You have to wonder where it will end. But it just seems to continue. First there was Rush Limbaugh’s verbal assault on law student Sandra Fluke because she dared to see things differently than he does, which sparked a furor largely but not entirely on the left and from the center and from some GOPers. And now we have (WARNING ADULT CONTENT) this: GBTV host S.E. Cupp is the subject of a very explicit, admittedly doctored obscene photo in Hustler — because they don’t like her views.
If you’re outraged about what happened to Fluke you have to be outraged that Cupp — who did not commit any terrible offense, just that she assertively expresses a viewpoint which which some passionately disagree — has to be subjected to this.
Is it just me? Or is it getting to the point where our politics — which was always passionate, always a bit underhanded in things like counting votes, political campaigns, and the forgetting about truth — is now such an entirely mean spirited affair that it seems the best way to follow it is to cut out most polarizing demonizing media (and that means many of the ideological radio and cable talk shows on the left and right with sarcastic and perpetually outraged hosts), and vow never to watch or read anyone who tries to destroy someone who writes or talks politics because they…write or talk politics differently than someone else who feels he/she is equally correct. Just go to the main news sites, watch videos and cut out all the name calling and reputation smearing that seems to give some folks a kind of high under the prextext of “politics.”
Increasingly, aggressive debates over policy matter little. It’s all going after someone and dissing or destroying them or their reputations. Our politics increasingly smells but those who indulge in such practices are rewarded with larger (if momentary) ratings, more hits if on the web, bigger audience share, and bigger sales of magazines.
We can’t only blame politicians for the stench.
And, yes, Hustler isn’t exactly mainstream. But Cupp has a right to feel outraged and abused, just as Fluke did.
Oh, and please: spare me the “false equivalency” bilge. That phrase is often used as a defensive smokescreen by people to claim that only one ideology or party does something.
Fishbowl DC reports that Cupp says she won’t sue.
Perhaps its time that women who are inappropriately and almost slanderously verbally or photographically defined by the left, right, Ds or Rs should find some nice attorney who dreams of owning a second home or taking a trip to the Bahamas.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.