wallow in the mud and make themselves completely unpalatable to civilized folks.
but how many civilized people are there? enough to elect obama? i wonder.
maybe he needs to roll up his sleeves and get in the mud too. i’d hate for the dems to lose (no point in going into side discussions about electoral fraud here) the election without having fought as hard as they could have.
the kerry “loss” never amounted to much for people because of the perception (i think) that he himself wasn’t much of a fighter. “above it all” only gets you so far…
Wilbur: This is really their election strategy: cover up their ticket’s lack of experience, temperament, ideas and a clue by hurling mud at the democrats and howling “suh! you are addressing a lady!” whenever the democrats hurl any back.
“Strategy” suggests that there is some planning and awareness behind it. That someone has knowingly said “We have no ideas/experience, etc. so our plan is to distract folks”. And while that may be true for a very few, the vast majority on the right really, truly think that hurling insults and focusing on non-issues is just all there is in a political campaign.
Like some rich socialite just believing the world should wait on her because it’s all she’s ever known and hasn’t the brain power to ever realize things aren’t actually like that.
Screw the supporters, let’s look at what someone on the ticket itself said:
I’m sure that it is just a wild coincidence that Biden’s counterpart on the Republican side has an infant son with Down Syndrome.
Stay classy, Plugs.
I think it’s about time to say “that’s not the Joe Biden I named as my running mate.”
J.
Oh, and aren’t arrest records (at least for legal adults) public? They were when it was the Bush twins getting busted for underage drinking. They were even younger than Biden’s daughter, too.
J.
I’m sure that it is just a wild coincidence that Biden’s counterpart on the Republican side has an infant son with Down Syndrome.
Hardly. It appears to me that he is addressing her directly. Since she is more aware of the problem than most others, why doesn’t she support research that might alleviate the problem for others?
In other words, why is Palin completely lacking in empathy? Seems like a legitimate question to me.
Of course, if you added up all the empathy from everyone who attended the GOP convention you would still have the sort of vacuum that exists only between galaxies.
Republicans don’t do empathy.
“And go before you ask for proof, go take your lazy ass to Snopes…”
Do you have a link to the Snopes page that debunks that?
For that matter, where is it on Factcheck.org?
Thanks for the Tip, CSS !
For an impressionistic view of the depth and breadth of crap being flung about Gov Palin , you have to see this for yourselves
http://tinyurl.com/3jwyll
Don’t even say the “high road” and Democrats until 2012
Jay Tea: I’m sure that it is just a wild coincidence that Biden’s counterpart on the Republican side has an infant son with Down Syndrome.
Stay classy, Plugs.
OK, so let me get this right. ANY discussion of stem cell research is not allowed because Palin has a special needs son.
And by similar logic, ANY discussion of her positions on abortion are not allowed because she has a pregnant daughter (so such discussions would clearly be an attack on her family). ANY discussion of her qualifications is not allowed because criticizing a woman in any way is sexist.
Got it.
Stay reasonable, JT.
“Thanks for the Tip, CSS !”
Let me get this straight. I asked for a link from Snopes or Factcheck.org, and you gave me a link to a Google search.
Please don’t tell me you think you’ve made a persuasive argument.
CSS: Please don’t tell me you think you’ve made a persuasive argument.
Pretty sure he thinks he has.
Sean, apparently you didn’t read Biden’s full comment, so let me repeat it here, with a bit of emphasis on the key point:
There has been NO other discussion of Republicans and children with developmental disabilities. Unless you’d like to cite something else Biden might have been referring to, I think it’s pretty open and closed that Biden was using Palin’s infant son to score political points.
Did you sleep through Ms. Palin’s acceptance speech at the Republican convention? She promised that families raising special needs children will have a friend in the McCain administration.
Once again, Mr. Tea is wrong on the basic facts. Gov. Palin, in her acceptance speech:
Which is PRECISELY what I was referring to when I said “and Palin’s son having Down Syndrome.” Thank you both for proving my point.
J.
Good heavens, Mr. Tea! Have you been drinking?
Which is PRECISELY what I was referring to when I said “and Palin’s son having Down Syndrome.” Which is PRECISELY what I was referring to when I said “and Palin’s son having Down Syndrome.”
Read your own words once again:
Now let’s go to Gov. Palin again:
Gov. Palin does not mention her own son in this passage. So if Sen. Biden responds to what she said–also without mentioning her son, how does that prove your point exactly?
P.S. Thank you both for proving my point.
You may feel as though you’re surrounded, but there’s just one of me, Mr. Tea.
Jay Tea: There have been exactly two instances involving Republicans and children with birth defects… There has been NO other discussion of Republicans and children with developmental disabilities.
I’m not sure how to respond to that. My first reaction is “So What?” We’re not allowed to talk about whether Republicans actually support families with disabilities or only give it lip service because Republicans haven’t gone parading their disabled kids before the public?
Nobody is particularly eager to discuss their special needs children in public. (Not out of shame, but more from a respect for the child’s privacy and to avoid subjecting them to the preconceived notions others have of those with special needs). This is even more true for politicians who tend to want to project an image of having a “typical”, happy family.
So I have no doubt that there are a lot of Republicans in office who have special needs children or grandchildren. But short of a lot of original, intrusive research I don’t see any way to prove it.
But in any event, so what? Whether they do or don’t have such kids in their families, what has that got to do with discussing what their actual level of support for those who do?
Jay Tea: Unless you’d like to cite something else Biden might have been referring to, I think it’s pretty open and closed that Biden was using Palin’s infant son to score political points.
Sure, I’ll cite what Biden actually said. It’s part of which you yourself emphasized in italics: “Republicans”. As others have pointed out, he doesn’t mention Palin or her family. He speaks of Republicans in general. So you may think it’s pretty open and closed that he was talking about Trig palin, but you’d be wrong.
And there are certainly many instances of various Republicans speaking of families who have to deal with children with developmental disabilities who have voted against stem cell research.
To pick just one example, Bush has spoken many times about helping children with disabilities (15 pages of links to speeches, press releases, budgets, etc at whitehouse.gov) but has repeatedly fought against stem cell research. Which is the actual point Biden is making.
Now, you can disagree with his point, you can say Republican’s ARE actually supportive of disabled children in deeds and not just words (and provide evidence to back that up, please), but don’t mis-state what he was actually saying and then dismiss it as “open and closed”.
Shame on Dishonorable McCain!