No matter how you slice it, had a Republican man accidentally, or accidentally on purpose, referred to a top woman Democrat as “whore,” the outrage would have been persistent and white hot.
That’s one of the points I was trying to make with this morning’s column.
But I also wanted to show that we have decided that it is OK to accidentally say certain nasty words about women, while other words remain off limits.
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Had Vincent Sheheen slipped and said the n-word, we all know what that would have led to. My question is why have we accepted this reality? Does it make sense? And if so, why?
I get why some people are quick to chalk it up to a slip of the tongue. That was my initial reaction, too.
But that’s too easy. We should examine it. If we are now willing to allow politicians on the stump to do these kinds of things without much of a backlash, then let’s say so and not change our minds later when a politician we don’t like gets caught in the same situation.
Here is the response from one Myrtle Beach reader:
I always look forward to your column as a voice of reason and common sense but today you are so off base that I am appalled. Obviously you are supporting Haley for Governor ( why I can't imagine) but to pick at a slip of the tongue and magnify that right before an election is unbelievable. Shame on you.
By the way, back in my younger years I was the face and voice of feminism at the Statehouse so if I felt there an intended slur I would be all over it.
I told her that I disagreed, that I’ve made it pretty clear over several months I don’t support Haley’s re-election bid. I’ m not supporting Haley; I’m supporting decency.
Read: Haley throws away billions, shafts the poor
Another reader:
... that Democrats and Republicans have different hot buttons that sets them apart. How stupid is that. Neither side should dismiss or make excuses for the N word or whore.
I am a staunch Republican, but I feel Sheheen slipped up in his words. Her out the door is very close to out the whore. Slip of speaking. I write because at times you push a button. But I have no excuse as to why.
I don’t try to push buttons; I try to examine events. It seems as though people get that when they agree with my point of view, but not so much when they don’t.
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