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Subscribe to RSSWe’ve entered the silly season… In fact, there have been three manufactured controversies in the past month (Etch A Sketch, hot mic, and Hilary Rosen)… What yesterday did teach us: It didn’t take much for conservatives to rally to Romney’s side… Team Obama’s not-so-good week… Romney calls Obama “incompetent” after North Korea’s “incompetent” missile launch… Romney addresses NRA at 2:20 pm ET, while Obama gives a speech in Tampa, FL at 1:20 pm ET and sits down for interview with Telemundo before departing to Colombia… Lugar gets Super PAC help… And “Meet” interviews Treasury Secretary Geithner.
*** The silly season: If this first week of the general election has taught us anything, this is going to be a long next six months. It started with the Obama White House and campaign hammering away at the "Buffett Rule," which was more of an effort to embarrass Mitt Romney (and his low effective tax rate) than a realistic policy proposal. And then on Wednesday and Thursday, the Romney campaign seized on comments by Hilary Rosen, a Democratic strategist with thin ties to the White House, who said that Ann Romney has never worked a day in her life. It was a manufactured controversy -- fueled by Twitter and social media -- because no serious political actor in this presidential contest is criticizing stay-at-home moms or the value of the work they do. In fact, Rosen was referring to the Romneys’ wealth, not Ann Romney’s decision to raise her five sons at home. While the two major parties are fundamentally divided (over taxes, entitlements, the role of government, and national security) and while so much is at stake (control of Washington, potentially two Supreme Court justices), we find ourselves smack-dab in the silly season.
*** Three manufactured controversies in the past month: Of course, manufactured controversies are nothing new in American politics. There was Nixon’s famous “Checkers” speech. Even four years ago, political observers were obsessing over Michelle Obama’s patriotism and John McCain’s seven homes. What is new, however, is how much faster and professionalized -- due to Twitter and the drive to make something go viral -- these manufactured controversies have become. Indeed, we’ve now seen three of them in the past 30 days: Etch A Sketch, hot mic, and Hilary Rosen. Now all three were related to a bigger issue or narrative (doubts about Romney’s true beliefs and ideology, conservative suspicions about Obama’s intentions, and a real gender gap in American politics). But, unfortunately, we talk about the manufactured controversy and not the real story here (that a general-election candidate always moves back to the center, that a president’s second term with no more elections on the horizon does give him more flexibility to do certain things, and that women do have real anxieties about the balance between working and raising a family). The fact is, these next few months before the conventions are probably going to be filled with these manufactured “shiny metal object” controversies because of what we noted -- just how professionalized both political parties are at creating them. And some in the media are easily susceptible to helping these manufactured controversies go viral because they are seen as simply “more interesting” than the serious “eat your vegetables”-like issues that divide the two parties.
Steven Senne / AP
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks with his wife Ann.
*** Rallying around Romney: Yesterday also taught us something else: Conservative elites are going to rally around Romney. They needed just the tiniest spark (Hilary Rosen) and they went into overdrive for Romney. It remains to be seen whether conservatives will stick around the former Massachusetts governor when the going gets tough -- that’s the true definition of a strong base (see African Americans for Obama, evangelical Christians for George W. Bush) -- but the folks in Boston have to be pleased with the past 24 hours. But today will be an interesting when Romney addresses the National Rifle Association’s conference in St. Louis at 2:20 pm ET. After all, it’s been well chronicled that Romney, who only became a “lifetime member” of the NRA in 2006, lacks a natural appeal with gun-rights groups, having supported some gun-control measures in the past. But so far this cycle, he’s avoided awkward missteps like in the ‘08 cycle, when he said (falsely) on Meet the Press that he’d been endorsed by the NRA, claimed to have been “a hunter pretty much all my life,” and the “Varmint” hunter press conference. By the way, expect a lot of anti-Obama chatter out of the NRA convention. While not surprising, do consider this so-called anti-gun president signed one of the largest expansions of rights for gun owners in recent history, allowing loaded guns to be carried in National Parks.
*** Team Obama’s not-so-good week: This was supposed to be a week when the White House and the Obama campaign focused on tax fairness and Mitt Romney’s wealth, punctuated by today’s release of Obama’s and Biden’s tax returns (more on that below). But the last seven days have been rough for Obama. There was last Friday’s disappointing jobs report (which led to a nervousness and recalibration on Wall Street and in the economic community in general), the rallying around Romney (due to Rick Santorum’s exit and the Hilary Rosen flap), and the Romney campaign’s success in manufacturing a distraction (when Romney was having a rough time erasing his gender gap). Even yesterday, one of Obama’s local TV interviews didn’t go so hot, with the RNC clipping this exchange. That said, it shouldn’t be lost that Obama has had a GREAT last three months -- with strong jobs numbers, the divisive GOP primary season, and the GOP’s focus on abortion and contraception. But the last seven days haven’t been as good for Team Obama, and these last 7 days constitute the first REAL week of the general election.
*** Obama campaign to urge Romney to release his tax returns: Speaking of tax returns, the Obamas and Bidens will release theirs today -- with a statement calling on Romney to do the same, the New York Times reports. “While Mr. Obama has long acknowledged being in the nation’s high-income echelon, thanks largely to sales of his best-selling books, he and his wife, Michelle, have paid an effective federal tax rate nearly twice that of Mr. Romney and his wife, Ann, according to tax returns released by both couples. The Obama campaign will post the 2011 tax return for the Obamas, as well as those dating back to 2000, on the campaign’s Web site, an official said. It will also post tax returns for Mr. Biden and his wife, Jill. In January, under intense pressure from his Republican rivals, Mr. Romney released his tax return for 2010, plus an estimate of his tax payment in 2011. But he has not released returns from earlier years, when he was governor of Massachusetts or a financial executive at Bain Capital.” Obama gives a speech in Tampa, FL at 1:20 pm ET and sits down for interview with Telemundo before departing to Colombia.
*** Romney calls Obama “incompetent” after North Korea’s “incompetent” missile launch: Last night, Romney released a statement criticizing Obama for North Korea’s failed missile launch. “President Obama sought to appease the regime with a food-aid deal that proved to be as naïve as it was short-lived. At the same time, he has cut critical U.S. missile defense programs and continues to underfund them. This incompetence from the Obama Administration has emboldened the North Korean regime and undermined the security of the United States and our allies.” Two things jump immediately to mind with this release: 1) Wasn’t the real incompetence was on North Korea’s side due to the failed launch and the nation squandering its chance at food aid? 2) The tone of this statement appears to reinforce a growing perception in serious foreign policy circles that Romney is willing to say anything, no matter how knee-jerk, to try to get an upper hand on these issues. What would Romney do when it comes to North Korea? Isn’t his criticism of Obama on North Korea also a criticism of Bush’s handling of the country as well?
*** On the GOP trail, per NBC’s Adam Perez: As mentioned above, Romney speaks at the NRA conference in St. Louis at 2:20 pm ET, while Gingrich addresses it at 3:00 pm ET.
*** Veepstakes watch: NBC’s Jamie Novogrod reports on Rob Portman stumping last night for Romney in Pennsylvania: Portman began his academic-feeling speech with a lengthy tip of his hat to Santorum in an effort to nurture a spirit of party unity. But later, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), the evening’s keynote speaker, seemed to resist Portman's entreaty, stopping short of rallying would-be Santorum voters behind Romney. “We’re going to have a presumptive nominee for 2012 really soon,” Blackburn said tepidly, per Novogrod. Blackburn, in fact, did not mention Romney by name during her speech -- and only later, during an on-camera interview with NBC, did she say: “I will support our nominee. We are moving to having that presumptive nominee, and it’s going to be Gov. Romney from what it appears, and I look forward to supporting the nominee.”
*** Lugar gets Super PAC help: Politico: “After massive ad buys against Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar by national conservative groups like the Club for Growth, the establishment cavalry is coming to his rescue, with the American Action Network launching a nearly $600,000 broadcast buy just in Indianapolis… The ad, called ‘Problems,’ is an ad slamming Lugar's primary opponent, state treasurer Richard Mourdock, accusing him of ‘receiving illegal tax breaks,’ and hitting his ‘failed stewardship’ of his government office, according to a release. The ad, which launches tomorrow on broadcast, will run through May 4. The cost of the flight is $590,000. There will also be a digital ad component, and a limited statewide mail buy, in the AAN campaign.”
*** On “Meet” this Sunday: On Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” NBC’s David Gregory will interview Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and have a roundtable featuring Hilary Rosen, Michele Bachmann, NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, Harold Ford Jr., and Mike Murphy.
Countdown to the CT, DE, NY, PA, and RI primaries: 12 days
Countdown to Election Day: 208 days
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So we're to believe that Ann Romney was a stay-at-mansion mom without a housekeeper, without a chef, without a nanny all those years? Last go around they tried to paint Obama as elite; they don't dare utter the word this time around.
The silly season was kicked off by the Republicans the day they realized that Obama kicked their lying...
They've been campaigning ever since with one goal in mind and that was to make Obama a one term president and they did so to the distraction and the detriment of the entire country. The only people they're appealing to are the dyed-in-the-wool conservatives who are particularly angry that it was a BLACK DEMOCRAT that whooped their butts in 2008. They've never gotten over it and they've been going so far as to openly lie and plant false suspicions. If they get in office their idea is to punish those of us who didn't buy their lies in the first place.
It's obvious the GOP does't have a single new idea in their heads. They're following the same marching orders since the 1950s, at least their consistent and consistently in favor of big business, big religion and the very rich without giving a hoot about the working class people who put them in office in the first place. There aren't enough rich people votes to be counted, only lots of financial input from the PACS and the likes of the Koch brothers who are paying the GOP and SCOTUS to do their bidding.
When they Obama a communist that really angers me, it's though they resurrected McCarthy, actually he was reincarnated as Rep. Allen West. The GOP has called Obama a commie, a socialist, a communist-Kenyan, an Islamic Kenyan, they've a lot of time an energy trying to prove he wasn't born here etc. etc. Stop wasting our time and money GOP and do something constructive instead of the usual deconstructing that has been their hallmark for over half a century.
(Dave's a charter member of the Kool-Aid club...shhhh!)
Too true. Painfully true. Excruciatingly true. Visibly true. Too visibly, for all concerned. Lies are now the coin of the stupid, and passed on by sheeple for no one;'s benefit.
You can aways tell when a dem lefty runs out of facts and opens the Lefty Manifesto.
He starts screaming "Bush did it" and "you're racist.
Don't you people----------- ever ------------- get a little embarrassed.
This is not a silly season.
It is a struggle to keep America out of the hands of those that hijacked the election in 2004 from the Democrats.
You know, the ones that came very close to RUINING my country and America's reputation with the rest of the world?
You know; the Republicans.
Remember the Bush and Cheney and their last reign of horror and lies? Like waterboarding, the Patriot Act and a Vice President that shot his friend?
I know you know and I know you remember.
That was so yesterday, just like all the promises Mr. Obama made in 2008. :) lol
Change is needed to have Hope again!
Don't worry my lefty friend, the memory on the conservative side is excellent.
We remember which president , went 17 months before he signed a new oil drilling lease, and then lied about it.
We remember which president, has obligated us for 6.1 trillion in three years counting his insurance farce.
We remember which president cut 468 billion out of Medicare.
We remember which president is guilty of two counts of Malfeasance in Office, for the immigration laws and Doma laws.
We remember which president in spite if spending trillion is still has an 8% larger UE rate than when he took office.
And of course we will remember we have 1, 214,000 fewer jobs than when he took office.
Yep, I don't think we will have any trouble at all, remembering Mr Obama's name.
Last but hardly least we know which president will cause 6% to 7% of the business that can travel, to take options on sites outside the USA.
Yes inded my parasitical fiend, we will indeed remember.
Guess who overhypes this stuff then proclaims it to be a "silly season"? Chuck Todd and the other imbeciles involved in First Read. They have nothing better or valid to write about so they persist in turning everything into a "controversy" of monumental proportions.
To use common sense, with emotional loyalties and biases tuned down, literally makes reality clear. To objectively and rationally look at the Republican / Tea Party’s performances and what they constantly push not only shows their aggressive catering to the very wealthy but it also becomes obvious that it is near impossible to find any real consideration for the majority, including all of the middle-class, other than simply their propaganda aimed to sell their concentration on serving “the money” as being “conservative” and “constitutional” (their emotionalized buzz words). Then to honestly evaluate their fixation and total dependance on faulting Obama, that being their total claim for deserving consideration, it quickly rings empty when recognizing Obama didn’t cause the deficit but rather inherited it from Bush-Cheney along with all of the severe problems, including two wars, that necessitated responses increasing the deficit. Further scrutiny identifies that “big government”, government spending and the deficit, their cries against the Democrats, are neither what caused our problems nor will attacking them alone ever solve the problems. An unemotional and logical discernment shows emphatically that our problems directly relate to the repeated exploitation by “the few”, allowed and encouraged by permissive politicians who seek the strong support of “the money”, politicians who just put their political ambitions above their responsibilities.
The current Republican Party clearly demonstrates that they are owned and controlled by “the money”. It has been said that, as such, they are completely incapable of honestly and responsibly governing and the last twelve years have totally substantiated that. Their’s and their strong supporters’ efforts are steadily aimed at pushing this country further into being a two-class society with “the few” competing in having it all while the majority, including the “want to be”’s, those who want to consider themselves as one with the 1%, just keep loosing ground. To ever regain the Grande Ole Party with a sincere concern for the people, will take firmly and totally rejecting what they have become; anything else they just interpret as encouragement, as we have seen, to continue taking the voters for granted.
Looks like you have blinders on, IMHO, but that's ok. The real problem is we have crooks in the W.H. and that is sad for America. People who can't see what is going on, have their "heads" up their arses. Where is Holder and the DOJ on Fast and Furious? Where on the NBPP and threats?? After you explain those, you can try to explain how it's Bush's fault that our national debt is now what it is...(when he wasn't in office). That should keep you busy for awhile.
Why bother? It's clear you don't have any grasp on the most basic of financial concepts, such as compounding interest ... let alone things a bit more complex, such as "deficit spending."
Liberals love to call names, and show their prejudice here on a daily basis.
The Mask, it's not working. :)
I'd try to find one that hides your hate and inner feelings better. :)
Talk get along, love and peace...but FLAMES be coming out your mouths. :) lol
HOPE and CHANGE in 2012!
Change America needs!
Emperor and Bishop Romany's faith (his campaign slogan should be 'Let's merge My Faith and Government') includes the following peculiarities. Like Muslims, Mormons prohibit alcohol. When draft-dodging in France, he said to the French: 'Give up your wine! I've got a great religion for you!' Uh, yeah. Real productive work, there, Emperor Fix-er-Upper Class Knucklehead. Glad you let the rest of us die for you to talk about freedom as you dodged the draft. What a nut case.
"Silly season?" It wouldn't be so silly if Miss Rosen has actually won the argument. She was effectively neutralized in her outburst as well as the war on women meme. Thank you Rosen for ending that tired War on Women fake outrage.
Backhouse... Sorry, Mickey Mouse is ALREADY in the W.H.
This article says that the conservative elites rallied around Romney yesterday. My email was lit up yesterday from all of my conservative family members and friends. What is MSNs definition of elite? It appears that conservatives from all income ranges were rallying around Romney.
That was meant as a slam or put down obviously. Drive a wedge....
All except for the many elite millionaire republicans who stood with the President on his Buffett Rule
123ang,,,,, Don't you think you keep missing out on some important details you need for an accurate comment people will believe?
One detail republicans don't want to look at is they have chased over 30% of republicans & all of the Reagan Republicans away from the GOP
Jim. I was referring to non-elites and questions what MSN's definition of an elite was
JIM-- ---Elite because they worked, earned and paid their own way, or elite because they are rich.
I have a job, Jim, I work, , I produce, I earn, I do well.
I don't care what the rich have, I don't care what the rich earn.
It simply makes no difference to me.
But, of course, I expect to work, earn and pay my own way, I don't expect some one else to give me some of what they have acquired legally.
Early polls have Romney up by a hair and the real campaigning hasn't even started yet. Are our deficits and debt up or down... is unemployment above or below 6%, is the cost of gas and heating our homes higher or lower then 2009... How are the value of our homes doing?? If those topics remain on the front burner during this campaign, Romney will win in a landslide that will make the landslide of 2010 for the GOP look small..........
Romney endorsed the legalization of RU-486, the abortion-inducing drug, and appeared in June 1994 at a fund-raiser for Planned Parenthood. Ann Romney gave the group $150. During the electoral debates in 2012, Emperor Romany said, "I'm firmly pro-life. I believe in the sanctity of life from the very beginning until the very end." We think he meant to say, "I'll take any position to win votes, then when in office I'll say—oh, well, I tried. Now, where is that off-shore account ledger?"
What's with all the whining about Romney's old tax returns. Do we need further confirmation of how rich he is? What is the point? I hope he suggests that the Obamas release their college records and credit reports in exchange for his old tax returns. Then we'd get some well needed info.
I need to know what Romney is hiding and why he won't release his returns.
What is in them that he is so ashamed of?
Why not? Rommey's own father had no problem at all showing several years of his..... In fact, George Romney was the 1st example of any of them showing their tax records
One would think Mitt would honor his father... But he's got too much in off shore holdings to hide & can't understand what honor is
How whould you like everyone to know that some of your income comes from companies that still do business with Iran? --- Romney doesn't think anyone has a right to know
jimmer I just like that name better you are so ful of it do you realize no one is even listening to you ? lol again I say lets talk about the real issues facing this Great Country of ours and stop with the what if's that you have know idea about.
I guess this is the place Chuck Todd has his democrat trolls.
the media matters trolls are going full speed..
spreading their racial divisiveness and class warfare..
that is all odumbo has to run on..
it's obviously not on his record..
hell, carter has a better record than barry..
END OF AN ERROR
ABO2012
Here is how pro-women Romney is: Mormon Bishops, like Romney, can excommunicate members. Romney's babysitter-nanny (and we all know Mormon nannies never get pregnant), was somehow in an un-immaculate conception. Our Bishop Romney threatened to take her god away by excommunication! Isn't that special? Peggy Hayes, a devout Mormon, said his message was quite clear: "Give up your son (for adoption), or give up your God." He claimed a Harvard-trained bad memory and muttered, "I certainly can't say it could not have been me." A waffle with a twist of religious extremism! Damage control practice for later in 2012? No—Mission Accomplished! Thank God he looks out for Catholics and their medical insurance.
Here is how pro-women Romney is: Mormon Bishops, like Romney, can excommunicate members. Romney's babysitter-nanny (and we all know Mormon nannies never get pregnant), was somehow in an un-immaculate conception. Our Bishop Romney threatened to take her god away by excommunication! Isn't that special? Peggy Hayes, a devout Mormon, said his message was quite clear: "Give up your son (for adoption), or give up your God." He claimed a Harvard-trained bad memory and muttered, "I certainly can't say it could not have been me." A waffle with a twist of religious extremism! Damage control practice for later in 2012? No—Mission Accomplished! Thank God he looks out for Catholics and their medical insurance.
Randy toast keep up you'll need a lot more if you think this smearing is going to work, I can make up names too , and I know you left wing fanatic's will try your best to try and bring his religion into the talk , again I say lets talk about the real issue's here not made up crap !
Waaaaaah. Rush can do it, but no one else.
lol that's all lefty's ever do that can't carry on an intelligent conversation!!
Hey Randy,
Are you aware that your hero, Harry Reid, is a Mormon?
Next.............
[hint to the "conservatives commenting here]
RandyToast isn't commenting on Mitt's choice of religion -- he's commenting on the lack of Christian values in the alleged pregnant nanny event.
With that said, and illustrating the knee-jerk reaction of the local "conservatives," I'd like a bit more verification of this incident, please.
You have to love politics and politicians. the only event where a fart from the right or wrong person can be blown up into a major news event.
Way back when the media outlets were limited due to the lack of a million channel entertainment systems they seemed to be more selective in what was considered news. but today, when there are way too many outlets to fill with what laughingly today passes as news, anything goes.
Romney is a draft dodger, for God's sake. By serving as a missionary for the Mormon Church during the Vietnam War, Romney made sure he would not be drafted from the years 1966 until 1969 (when the war ended, for Romney, and putting self-interest and a whacky religion ahead of public service well past 1975, when the war officially ended). This exemption from service still stands today for Mormons. Romney could have been an Army Missionary, but went as far from danger as he could, to France, and ate Freedom Fries while our boys in uniform lost their lives defending their country. Romney believes that war is necessary...for other people to fight. Most draftees in the Vietnam days were from lower-middle class neighborhoods, and enlistees to this day are mostly from the poor of America. As Romney said in 2012, "I'm not worried about the poor." Of course not! He isn't one! He must have been thinking : "Praise the Lord, and let the poor pass the hand grenades for me! And give more some of those Freedom Fries, Pierre." And he recently endorsed his sons for NOT joining the military! Enough said. He's a conservative? Sure, and my dog speaks Arabic. Woof salaam woof!
Randy you have to be in this president Cabinet because you are one stupid person , but hey keep it up it's people like you that will help us get your boss out of office.
Hey Chuck U. Todd,
Rosen was NOT, in fact, "referring to Romney's wealth. She referred THREE different times to MRS. ROMNEY.
Quit trying to circle the wagons around a failed presidency and an incompetent, stupid (yes, stupid) man that holds the office.
The left's spin is too funny on this.
When a women cleans other people's homes all day, it is work.
When a women cares for other people's kids all day, it is work.
BUT
When a women stays home and cleans her own home, cares for her own kids AND does things like cook meals and run errands...suddenly that woman "hasn't worked a day in her life".
I don't care if the husband is making $10 an hour, or $1000 and hour, raising the kids requires just as much effort.
Romney's family history dates back to their original conversion by Mormon missionaries and the Romney family's flight to Mexico to protect their polygamous relationships. And Mitt home-schooled his kiddies with "nannies", and everyone knows Mormon nannies never get mysteriously pregnant. In 1994, Romney said to a woman he was counseling against abortion and pressuring into adoption, one of his 'nannies', "As your bishop," she said he told her, "my concern is with the child." When questioned, he claimed a Harvard-trained bad memory, and said, "I certainly can't say it could not have been me." A waffle with a twist of religious extremism! Sure, he's a conservative, and my dog can speak Arabic. Woof, salaam, woof!
Oh, well if an ancestor of Romney had bad family values, then Romney must be unfit to hold office.
Now tell me about how the upstanding man who sired our current President delt with his son. I mean certainly he didn't abandon his post as father. That would be a horrible thing to do. Gee...yet another unfit candidate.
(And where was all the left's hatred of Mormons back when Harry Reid was running all those many times?)
Randy,
One more time........Your hero, Harry Reid, is a Mormon.
May I have your take and history on him?
Always silly when it blows-up in a Libtard's face. How consistant. I do have a question. If Ann Romney - never having a job - hires a person to raise her children full-time to work outside the home - by definition, do they now BOTH have jobs? Wow! I created a job where Democrats said did not even exist!
I was amazed to read in this site that at least someone at MSNBC finally admits to manufactured controversies.
Ed Shultz - I call him Mr. Ed, the talking horses' ass - has had nothing on but the "War on Women" for I don't know how long !!
Fortunately I have mankind's greatest invention !! the remote control !!
and I stay away from their evening's Liberal / Socialist / Communist propaganda - tune into Fox, CNN, Dr. Drew, Nancy if she does not get on my nerves !!
Silly like the Trayvon Martin 'manufactured racism'? Either it's all silly or its all serious.
Il,
Yes. Just like the made-up Trayvon racism.
Next.............
Black and white thinking is a fallacy.
Randy,
Please stop!! Yes, it is. It is only flamed by you schmucks on the left.
The Trayvon case is the epitome of that.
Oh, by the way, I'm waiting for your take on Harry Reid's Mormonism.
"Etch-a-Sketch" is a "manufactured controversy"?
My Aunt Sadie! Anyone who says that doesn't know about the historical revisionism that is part-and-parcel to the culture Mitt was raised in and the university he did his undergrad degree at.
It will easily prove to be the "gift that keeps on giving"; I've used it three times already on blogs elsewhere on the web, and I'm certain many other opportunities will arise.
And I'm always willing to submit to fact checking, but a fair warning to the nasty sorts; conventional wisdom is to avoid getting into a swearing contest with a cabbie. The Romney campaign has decided telling the truth is an act of "religious bigotry," and they're going to go down in flames clinging to that one.
Let's not omit the biggest manufactured controversy of the season. The House Democrat Steering and Policy Committee staged a media event at which Sandra Fluke gave a speech calling upon the federal government to force the Jesuit Order of the Roman Catholic Church to provide female employees with free contraceptives. Rush Limbaugh then criticized Fluke in terms almost as harsh as those Democrat comics had used in reference to Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann. Democrats and their media allies immediately pronounced this a "Republican war on women".
Here's a telling fact. MSNBC will allow posts containing the terms Limbaugh used to refer to Fluke. If you try to post the terms Democrat comics used to refer to Palin and Bachmann, MSNBC will convert them to jibberish.
Wow. A Republican conspiracy nut? That's tasty!