# Playgirl editor fired after "outing" as Rebublican... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 21, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573 "2005-03-21T15:49:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [March 21, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/61 "2005-03-21T18:18:39Z")
> [@Rysler](#): > > I don’t think **SA** is intentionally playing coy with us, but he read something on Drudge that was posted for humorous shock value (which preys on ignorance), and is now relying on our knee-jerk reactions to justify his belief in our shameful hypocrisy. That poor woman. Or maybe he’s just trying to associate Democrats with spreading pornography, since our reputation isn’t besmirched enough by the ‘leftist’ media. Take a line and make a book out of it much? I’m saying exactly what I said I was saying: Pro left bias exists, as I’ve said before, and this is an example of it. Period. End of story. (Regarding the purpose of the OP, that is.) ---
**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:** [March 21, 2005, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/62 "2005-03-21T18:20:49Z")
Sorry folks, but life and errands beckon. You’re going to have to me an idiot without getting any responses for awhile. Sorry. I’ll be back when I can. Regards. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/63 "2005-03-21T18:21:06Z")
Link to article that shows **Starving Artist** ’s OP was premature and ill-founded and doesn’t capture the whole story and shows him as usual to be full of grasping-at-straws bullshit that he will equally predictably fail to apologize for or retract in five… four… three… ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/64 "2005-03-21T18:24:07Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Pro left bias exists, as I’ve said before, and this is an example of it. Period. End of story. No. It. Is. Not. At least, it isn’t until you actually provide evidence that the firing (if there was a firing) was based on her being a Republican. Additionally, can we get a pre-emptive backtracking from you in case there turns out to be at least one other “outed” Republican on the _Playgirl_ staff that hasn’t been fired? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/65 "2005-03-21T18:27:06Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > You people don’t believe Playgirl has a liberal slant? Look at the pictorials! Haven’t you noticed how all the wangs had a leftist slant? After consulting with several politically astute sluts (who would be in possession of relevent information), I am advised that the relative perpendickularity of the generative organ is not indicative of political inclination. A more reliable indication, we are given to understand, is comparative heft and girth. A Liberal is, most often, entirely unremarkable in this regard, whereas your radical lefty is often compared to “baby’s arm holding a ping-pong ball”. The common response to a Republican exposure is often “Oh! I didn’t know you were Japanese!”. This accounts for their propensity to massive overcompensation, especially in terms of guns, cigars, SUV’s, stock portfolios, etc. etc. Your correspondent from the conservative wing of the extreme left disavows any personal knowledge, and can only report second-hand (so to speak…) from trusted sources. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/66 "2005-03-21T18:35:12Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > No. It. Is. Not. At least, it isn’t until you actually provide evidence that the firing (if there was a firing) was based on her being a Republican. Okay, one more answer before I go. But get ready for it: it will drive you crazy. Even if subsequent events prove her firing not to be related to anti-Republican bias, that in no way obviates anti-Republican bias itself. It would only mean that this particular incident is not illustrative of it. > [@Munch](#): > > Additionally, can we get a pre-emptive backtracking from you in case there turns out to be at least one other “outed” Republican on the _Playgirl_ staff that hasn’t been fired? Certainly not! For one thing, the other "outed’ Republican (assuming there is one) is apparently not making it public. And secondly, to fire him/her might be deemed poor public relations on the part of the magazine as a result of the attention this first episode has drawn. Nice try, though. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/67 "2005-03-21T18:37:38Z")
> [@SA](#): > > I’m saying exactly what I said I was saying: Pro left bias exists, as I’ve said before, and this is an example of it. Period. End of story. (Regarding the purpose of the OP, that is.) We know what you’re saying, we’re contending that your example is faulty, and I’m supposing that your faulty example was caused by a rush to make your point and vindicate your belief without actually researching your source. That seems to be **Cervaise** ’s contention, too. Example: Faulty. Theory You’re Attempting to Prove With Example: No one’s debating your theory in this thread. We’re all too hung up on debunking the glurge, and there are plenty of GD threads about media bias. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/68 "2005-03-21T18:41:08Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > But get ready for it: it will drive you crazy. Even if subsequent events prove her firing not to be related to anti-Republican bias, that in no way obviates anti-Republican bias itself. It would only mean that this particular incident is not illustrative of it. I.e., a complete lack of evidence in no way undercuts your absolute belief that it is true. Pal, we’re not the “crazy” ones here. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/69 "2005-03-21T18:50:12Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Okay, one more answer before I go. But get ready for it: it will drive you crazy. Even if subsequent events prove her firing not to be related to anti-Republican bias, that in no way obviates anti-Republican bias itself. It would only mean that this particular incident is not illustrative of it. Sorry, that didn’t drive me crazy. And I’m not put off by it, either. But you need to be aware that you seem to be backpedaling from “Here’s an example of lefty bias” to “there’s lefty bias”. You can argue the latter all you want, but you need to recognize and admit that the example you posited in the OP is complete bullshit. > [@](#): > > Certainly not! For one thing, the other "outed’ Republican (assuming there is one) is apparently not making it public. As far as you know. For all we know, the CEO of Playgirl is a Republican, and has been a known Republican for 20 years. > [@](#): > > And secondly, to fire him/her might be deemed poor public relations on the part of the magazine as a result of the attention this first episode has drawn. Bull. You’re assuming there haven’t been any known Republicans working at the office ever. I’m asking what if there happens to be a Republican that’s been working there for years, and everyone has known about 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:** [March 21, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/70 "2005-03-21T18:53:24Z")
> [@Rysler](#): > > We know what you’re saying, we’re contending that your example is faulty, and I’m supposing that your faulty example was caused by a rush to make your point and vindicate your belief without actually researching your source. That seems to be **Cervaise** ’s contention, too. Well, it’s a supposition that is erroneous. I saw the blurb and said to myself: “Self, here’s an excellent example of the kind of 99:1 journalist ratio that exists in the media regarding liberal vs. conservative membership, and the type of ire they will bring to bear upon any conservative that dares to enter their ranks.” And, being an honest person myself, I tend to see honesty in others until I’m proven wrong, so I went with it. If it turns out the example is less than it appeared to be in this case, I will certainly acknowledge that the example is faulty. And with that, I’m outta here for now. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/71 "2005-03-21T19:08:25Z")
Promises, promises. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/72 "2005-03-21T19:11:37Z")
Surely this thread is an example of the well-known right wing bias in the US? Using faulty examples to ‘prove’ their prejudices? ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/73 "2005-03-21T19:21:29Z")
Talk of liberal media bias is just hogwash. The most successful names in media – from Fox News to Rush Limbaugh – are arch conservative. The companies are huge business concerns run by the likes of GE and Rupert Murdoch. Al Franken and his crowd still haven’t been able to get liberal talk off the ground. As an example, see my gloss in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=308060) (post #16) of a recent Fox News article on the Schiavo case. If the best you can do is a Drudge account of a digruntled fireling at Playgirl… you’re better off just not saying anything at all. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/74 "2005-03-21T21:56:47Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Okay, one more answer before I go. But get ready for it: it will drive you crazy. Even if subsequent events prove her firing not to be related to anti-Republican bias, that in no way obviates anti-Republican bias itself. It would only mean that this particular incident is not illustrative of it. Actually, I think it’s perfectly illustrative of it. To wit: most accounts of anti-Republican bias in the media turn out, when examined closely, to be horseshit. This illustrates that tendency nicely. When you read a news story, even one that seems to support your existing notions of the world, be skeptical of it. Ask yourself, “Cui Bono?” That is, Who benefits? And when the person telling the story turns out to be the person benefiting from the story, be very very skeptical. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/75 "2005-03-21T22:29:41Z")
I happen to have a copy of the latest Playgirl right here, and I was surprised by the tone of Zipp’s article, “Sexual Politics: When it comes to sex, who is more liberal: Democrats or Republicans?” I know that Playgirl never claimed to be unbiased, but although it would be easy to do a two-sided approach to that story, Zipp was extremely Republican in it. A few excerpts: “Conservatives, on one hand, think for themselves, while liberals can be viewed as those who jump on bandwagons. When you translate this to intimacy, conservatives know what they want and ways to achieve their needs, while liberals can be clouded by what other say they want.” “Red, the Republican color, is the color of lust, romance, passion, the devil, and Valentine’s Day. Democratic blue is cool, detached, icy, blue balls.” And so on. If she’s making a habit of alienating her readers, then I can see why they’d be looking for change. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/76 "2005-03-21T22:42:48Z")
Yeah, I have to admit you guys make some valid points. Although I would interrupt myself only briefly to point out to **StD** that the success of Limbaugh, Fox, et al. is the result of decades of liberal bias, not a refutation of it. Had that long-standing liberal bias not existed there would be no Limbaugh, Fox, etc. But be that as it may, you guys are right. It does appear that for a number of reasons there may have been a legitimate reason to let her go. Therefore, I rescind my pitting of _Playgirl_ and the media in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/77 "2005-03-21T22:56:22Z")
Just out of curiosity, **Starving Artist** , in the hypothetical case that this woman had been fired solely because she was a Republican, is it your position that this is wrong? Do you believe that magazines should not be allowed to take political affiliation into consideration when hiring or firing someone? ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/78 "2005-03-21T23:02:28Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Yeah, I have to admit you guys make some valid points. Although I would interrupt myself only briefly to point out to **StD** that the success of Limbaugh, Fox, et al. is the result of decades of liberal bias, not a refutation of it. Had that long-standing liberal bias not existed there would be no Limbaugh, Fox, etc. > > But be that as it may, you guys are right. It does appear that for a number of reasons there may have been a legitimate reason to let her go. > > Therefore, I rescind my pitting of _Playgirl_ and the media in this case. I disagree, the fact that we talk about the left-wing bias is a result of the years of bantering from the right wing media that a left wing media bias exists. Right wing media is popular because it resonates with the people of the blip culture who want easy, simple answers to complex problems. Juvenile delinquency: Right Wing media- Get those parents back in the home. Make people stay married (okay exactly how do you do that, force?) Teenage pregnancy: Don’t have sex, personal responsibility (ok, how do you get around everyone having sex- they always have, always will) Poverty: Make em work, laziness never got you anywhere. (Ok, what about the fact that minimum wage is insufficient to suport a family and that many jobs do not offer health insurance and other benefits…) Americans like right wing media because it gives these simple “common sense” answers, to problems that are much deeper and complex. It appeals to the simple minded. This is why, to this day, people accuse liberals of being long-winded. To liberals the answers of smash it, force it and punish it are too simple. To right wing media fans, it makes thems whoop, holler and shriek with joy. ---
**Author:** ![Corii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Corii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corii)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/79 "2005-03-21T23:39:07Z")
Regardless of whether or not the alleged incident occurred, I thought it was perfectly legal to fire someone for their political preferences? I think it’s pretty lame, but AFAIK it’s not illegal. It put me in mind of this incident here: [http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/040912/sticker.shtml](http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/040912/sticker.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573/80 "2005-03-21T23:43:36Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Although I would interrupt myself only briefly to point out to **StD** that the success of Limbaugh, Fox, et al. is the result of decades of liberal bias, not a refutation of it. Had that long-standing liberal bias not existed there would be no Limbaugh, Fox, etc. Actually, I think there would be. Apparently, some conservatives prefer that their news sources tell them what they want to hear. In fact, just the other day I heard a conservative say (paraphrased): > [@](#): > > When I watch Fox, I watch it because they are in line with my thinking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playgirl-editor-fired-after-outing-as-rebublican/295573.md?page=5)