# Sarah Palin: "Rahm Emannuel called my retard baby a nigger!" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 3, 2010, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503 "2010-02-03T06:37:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/221 "2010-02-05T22:44:04Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > your comrade seems to think that calling an idea “fucking stupid” is acceptable because the definition no longer connotes a clinical diagnosis of people. Who is my comrade? ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/222 "2010-02-05T22:45:41Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Stop it. I have never heard such a use as a noun. But let’s concede there are people somewhere in the world who say, “Wow, did you notice the retard in that machine?” when it slows down. So what? The use of “retard” as a noun _and_ as a reference to a mentally retarded person is a slur. That’s the only usage we’re discussing. keep them goalposts moving. retard. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/223 "2010-02-05T22:46:49Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Who is my comrade? Nars Glinley edit: sorry, not “fucking stupid” rather “fucking crazy” ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/224 "2010-02-05T22:50:13Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > keep them goalposts moving. retard. Read post #201, buffoon: > [@](#): > > “Retard” in this thread requires discussion only when used as a noun describing the mentally retarded. The goalposts have not moved a bit; they just escaped your scrutiny because your head is so far up your ass. And what point do you think you actually scored here? You may be even more stupid than I originally thought. Here’s the point, try again: “Retard,” as a noun, when it refers to the mentally retarded, is by definition a slur. You have yet to counter this. Because you can’t. But that “machine” definition, boy, that was a real zinger, that proved absolutely fucking _nothing_ relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/225 "2010-02-05T22:50:18Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I’m not sure why you feel this is exclusive to me. An attitude doesn’t have to be exclusive to one person to still fail to represent the full spectrum of attitudes of everyone potentially offended by it. > [@](#): > > I guess I did get it. I just couldn’t believe that you would use such a ridiculous analogy. The point is, everything is going to be offensive to somebody, somewhere. The distinction to draw is between things that are universally offensive and those that are offensive only to certain people, perhaps those who are overly sensitive to certain issues. E.g., I might not make a joke about killing myself in front of someone whose sister has just committed suicide. That does not, however, mean that no one anywhere should ever say things like, “Ugh, if I get one more piece of work today, I’m going to shoot myself in the head.” > [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > reversible driven retard roller Band name. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/226 "2010-02-05T22:52:07Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > E.g., I might not make a joke about killing myself in front of someone whose sister has just committed suicide. That does not, however, mean that no one anywhere should ever say things like, “Ugh, if I get one more piece of work today, I’m going to shoot myself in the head.” God damn you, you’re so fucking insensitive. Didn’t you know that February is national depression month? ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/227 "2010-02-05T22:52:21Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > “Retard,” as a noun, when it refers to the mentally retarded, is by definition a slur. You have yet to counter this. Because you can’t. But that “machine” definition, boy, that was a real zinger, that proved absolutely fucking _nothing_ relevant. Funny that you still haven’t replied to my earlier comment about this. Would you still be offended if I said “you’re mentally disabled” instead of “you’re a retard”? Is it the comparison you object to, or the specific word, or both? ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/228 "2010-02-05T22:53:30Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > God damn you, you’re so fucking insensitive. Stop saying “fucking.” It’s offensive to virgins. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/229 "2010-02-05T22:53:51Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Here’s the point, try again: “Retard,” as a noun, when it refers to the mentally retarded, is by definition a slur. You have yet to counter this. Because you can’t. But that “machine” definition, boy, that was a real zinger, that proved absolutely fucking _nothing_ relevant. it’s a slur, sure, but to whom is the slur directed? and why? the defintion supports this: 1. Slang: Disparaging. a. a mentally retarded person. b. a person who is stupid, obtuse, or ineffective in some way: a hopeless social retard. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/230 "2010-02-05T22:54:57Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Stop saying “fucking.” It’s offensive to virgins. shit. may as well live in a padded cell and embrace newspeak. (was that offensive to people with colon cancer?) ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/231 "2010-02-05T22:56:07Z")
This thread is wicked retahded, as we say here in New England. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/232 "2010-02-05T22:56:31Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Funny that you still haven’t replied to my earlier comment about this. > > Would you still be offended if I said “you’re mentally disabled” instead of “you’re a retard”? Is it the comparison you object to, or the specific word, or both? I didn’t even notice it. You still yammering? “Mentally disabled” is not an insult per se, not like “retard.” If you said to me, “you’re mentally disabled” I would consider it odd more than anything else. What the hell does that mean? What category of malady do you think this refers to? Are the clinically depressed in this category? Alcoholics? Schizophrenics? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/233 "2010-02-05T22:57:39Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > shit. may as well live in a padded cell and embrace newspeak. > (was that offensive to people with colon cancer?) Hey, you two are the jack-offs who want “nigger” restricted. Who are you to throw stones? ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/234 "2010-02-05T22:58:37Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > I didn’t even notice it. You still yammering? > > “Mentally disabled” is not an insult per se, not like “retard.” If you said to me, “you’re mentally disabled” I would consider it odd more than anything else. What the hell does that mean? What category of malady do you think this refers to? Are the clinically depressed in this category? Alcoholics? Schizophrenics? you’re a riot. so, if we cured mental retardation tomorrow, would “retard” still be a per se insult? ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/235 "2010-02-05T22:59:37Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > “Mentally disabled” is not an insult per se, not like “retard.” Okay, fine, let’s play that semantic hair game. Scenario: from this day forward, every time I would say “you’re fucking retarded,” I will instead say, “you’re a fucking developmentally disabled person.” Would you still find this offensive? Given your complete inability to comprehend even basic questions, I think I’m starting to understand why you take these insults so personally.\* \*Hint for the retarded: I just called you a retard. Again. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/236 "2010-02-05T22:59:58Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Hey, you two are the jack-offs who want “nigger” restricted. Who are you to throw stones? you still don’t get it. nigger is a made up word that was invented to demean. retard, retarded, retardation, was not. it just happens to coincide with a group of people that you feel strongly about. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/237 "2010-02-05T23:00:52Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > you’re a riot. > > so, if we cured mental retardation tomorrow, would “retard” still be a per se insult? Yes. Why wouldn’t it be? Calling someone a “fucking caveman” is still an insult, despite the fact that there are none still roaming around outside of Geico ads. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/238 "2010-02-05T23:01:40Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Hey, you two are the jack-offs who want “nigger” restricted. That’s offensive to masturbators. And you’re the retard who was completely ignorant of the theory that race is a social construct. It’s not my fault your microcephalic brain couldn’t wrap itself around the concept nor the distinction. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/239 "2010-02-05T23:03:51Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > you still don’t get it. > > nigger is a made up word that was invented to demean. > > retard, retarded, retardation, was not. it just happens to coincide with a group of people that you feel strongly about. “Retard” is a slur derived from the word “retardation.” “Nigger” is a slur derived from the word “Negro.” “Retard” (the noun describing the mentally retarded, since this seems to be a difficult concept for you) is a word invented to demean, just as “nigger” was. Seriously, do you think that referring to someone who is mentally retarded as a “retard” is some kind of clinical term? ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503/240 "2010-02-05T23:24:12Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > “Retard” is a slur derived from the word “retardation.” “Nigger” is a slur derived from the word “Negro.” “Retard” (the noun describing the mentally retarded, since this seems to be a difficult concept for you) is a word invented to demean, just as “nigger” was. > > Seriously, do you think that referring to someone who is mentally retarded as a “retard” is some kind of clinical term? Really. Did the retard machine just then happen to acquire its definition at some point in the future? > [@](#): > > Yes. Why wouldn’t it be? Calling someone a “fucking caveman” is still an insult, despite the fact that there are none still roaming around outside of Geico ads. Does it wind up insulting any 3rd parties? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-rahm-emannuel-called-my-retard-baby-a-nigger/527503.md?page=13)