# Stupid liberal idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 20, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086 "2011-04-20T15:35:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 218
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2015, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4341 "2015-12-25T04:33:25Z")
> [@Spavined\_Gelding](#): > > He had it coming. Of course _he_ deserves all the ridicule and abuse he gets. But his kids should be off limits. I realize that the intent of depicting them as monkeys is to satirize their father’s exploitative use of them in the ad. But the kids are just going to see themselves called monkeys in the newspaper. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2015, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4342 "2015-12-25T05:50:34Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > But the kids are just going to see themselves called monkeys in the newspaper. Only if someone makes a point of showing it to them and explaining it. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4343 "2015-12-25T15:57:32Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > … At least the paper retracted it and apologized. So there’s that. Another stupid liberal idea. At least right-wingers never apologize for offending people (or offer apologies that are typically perfunctory, insincere and framed conditionally). Because, you know, they are called the _right_ wing for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4344 "2015-12-25T16:03:21Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Only if someone makes a point of showing it to them and explaining it. I’m sure they have already been exposed to their Dad’s unique perspective on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2015, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4345 "2015-12-26T06:55:37Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > No, that sounds more like Rush Limbaugh stuff. And Saturday Night Live, IIRC. Mike Myers ended up apologizing to the Clintons for his remarks about Chelsea. Not what I’d call fringe. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2015, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4346 "2015-12-26T13:12:15Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I’m sure they have already been exposed to their Dad’s unique perspective on the matter. I suppose, but it seems unfair to blame other people for him doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4347 "2015-12-27T23:21:39Z")
Going back to my argument that the Republicans have attacked Democrats’ kids. This was John McCain in 1998: > [@](#): > > "[Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno](http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/12/26/watch-meghan-mccain-falsely-says-gop-didnt-bully-chelsea-clinton-or-obamas-kids-video/).” From Rush Limbaugh, when Chelsea Clinton was 13 years old: > [@](#): > > [On his TV show, early in the Clinton administration, Limbaugh put up a picture of Socks, the White House cat, and asked, ‘Did you know there’s a White House dog?’ Then he put up a picture of Chelsea Clinton, who was 13 years old at the time and as far as I know had never done any harm to anyone. > > When viewers objected, he claimed, in typical Limbaugh fashion, that the gag was an accident and that without his permission some technician had put up the picture of Chelsea – which I found as disgusting as his original attempt at humor.]([http://mediamatters.org/research/2009/06/11/another-memory-lapse-coulter-claims-people-didn/151093](http://mediamatters.org/research/2009/06/11/another-memory-lapse-coulter-claims-people-didn/151093)) [Beck and Limbaugh attacking the Obama daughters](http://mediamatters.org/research/2010/06/16/beck-and-limbaugh-join-forces-to-mock-little-gi/166287) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4348 "2015-12-27T23:40:59Z")
I haven’t seen the Cruz and kids ad, but a lefty friend of mine says he watched it, and it has something about Ted’s kid reading a parody Christmas story about Hillary the Grinch. Anybody else see that? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4349 "2015-12-28T01:01:40Z")
For me it’s not attacking Cruz’s kids, it’s their portrayal as monkeys. I had thought we weren’t allowed to compare politicians to monkeys anymore. When someone did it to Obama it was a furor of shock and outrage. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4350 "2015-12-28T01:07:59Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > For me it’s not attacking Cruz’s kids, it’s their portrayal as monkeys. I had thought we weren’t allowed to compare politicians to monkeys anymore. When someone did it to Obama it was a furor of shock and outrage. That’s because of the past history of comparing African-Americans to apes/monkeys. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4351 "2015-12-28T01:10:29Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > For me it’s not attacking Cruz’s kids, it’s their portrayal as monkeys. I had thought we weren’t allowed to compare politicians to monkeys anymore. When someone did it to Obama it was a furor of shock and outrage. It’s both, but it’s also different for Cruz than for Obama. Comparing white people to monkeys doesn’t have a history of links to brutality. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4352 "2015-12-28T01:20:03Z")
First, Cruz isn’t white, second, the political class does not need to be treated with sensitivity. If we establish that only white politicians can get it from both barrels then we establish that only white politicians can lead. Part of being able to climb to the top is that you can take the heat when you get there. Obama himself to his credit has never whined about tasteless jokes about him, but his fans can be needlessly sensitive about such things. Either we can portray politicians as monkeys or we can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4353 "2015-12-28T01:25:20Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > For me it’s not attacking Cruz’s kids, it’s their portrayal as monkeys. I had thought we weren’t allowed to compare politicians to monkeys anymore. When someone did it to Obama it was a furor of shock and outrage. Have you ever heard of a little thing known as “_context_”? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4354 "2015-12-28T01:30:27Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > First, Cruz isn’t white, He’s as white as Obama. And \*actually \*foreign-born, birth certificate and all. > [@](#): > > If we establish that only white politicians can get it from both barrels Yes, your team has totally kid-gloved Obama for the last eight years, haven’t you? > [@](#): > > Obama himself to his credit has never whined about tasteless jokes about him And, to your _dis_credit, you’ve never stopped making them. > [@](#): > > Either we can portray politicians as monkeys or we can’t. It’s about Cruz’s _kids_, not him. The kids are in it only because he made them do it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4355 "2015-12-28T01:41:22Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > First, Cruz isn’t white, second, the political class does not need to be treated with sensitivity. If we establish that only white politicians can get it from both barrels then we establish that only white politicians can lead. Part of being able to climb to the top is that you can take the heat when you get there. Obama himself to his credit has never whined about tasteless jokes about him, but his fans can be needlessly sensitive about such things. Either we can portray politicians as monkeys or we can’t. I’m fine with the answer being “We shouldn’t”, but that doesn’t mean it’s equivalent. It’s not equivalent. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4356 "2015-12-28T01:53:05Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > And, to your _dis_credit, you’ve never stopped making them. TBCF, the left endlessly treated W. like a piñata. Which was kind of silly, because they knew from the outset that nothing good would ever get knocked out of him. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4357 "2015-12-28T02:30:26Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > First, Cruz isn’t white, … How do you defined “white”? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4358 "2015-12-28T02:33:07Z")
I dunno if Cruz is “white”, but he’s _pasty_. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4359 "2015-12-28T02:44:20Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m fine with the answer being “We shouldn’t”, but that doesn’t mean it’s equivalent. It’s not equivalent. It has to be. You can’t say that a person is equal, yet treat them with special consideration. If a black man can be President, or a Latino man, or a woman, then they can take all the insults and jokes that come with that. Sensitivity is meant to protect the powerless from the powerful, not the powerful from the hoi polloi. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4360 "2015-12-28T02:50:05Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It has to be. You can’t say that a person is equal, yet treat them with special consideration. If a black man can be President, or a Latino man, or a woman, then they can take all the insults and jokes that come with that. Sensitivity is meant to protect the powerless from the powerful, not the powerful from the hoi polloi. Do you _ever_ think before posting? Do you think there’s no difference between a white person calling a black person a nigger, and a black person calling a white person a nigger. or for that matter a black person calling another black person a nigger? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=217) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=219)