Excusing the nonsense of certain so-called "in the middle" types who do nothing but grandstand about having a neutral opinion by labeling and virtually pushing anyone else around them to the extremes, let's try to look at this issue objectively.
First off, one incident of a person calling a woman a "slut" does not rewrite or completely negate their long standing history of support for Women's Rights. There isn't a single adult on this board (or on this planet) who have not used the term "slut" to describe another person in either a joking or slanderous way. Anyone claiming otherwise is not being honest with themselves and needs to stop faking it.
With that said, Ed Schultz does deserve to be reprimanded for what he said because what he did was not professional. Regardless of what kind of gutter words we use among ourselves in private, there's a certain decorum a journalist needs to adhere to when addressing the public. He crossed that line and now he's paying the price. Is it a bit steep? Perhaps, considering the person he slandered is an admitted homophobe and has engaged in slanderous talk against her critics on the air as well as in print form (aka "The Obama Diaries"). But MSNBC made the decision to do what they think is best to convey a solid image. Although I doubt Schultz is going to be gone that long. Much worse things have been said over the airwaves towards much better people.
On a side note, the ability to filter one's comments to convey a message that is not so condemning is not a bad thing. It shows an ability to control one's emotions, to watch what they say, and to conduct themselves like an adult. Granted, Ed Schultz calling someone a "slut" is not the best example of this. However, even if he did think something more venomous (such as the word "cunt") the damage could have been more devastating if he simply didn't give a fuck and blurted it out as if he was waving the 1st Amendment tattooed to his dick. MANY people do that around here, however I won't mention names. This is now my 10,000th post, and after all of the heated arguments I've had with several of the more logically questionable souls on this board (and I won't mention names here either), you can be best assured that what I sometimes think can be 10 times more vicious and hurtful than what I type. But I at least have enough respect to try and keep my emotions under control while expressing myself even though it doesn't mean that I formulate every response I make with the utmost of kindness. And hopefully, if I'm here to reach 20,000 posts in a few more years some of my opposition will come to their senses and figure that out.
Now who's nude photos should I drool over for my 10,001st post? :biggrin:
