NYDN : Sarah Palin: Rahm Emanuel should be fired for using "R" word

[isle-hawg]

She's right. A public figure should know better. It's a highly offensive thing to say.

OK, but I think the forum matters some. Yahoo reports the same story with this quote.

"But a recently revealed remark he made in a closed-door meeting"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl1101

It was not like he was making a public speach or insulted the handicapped, he was insulting those within his own party at a "closed door meeting".

For those calling for his head, I assume you never said anything bad about someone or used a term some my find offensive?

And OBTW, I am no fan of his or Obama, I just hate hypocrisy from both parties.

For the Libs to speak out against the Dems I applaud. Although I don't subscribe to their politics I can relate to them stading up for what they believe. No different than folks like me who who consider themselves conservative yet to put it nicely "disapproved" of GWB's massive expanse of the federal govt and taking a budget surplus and turning it into the biggest deficit in history (Obama has since one upped him on deficits).

[HRNY4ZRNY]

Thank God she didnt become Vice Pres.

This is insane. Should be fired for using a word.

Thing is... You should be offended if he said it to a mentally disabled person.

I am so sick of the word police. People get "offended" to easily.

This country was built on free speech and now everyone freaks out about everything.

To me the "R" word isnt that big of a deal. Unless you said it to a mentally disabled person, that would be very wrong.

Do you think the guy that said Retard has anything against disabled people?

Is it really classy to say that... No should you be fired and all the hard work you did to get there be erased because you said a word.

I am OFFENDED by that notion you have OFFENDED me. People get use to being offended its not the end of the world.

[Burgold]

I have, dropped the F bomb the other day while in a meeting with my boss. Using the word retard is completely different, idiot is fine, fing idiot is fine, retard is a word all of us should avoid using. How are people suppose to stop using offensive words like retard, if it's being used in the White House. He should be fired the same way any other politician would be ousted for using the N word. See ya Rahm you scum bag.

Honestly, I do try to censor myself and not use those words. Kind of a funny heated discussion to have on a Redskins Board though.

I am covering an event at the Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian) and after the interview I asked them about their feelings about the term "Redskins". Even though the recorder was off, there was a little bit of tap dancing and an effort by the speaker to make sure that it ws clear that they were stating their opinion and not the Museum's.

I think many of these group words have a very potent meaning that ought to be taken into account. Is that PCism. A little bit, but it's the good form of censorship and PCism.

The question is when do you go overboard and does it make a meaningful difference if offense was intended or not? I guarantee you I have never said the term "Redskin" with hatred or bigotry in my heart.

[GoSkins561]

Offensive? Sure (though I'd argue that he was using it like most people use it; not deliberately to cause offense). But not as bad as the N-word IMHO.

How is it not as bad? Isn't the N word, no matter how it's used offensive, to an entire race of people. While being mentally disabled is not a race of people, they are a group of people that are categorized. They even have their own associations and non profits similar to some minority groups. Have you ever heard of Association for Retarded Citizens? They changed their name because the word retard is offensive to many.

[HRNY4ZRNY]

This isn't pc'ism, this is a leader of our country, offending hundreds of thousands of people. Howard Stern saying it is one thing, someone that is suppose to be a respectable pillar in our communities is another.

Is it classy? No

Are you saying he should be fired?

Do all leaders have to be perfect? They can never say a word that offends you? You are on a Redskins message board for God's sakes.

But you know in your heart... Redskins is not meant to offend any native americans. We look at our team with pride and respect.

The guy that said retard did not mean any harm to people with mental disabilities. It was not classy but that does not mean he meant harm to anyone.

[Henry]

I am NO Sarah Palin fan, but I don't think she's faking outrage here. She is a parent of a special needs kid. As one myself I can tell you words like 'retard' sting quite a bit.

Calling for Emmanuel to be fired for saying something off the record is over the top, sure. I think that's because Palin as a talking head has an overdeveloped sense of drama. But I am sure she genuinely felt that what he said was hurtful.

I know I do.

[HRNY4ZRNY]

How is it not as bad? Isn't the N word, no matter how it's used offensive, to an entire race of people. While being mentally disabled is not a race of people, they are a group of people that are categorized. They even have their own associations and non profits similar to some minority groups. Have you ever heard of Association for Retarded Citizens? They changed their name because the word retard is offensive to many.

Well "disabled people" were never slaves. They werent hung from trees. They didnt have to sit in the back of a bus and they didn't have to do hard back breaking labor. \

The "N" word represents a time of hate, bloodshed and cruelty to a race of people.

The "R" word represents a word people use to tell there little brother he is stupid. Dosnt have anything to do with people with disabilities.

[HRNY4ZRNY]

I am NO Sarah Palin fan, but I don't think she's faking outrage here. She is a parent of a special needs kid. As one myself I can tell you words like 'retard' sting quite a bit.

Calling for Emmanuel to be fired for saying something off the record is over the top, sure. I think that's because Palin as a talking head has an overdeveloped sense of drama. But I am sure she genuinely felt that what he said was hurtful.

I know I do.

I dont think she is faking outrage either. Problem is you cant let your emotions get in the way of doing the right thing.

She should have been interviewed and said that it surely isnt classy and that she would never use the word. But she knows most likely he didnt mean any harm to her family or any other familys with disabled children.

[Predicto]

How is it not as bad? Isn't the N word, no matter how it's used offensive, to an entire race of people. While being mentally disabled is not a race of people, they are a group of people that are categorized. They even have their own associations and non profits similar to some minority groups. Have you ever heard of Association for Retarded Citizens? They changed their name because the word retard is offensive to many.

I do not use the word "retarded" anymore. However, I used to use it all the time, and so did every single one of you, and not that long ago. The fact is, we as a society are just NOW coming to a concensus that the word is inappropriate.

There are still some people who need to get the message. Fine. But if you think that it is a firing offense, or equivalent to using the N-word, then I think you are letting your hatred of Rahm Emmanuel overwhelm your reasoning.

[HRNY4ZRNY]

How can anyone be hurt with words that werent even aimed towards you.

If you all feel this way then the Redskins name should be changed because the word police should come and abolish it.

[HRNY4ZRNY]

I do not use the word "retarded" anymore. However, I used to use it all the time, and so did every single one of you, and not that long ago. The fact is, we as a society are just NOW coming to a concensus that the word is inappropriate.

There are still some people who need to get the message. Fine. But if you think that it is a firing offense, or equivalent to using the N-word, then I think you are letting your hatred of Rahm Emmanuel overwhelm your reasoning.

Well put. Emotions need to be out of this. Unless he said it to someones disabled kid personally.

[Predicto]

Well "disabled people" were never slaves. They werent hung from trees. They didnt have to sit in the back of a bus and they didn't have to do hard back breaking labor. \

The "N" word represents a time of hate, bloodshed and cruelty to a race of people.

The "R" word represents a word people use to tell there little brother he is stupid. Dosnt have anything to do with people with disabilities.

Well, that is changing, and it SHOULD change. It's a very insensitive word.

But you can't fire someone for not being ahead of the curve on the change as it comes along. That's nuts.

[Henry]

Well "disabled people" were never slaves. They werent hung from trees. They didnt have to sit in the back of a bus and they didn't have to do hard back breaking labor. \

The "N" word represents a time of hate, bloodshed and cruelty to a race of people.

The "R" word represents a word people use to tell there little brother he is stupid. Dosnt have anything to do with people with disabilities.

Disabled people have suffered severe mistreatment in this country. Most poeple just don't know about it, or worse, don't care.

Rahm Emmanuel shouldn't be one of those people.

[Burgold]

Well "disabled people" were never slaves. They werent hung from trees. They didnt have to sit in the back of a bus and they didn't have to do hard back breaking labor. \

The "N" word represents a time of hate, bloodshed and cruelty to a race of people.

The "R" word represents a word people use to tell there little brother he is stupid. Dosnt have anything to do with people with disabilities.

But they were locked in dungeons with the keys thrown away, they were neutered (in the U.S. citizens had their ability to reproduce taken away from them legally n the 1970's), they were subject to electric shock and terrible forms of abuse.

People with severe cognitive deficits have been abused in very real ways throughout modern Western history. I don't know too much about the East, but I doubt it was better. I do know that China made a huge effort to superficially change recently because they wanted to host the Olympics and Special Olympics, but their record on human attrocities is not good when dealing with disabled populations.

[GoSkins561]

Latinos were never used as slaves and the word S word is offensive to spanish people, your logic is flawed.

[Mickalino]

The "R" word represents a word people use to tell there little brother he is stupid.

Good point, so Emmanuel was acting like an immature, irresponsible, stubborn little child. Kind of makes sense. A person in such a high office shouldn't have that immaturity. And shouldn't have that position.

Dosnt have anything to do with people with disabilities.

It most certainly does, to the family members, or caretakers of the person.

[HRNY4ZRNY]

In the Dictionary

to make slow; delay the development or progress of (an action, process, etc.); hinder or impede

to be delayed.

a slowing down, diminution, or hindrance, as in a machine.

If you say retard at someone you are not say they have down syndrome, or they suffer from seizures or they are "Rain Man"

You are simply saying they are slow. So if I say it to my brother I am saying he is slow in a way that expresses more emotion. I am not saying he is like some clients my girlfriend works with that are all mentally challenged but are still incredible people that in some instances are way smarter than me.

[Mickalino]

How can anyone be hurt with words that werent even aimed towards you.

Well, of course, the people that it's aimed toward, aren't hurt by it, because they are mentally challenged. It's the family members that matter.

[GoSkins561]

Go look up the N word and see what it says.

[Mickalino]

Emotions need to be out of this. Unless he said it to someones disabled kid personally.

That is completely irrelevant.

If he tells it to the kid, the kid obviously isn't going to understand it.

If he tells it to the kid's parent, it's the same as what he did, because obviously what he said ended up in the press for practically EVERY parent of a disabled child, to hear. He shouldn't say in private what he wouldn't say in public, in regards to classification of people, for reasons stated above.

[Chopper Dave]

What a hack. Leave it to Palin to try to wring the smallest bit of attention out of a colloquial term used behind closed door by someone on the other side of the aisle. Sure, it's offensive to some people, and for good reason, but the difference between someone who is racist or sexist or anti-retarded (?) isn't whether or not they use words that are sometimes offensive to those groups; it's the intent behind those words, and the venue, or usually the lack of consideration for the venue, that makes using them wrong. I don't think Emanuel hates retarded people, and I don't think he would have said it if he knew someone who heard it would be rightly offended. It's like saying something is "gay." No, I don't think that thing is actually homosexual, and no, I wouldn't call something gay in a pejorative manner if in the company of a gay person, because I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings. These are just a couple of examples of colloquial connotations that have picked up steam. It's just a goddamned word. Palin is a retard for politicizing it.

[Major Harris]

Remember when the GOP hated PCism?

Someone should ask the quitter what other words we should ban from language.

both sides use whatever whenever convenient. the fun part is watching the cheerleaders.

[HRNY4ZRNY]

But they were locked in dungeons with the keys thrown away, they were neutered (in the U.S. citizens had their ability to reproduce taken away from them legally n the 1970's), they were subject to electric shock and terrible forms of abuse.

People with severe cognitive deficits have been abused in very real ways throughout modern Western history. I don't know too much about the East, but I doubt it was better. I do know that China made a huge effort to superficially change recently because they wanted to host the Olympics and Special Olympics, but their record on human attrocities is not good when dealing with disabled populations.

So were Native Americans. They were slaughtered in blood baths and we stole their country

How could you support the name Redskins? I guess the "curve" just doesnt have enough momentum.

In my mind there is no curve. If you dont mean any harm by something you shouldnt be fired or even looked at like a insensitive jerk. For all you know he might be a really great man.

[Burgold]

In the Dictionary

to make slow; delay the development or progress of (an action, process, etc.); hinder or impede

You're working too hard. This doesn't deserve your defense. It also doesn't deserve villification.

It does deserve condemnation. Rahm isn't a bad guy. He said something dumb. He ought to be corrected.

[Predicto]

Disabled people have suffered severe mistreatment in this country. Most poeple just don't know about it, or worse, don't care.

Rahm Emmanuel shouldn't be one of those people.

And I seriously doubt that he IS one of those people.

How many of us ever say we were "gypped" when we bought something that turned out to be a piece of junk. Did you ever stop to think about where that word came from? From "gypsies" - and yes, that work is offensive to the Roma people. Most people don't think about it, and when they say they got gypped, they aren't intending offense to anyone.

Rahm should stop using this word, but to think that this shows that he is hostile to the mentally disabled is stupid.