Halperin Suspended from MSNBC: Calling President Obama a "Dick" is More Than Swearing

I understand what you are saying Christina, but as I said, we can and do shape the trajectory of society. We're the majority. We still, for the vast majority of the world, raise the kids and teach them right and wrong. I always had my daughter work through how all the people in a difficult situation she was going through probably felt.

Civility is partially made up of self-censorship that is a learned skill. Women do the majority of the care-taking. We can change things, but we aren't there yet. It isn't as much the semantics of what our society says but the semiotics of how meaning is generated. You can try to change the what but it will only be successful if we change the meaning generation in society.

Also, I wasn't talking about all women, I'm talking about the women who have intelligence as well as vaginas and interact with media, shape media, and make media. We have power to create whatever we want. Civility and morality are concepts no one owns. Progressives have morals and wand to have civil structures too. I guess I didn't get the memo that told feminists that we are anarchists too.

No where did I say that women are the only caretakers. No where did I say that women have to have children. I think you may be connecting dots that I did not even make.

Nancy

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newsy1

Halperin was on MSNBC's time when he was on the program, so his own opinion should never have entered into it. Not even in jest, how unprofessional.I ran newspapers for years, it's a different thing now of course, but if any employee in the media; newspaper,TV or radio lessens the credibility of the media entity, just as he did with his stupidity-he really doesn't deserve the job he has. Give it to someone that can conduct themselves in a professional manner and that knows when to draw the line on respect for the office of president.

Seriously, you make good points about women enforcing it. We've all seen it, the Phyllis Schlafly types being the most obvious.

On the other hand, women can follow our own path and stand up for certain things.

There is murky waters here, because where is the line between acceptable and unacceptable? I'd bet that everyone posting in this thread would have differences on where that line is.

Where I look is if the put down is personal or collective in nature, where the person is put down by way of a slight against many, such as a stereotypical judgement.

I've referred to a least one in the current wannabe presidential field as an arse, not in full open public discourse, but there you go.

nellewrites ( http://nellewrites.net/ )

I was right there with you until you said this, "It is up to us, the women of society who blog, connect, maintain families, are informed (and on and on and on...) to call for the censure of totally inappropriate statements that are easily misinterpreted by many audiences as "news" or "facts." We can and do shape the trajectory of our society. "

Somehow women have a corner on 'civility'? Did we get some kind of memo when we were issued our vaginas? B/c if so, I missed it. But somehow, because we were born with one set of genitalia, we're to be given the job of social scolds, policing matters of semantics and diction and civility? B/c somehow, women care more about these customs and practices and good taste and so on?

This concept, of women being the caretakers of society, enforcing the social norms and being somehow more moral and whatnot is a very, very old trick to make women enforce the patriarchy.

I called Bush a war criminal, but he is one, and cannot travel to most EU countries for fear of being arrested. As my political blogging has matured I have changed some of my flippant ways. I'm sure any pundit on cable has at least as many years under his or her belt writing and commenting as I do and similarly has had time to mature.

We have to demand civility. I guess we should all be calling in or writing to MSNBC and letting them know how we feel.

It is good to know I'm not alone. Thanks!

Nancy

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MSNBC had already censured Halperin with suspension by the time I got wind of the slur and wrote this piece in response. I'm not asking that anything more be done, I'm just wondering about the state of the media and society, and asking folks what they think is an appropriate response. Perhaps I misread your comment, but I am a bit puzzled by what you say, but thank you for taking the time to add your voice to the discussion of this complex issue. Nancy

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I too would defend his right to say it -- in private. His employer has the right to suspend him. I think we all have the duty to speak accurately and in a non-inflammatory manner if we are speaking publicly. I fail at times, but I'm not in any person or company's employment either.

Nancy

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Beyond the fact he be suspended---FIRED!. For me it is a matter of what do we tell our children? How do we say to them in this age of bullying and internet fighting that name calling is acceptable. Do we just give up and say call people names, be rude, be mean-spirited, do whatever you have to do to discredit another human being. Do we say there is no GOD? That kindness and civility are just nice ideals that don't work? That you must win by any means necessary?

I was embarrassed by that comment. I was ashamed that MSNBC had someone who was comfortable in saying that about our President. It broke my heart as an American, a woman of Color and as someone who loves my country. This is a new low and I daresay has opened the door for folks to ay even more outrageous things. At some point we gotta pump the brakes. it's one thing to say stuff behind closed doors or with your intimate posse of peeps. But to be on air? WOW!

I am no fan of Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachman, but I would take on anybody who called them out of their names.I may not dig their politics, but I certainly don't have to insult them to make my point.

Be loving & Be in LOVE

These people need to realize that young adults and teens look up to them and if it is OK for them to say those words and call someone that on TV. Then it is Ok to say about their friends, their parents, and their teachers. It is NOT ok! We need to to send a strong message that today's language is an insult to the american family and viewers.

"to call for the censure of totally inappropriate statements that are easily misinterpreted by many audiences as "news" or "facts.""

Censure oh heck no! I doubt any one would misinterpret that comment as newsworthy unless of course you take into account the many different definitions of the word DICK...DICK: to vacillate or equivocate thereby causing distress or trouble to... (http://www.yourdictionary.com/dick) ...

Maybe President Obama is causing distress to Halperin! In my opinion there are lots of DICKS in Washington!!!The majority of them are causing me distress...every-time I turn on the news someone is cheating, being dishonest or resigning from their positions. As if they hold their positions with any integrity...

But to do what you are asking and censure...that is preposterous! Worse than what Halperin said...people will move on to complaining about something else...but censuring last forever!!!

to say it on one's own dime and in one's own space - where the person making the remark is responsible for the remark, and another to say it for another, in their employ.

Is it responsible journalism to use such throwaway lines? Does it do anything for credibility, or does it play to some specific microniche of viewers/readers?

There are a lot of things that have changed over my lifetime, for the better. I like that we can discuss abuse and a range of sexual assault issues in light of day (yes, I recognise that is different from where it all stands legally) and there are things that I regret changing, one of which is the polarisation of our politics such that the groups left and right really hate on each other. Now it shows in our leadership, where neither side wishes to budge and find middle ground.

I'll defend his right to say it, but in this case, he is an employee, and employees are accountable to their employer.

nellewrites ( http://nellewrites.net/ )

pgoodness, I think that you hit the matter squarely on the head (ouch!) when you say "supposed." I am no fan of political correctness, but I am a fan of personal responsibility and self-censorship. If we all behaved in a responsible fashion and insisted that others do so too, there would be no need for pc crap, and no room for public disrespect. What ever happened to what you are supposed to do?

Nancy

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The problem is exactly that: a lack of respect for the Office of the President. If he wanted to comment to a friend of his while sitting around drinking beers that he thought the pres was being a dick, that's one thing. He's SUPPOSED to be an unbiased news person; sadly he proved that those are few and far between these days.

I think maybe the Kings of old had it right - say something bad about the King and off with your head! :) They commanded public respect.