John McCain’s People Are Pissed At Us … January 16, 2008
Posted by fitsnews in : Presidential Politics , trackback
… WELL, “DISAPPOINTED” IS PROBABLY MORE LIKE IT
FITSNews - January 16, 2008 - You know, we probably should have expected some criticism when we called the entire state of Michigan “retarded” for supporting Faker-in-Chief Mitt Romney yesterday, but we had no idea that criticism would come from one of the top honchos on Sen. John McCain’s staff.
Earlier this morning, though, the new FITSNews inbox received this missive from McCain’s national political director:
My name is Mike Dennehy and I am John McCain’s National Political Director, but more importantly I am the father of a 6-year old son with Down syndrome. I am sure you did not mean to offend anyone by using the term “retarded”, and many people use it to be funny, but you should know that by using that word it makes it ok for others to continue using it. “Retard” was a commonly used term to describe people with disabilities back in the 60s and early 70s and it is quite possibly one of the most hurtful words in the English language. It is widely used especially by young people, but please think of those with developmental disabilities when using words like this. When minorities are called names (blacks, hispanics, asians) they can defend themselves, but most people with developmental disabilities cannot. I would love if you could pull your post down and better yet, turn it into a positive post and encourage people NOT to use the word. I am happy to work with you on that if you are interested. Again, I am sure you didn’t mean to offend but it is such a horrible word and it is terrbily (sic) offensive to those of us in the disability community.
With all due respect to Mr. Dennehy, we absolutely did mean to offend. Not “developmentally-challenged” people or their loved ones, obviously, but we certainly did mean to offend those idiotic Michiganites (Michiganders? Michiganolas?).
But hey, since the issue has been raised, let’s put our Oprah Winfrey hats on for a moment and talk about this …
First of all, we’re not taking down the offending post. Just like we refused to take down this offending post, which was apparently so “over the top” that it caused the popular website SCHotline to unceremoniously dump our founding editor Sic Willie as one of its contributors last year.
It’s not that we lack respect for Mr. Dennehy’s opinion - we have plenty of respect for it, which by the way is completely irrespective of his very important title. And it’s not that we’re glad we offended him - because we’re not.
Truth is, we’ve worked with Down Syndrome kids in the past (believe it or not), and one of our closest friends and political confidants has a brother with Down Syndrome.
Yeah, yeah, we know … shouldn’t we then, of all people, recognize that calling someone (or in this case an entire state) “retarded” is offensive?
Short answer? No, we shouldn’t.
Here’s a news flash, people: You can be politically-incorrect - even over the top offensive - and still maintain an innate human goodness, sense of compassion and abiding respect for other people’s differences - be they black, white, red, yellow, pretty, ugly, fat, skinny, short, tall, you name it.
Sure, they don’t teach you that on CNN or in government-sponsored sensitivity awareness training, but it’s true.
You can make jokes about any and all manner of people about any and all manner of things and still have compassion for them. Words matter, sure. But actions have always meant more than words, particularly those specifically intended to amuse, not hurt.
Simply put, who would you rather be? Someone who follows the politically-correct Bible to the letter but treats Down Syndrome kids and other people with disabilities like shit? Or someone who makes the occasional off-handed “retard” joke but shows the same love and kindness to Down Syndrome kids and others with disabilities that they show to everyone?
Our view is that the latter person is better, but hey, we had a commenter call us “retarded” just this morning, so what do we know, right?
Comments»
I’m certainly guilty of dropping an occasional “retarded” in conversation, so it’s not like I’m speaking with a clean conscience here. But I do have to call bs a little on your premise:
“Simply put, who would you rather be? Someone who follows the politically-correct Bible to the letter but treats Down Syndrome kids and other people with disabilities like shit? Or someone who makes the occasional off-handed “retard” joke but shows the same love and kindness to Down Syndrome kids and others with disabilities that they show to everyone?”
That’s a pretty hefty straw man. Is there no in-between? Is it not possible to both show compassion and refrain from dropping an occasional “r-bomb?”
Would you ever use the n-word for anything other than pure comedic effect? I seriously doubt it. I notice that over on WWTDD today, he didn’t title his post about Britney buying a pregnancy test “Britney is a N*****” to make a light-hearted point about African-American teen pregnancy rates. Similarly, your use of “retarded” was only tangential to the post, and was completely pejorative. And it really wasn’t “off-handed,” it was written (very well) and distributed to a pretty robust readership.
Again, I’m not trying to come down too hard here, but I think Mr. Dennehy makes a good point. And I’m not sure that the “but I’m a good guy at heart” response completely addresses it.
i have to agree with you, willie. i read your michigan column and i took your use of the term in question to call into question the judgment and intelligence of the voters of michigan. 2008 is not the 60’s and 70’s. i know no one who treats the mentally disabled with less love and kindness than the mentally “abled.”
as a society, can we all agree we’ve gone too far to tiptoe around with our use of language? sticks and stones, willie, sticks and stones…
You bad, bad boys. How dare you upset the good Amnesty Senator from Arizona. Do Republicans get any more Liberal than that guy?
Oh, wait, there’s Rudy, Romney, and Huck, and American Conservative Union says even Fred it to their left.
Go get em Sic Willie - we got too dam much political correctness in the world already -
This is just more proof McCain has abandoned his Straight Talk Express and is pandering to all his special interest groups.
Those goofy bastards. They’re the best thing I’ve got going for me.
We’ve heard people call sic(k) willie a “stupid bastard” several times recently. We’ve also heard him called a “S.O.B.” even more often.
Wonder how that makes his momma feel?
Now, the staff here at BIN News absolutely totally agrees with those assessments, but we don’t consider them insults to his Momma.
Those calling sic(k) willie bad names need to realize they’re feeding his bloated ego and boosting his already pork belly inflated hit count.
News Update from BIN News!
In an emergency meeting, the BIN Editorial Board decided that in the interest of not offending all the other “stupid bastards” and the other “S.O.B.’s” in the world, we will amend our previous comment.
We do not agree that sic(k) willie is a “stupid bastard” nor a “S.O.B.”
We now consider him a “P.F.M.” P.F.M. = Puss Filled Maggot.
Stop and form a mental image. Got it?
We regret if any “puss filled maggots” are offended.
Jakie, you may quote us on the floor of the S.C. Senate.
We here are BIN have family with Down’s.
Only a Puss Filled Maggot would be so insensitive as to call someone a “retard.” Mr. Dennehy, may God Bless your child, your family and you. Ignore the P.F.M. It’s like trying to pee on a skunk.
[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]
First as a mom of a three year old with Down syndrome, and a contribuing author and one of the co creator of Gifts- Mothers Reflect on How Children with Down syndrome Enrich our Lives. I applaude Mr. Dennehy. This is not a right or left issue. This is not using an offensive word. He is right in that others such as blacks, hispanics and other minorites have people to defend them, where as our kids have just “us parents” who can not go on shows and have people fired.
Your defense of the use of this word is appauling. Just because you can you a word does not mean you should. I think it is commendable you work with Down syndrome children but that makes what you said even that much for offensive since it shows your lack of respect, understanding and remorse of what you said. Further, you should be ashamed that you don’t even know how to use people first lanague. Up above you used Down syndrome kids at least twice. The proper grammer and people first language is Kids with Down syndrome. What you fail to understand here is our kids are kids first they are not definded by their diagnosis. Just like minorites should not be defined by their color or race. Therefore, they are kids with Down syndrome. Not Down syndrome kids.
You should know this is spreading to parents now by way of boards, emails and blogs. I would expect a large backlash from this.
Thank you, Thank you Mr. Dennehy!
Rather than engage in useless debate over political correctness, why not offer construction ideas and possible solutions to alleviate the plight of people of all disabilites.