# Phyllis Schlafly dead at 92 - Does anybody care? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 5, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155 "2016-09-05T23:58:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/101 "2016-09-07T21:02:42Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Inasmuch as I can actually read, I would point out that Starving Artist did not say I was implying hypocrisy. He said that jayjay’s response was foolish – in other words, that jayjay believed I was implying hypocriscy, and that jayay’s response to that accusation was worthy of ridicule. > > He expressed no opinion on whether I did imply hypocrisy. > > I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that he is well aware that I did not. In truth I had no idea whether you had or not. I hadn’t (and haven’t) haven’t read the entire thread but only skimmed through it. Then I left for a while and when I came back **jayjay’s** post was the last in the thread. I assumed his post was referring to an accusation of hypocrisy but I hadn’t seen the post that triggered it. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/102 "2016-09-07T21:48:07Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Her mouth was moving. Seriously, guy, are you trying to rehabilitate this monster? Baahahahaha! Monster? _Monster??_ She’s a fucking monster now? What she was, was a highly educated woman who was cognizant of the slippery slope consequences that inevitably follow whenever you give liberals their lead on something. She didn’t want unisex bathrooms and she didn’t want women to be drafted and sent off to combat in wars. How awful!! > [@Trinopus](#): > > Are you trying to make up excuses for her lies? That’s sick and twisted. Even if that were what I was doing, it still wouldn’t be sick or twisted. What I am doing, however, is trying to point out that she may very well had what she felt were good reasons for opposing the ERA. > [@Trinopus](#): > > She damn well knew what the ERA said… Surely you’re not so simple minded as to think that the eventual outcome of an amendment is limited to its text. The text is open to interpretation, and when you have the sort of liberal activist judges that were so prevalent then (and will be again if Coughing Hillary gets elected) interpreting laws to suit their ideological purposes, anything is possible. > [@Trinopus](#): > > and she made up shit about it to scare people. Do you have anything remotely resembling a cite for this, or is it, as I suspect, merely your biased opinion? > [@Trinopus](#): > > That’s lying, and that’s assholery. I see. So anyone voicing a negative opinion about something you favor, or foreseeing consequences you don’t agree with, must ipso-facto be lying, is that right? And of course it’s their disagreement with you that makes them an asshole. Got it. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/103 "2016-09-07T21:51:44Z")
Coughing Hillary? You idiot. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/104 "2016-09-07T21:56:55Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > …Got it. Took you long enough. So, guess you’re done here, now, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/105 "2016-09-07T21:57:29Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Has there ever been a thread here about the death of a prominent left-leaning commentator, pundit, or activist, in which the right-leaning board members expressed glee at the passing? Too bad the Internet was just getting started when [Madalyn O’Hair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madalyn_Murray_O%27Hair) died. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/106 "2016-09-07T21:58:50Z")
Ted Kennedy wasn’t even cold when they started gloating about getting (unearned) control of the Senate. They’ve been pouting ever since. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/107 "2016-09-07T22:02:49Z")
Ted Bundy, young Republican activist, died young in an incident that would best be described as “shocking, positively shocking”. Crowds gathered to cheer. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/108 "2016-09-07T23:39:36Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Coughing Hillary? I thought it was kind of cute myself. You’d have preferred maybe Hillary the Lung? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/109 "2016-09-08T00:12:59Z")
Cuter than a mutant tarantula, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/110 "2016-09-08T01:32:42Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Ted Bundy, young Republican activist, died young in an incident that would best be described as “shocking, positively shocking”. Crowds gathered to cheer. Well I just had to laugh, I saw the photograph. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/111 "2016-09-08T01:39:39Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Has there ever been a thread here about the death of a prominent left-leaning commentator, pundit, or activist, in which the right-leaning board members expressed glee at the passing? Ted Kennedy. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/112 "2016-09-08T02:14:08Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Ted Kennedy. Actually, I should walk that back a little bit. I remembered a lot more right-wing vitriol on the board when Kennedy died, but the most I could find was [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=529513&highlight=Kennedy+dead), which had a few gems: > [@Ted Kennedy is dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/7): > > Gone at last to stammer his excuses to the shade of Mary Jo Kopechne just before God sends his ass to roast in eternal hellfire for leaving a young woman to drown. > > Disgusting apology for a human being, the world is well rid of this sanctimonious, hypocritical weasel. > [@Ted Kennedy is dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/19): > > Those who gives Kennedy a pass over the events at Chappaquiddick have not read the accounts of what happened. > > He spent more time trying to cover up what happened than rescuing Mary Jo Kopechne. He tried to get his friends to lie for him and went so far as to swim back to the mainland so he would be seen at the hotel where he was registered. He then tried to smear the officer who investigated it. > > All his political accomplishments lay at the foot of this legacy. He deserves a burial at sea (at night) in the trunk of 1967 Olds 88 pushed off the deck while nobody is watching. Which, personally, I didn’t think were all that bad, considering that most of the other board conservatives offered stuff more like: > [@Ted Kennedy is dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/30): > > May the souls of the faithful departed, thru the mercy of Christ, rest in peace. > > I didn’t agree with pretty much anything he said or did in his public life. Nonetheless, as Bob Dole said, he was my opponent, not my enemy. > > My condolences to his family and his constituents. > > Regards, > Shodan But there was one poster there who seemed deeply, deeply disappointed by the behavior of the conservatives in that thread: > [@Ted Kennedy is dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/38): > > 1. Senator Kennedy will be missed. I disagreed with the vast majority of his positions, but never doubted his commitment to better the world. We disagreed on the best way to do that, but he devoted his life to public service in the truest sense of the word. He was, indeed, the Lion of the Senate, and we are richer for having him here and poorer for his passing. > > 2. I was confident that this would be an occasion to quietly note to myself how different conservatives are from liberals, at least on this board. I knew that after the hate-filled venom spewed at disliked conservative figures who have died, the contrast would be obvious. > > 3. How disappointing it is to be so wrong about #2. So, at least according to you, there isn’t that much difference between liberals and conservatives on this sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/113 "2016-09-08T02:39:53Z")
How about me, then? I’m a liberal. People hate me and mock me, but I’m a liberal. And I agree with **Bricker** and **Starving Artist** in their assessment of this thread. I disagree with **Bricker** that he’s not citing hypocrisy. No, we don’t flat out say “It’s wrong to celebrate the death of people we hate.” But we do say a lot of things that would lead to that conclusion. We pride ourselves on empathy for others, even if they are different from us. We know that there are conservatives here who might be sad at her passing, but here we are rubbing their faces in it, when we freaked the fuck out when they did that in the Ted Kennedy thread. We get angry at cops who seem callous towards the criminals they shoot. We preach against the tribalism found in bigotry. We push for political correctness, which we say is about not saying things to unnecessarily hurt others. We mostly are against the death penalty, saying even the worst criminals don’t deserve to be killed. A huge part of why I am liberal is that I find that conservatism pushes an immoral mindset. The way they treat the poor is horrible. The excuses made for bigotry is horrible. Yes, even the things that this old lady preached are horrible. But, when we act like this, I don’t feel we’re much better. It’d be one thing if it was people saddened by death but also happy that things would get better, like in Scalia’s thread. But, no, it’s just cackling glee that this woman who hasn’t really been relevant for years is dead. I do feel this thread shows liberals in a bad light. And, no, this isn’t meant to be a lecture. It’s meant to hopefully be a sober revelation. An appeal to your better nature. Because I know we’re better than this. I for one am saddened by her death, even if I think her views were odious. I am glad that her type of activism really isn’t a thing anymore. But her death didn’t accomplish any of that. Her death is just some wrong old lady dying. And at least she was an intellectual, which modern conservatism could use a lot more of. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/114 "2016-09-08T02:57:16Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > . . . And of course it’s their disagreement with you that makes them an asshole. Got it. Since I never said that, and, in fact, was careful to say exactly the opposite of this, it is obvious you are arguing in bad faith. Is anyone here surprised? Show of hands? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/115 "2016-09-08T03:36:40Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Ted Kennedy. From me: > [@Ted Kennedy is dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/38): > > 1. Senator Kennedy will be missed. I disagreed with the vast majority of his positions, but never doubted his commitment to better the world. We disagreed on the best way to do that, but he devoted his life to public service in the truest sense of the word. He was, indeed, the Lion of the Senate, and we are richer for having him here and poorer for his passing. Granted that I was not joined by everyone: > [@](#): > > 1. I was confident that this would be an occasion to quietly note to myself how different conservatives are from liberals, at least on this board. I knew that after the hate-filled venom spewed at disliked conservative figures who have died, the contrast would be obvious. > > 2. How disappointing it is to be so wrong about #2. But even so, the actual number of people that spoke against Kennedy in that thread: aldiboronti Magiver aruvqan ralph124c Daylate And: > [@Ted Kennedy is dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/43): > > I think you have to give some conservatives credit for some extremely classy things they have said in this thread. I don’t want to single any out for fear of omitting others, but most conservatives here have done themselves proud today. Like: > [@Ted Kennedy is dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/6): > > I suppose somebody should set the tone for this, why not have it be an avowed Ted Kennedy opponent: > > I don’t like anything he did, I don’t like his connections, his influence, his personal actions, much of anything, but I can say that legislatively he did what he thought was right and he was loved by millions. That’s as good an obituary as any man can reasonably expect, and far better than I expect when I die. > [@Ted Kennedy is dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/29): > > In the political realm, with few exceptions, I lean more on the Helms-Falwell side than I do the Kennedy side. > > Jesse Helms and Jerry Falwell both had a friendly adversarial relationship and a shared respect with him. > > That’s good enough for me. > > God grant you rest, Senator Kennedy, reward your virtues and forgive your sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. > [@Ted Kennedy is dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/30): > > May the souls of the faithful departed, thru the mercy of Christ, rest in peace. > > I didn’t agree with pretty much anything he said or did in his public life. Nonetheless, as Bob Dole said, he was my opponent, not my enemy. > > My condolences to his family and his constituents. > > Regards, > Shodan > [@Ted Kennedy is dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/31): > > Bravo. My sentiments exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/116 "2016-09-08T03:41:30Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > So, at least according to you, there isn’t that much difference between liberals and conservatives on this sort of thing. No. How could my comment about a thread in 2009 possibly be construed as an analysis of what happened here in this thread? I was, in fact, disappointed in 2009 in the negative comments from some conservatives, but in my view the contrast between a very few negative comments and many conservatives joining in praise of Senator Kennedy back then, and the current thread’s near unanimity from liberals – is striking. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/117 "2016-09-08T03:46:57Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > No. How could my comment about a thread in 2009 possibly be construed as an analysis of what happened here in this thread? > > I was, in fact, disappointed in 2009 in the negative comments from some conservatives, but in my view the contrast between a very few negative comments and many conservatives joining in praise of Senator Kennedy back then, and the current thread’s near unanimity from liberals – is striking. Are you suggesting Kennedy and Schlafly are exactly equally deserving of scorn and praise? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/118 "2016-09-08T03:48:19Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I disagree with **Bricker** that he’s not citing hypocrisy. > > No, we don’t flat out say “It’s wrong to celebrate the death of people we hate.” But we do say a lot of things that would lead to that conclusion. I disagree with this conclusion. That’s not hypocrisy. You (in the indefinite sense; you liberals) can’t be called hypocritical merely because some things you do might lead people to that conclusion. Your behavior also allows other inferences – the classic “we tolerate everything but intolerance,” for example. I cannot decide that you’re hinting around that it’s wrong to celebrate the death of people you hate, and then call you hypocritical for doing it. That’s a strawman argument. I can only call you hypocritical if you clearly and unambiguously endorse a position and then act contrarily. Which you do plenty. But not here. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/119 "2016-09-08T03:49:28Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Are you suggesting Kennedy and Schlafly are exactly equally deserving of scorn and praise? No. That would be quite a feat of mathematical chance. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155/120 "2016-09-08T04:02:22Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > No. That would be quite a feat of mathematical chance. Then you appear left with a vague suggestion but no evidence. Anyway, if the board still.exists when Hillary Clinton dies, I’m sure every conservative in America will choose to take the high road. Every. Single. One. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phyllis-schlafly-dead-at-92-does-anybody-care/765155.md?page=7)