This kind of nonsense is all over the internet, but most people don't get too upset unless it's pushed in front of their face.Can't we give it a break? Media mavens have been hunting high and low for the next outrage to pontificate about. People (like me) who pass it on only make things worse.
No, I don't think this is the worst negative campaign ever, but everything's got to be a superlative in our culture. There are some losers out there who get off on tweaking our noses. There always have been. Deal with it.
What are we supposed to do about it? Too many of the knee-jerks backing both candidates prattle about what it "proves" about their counterparts.
The Barack Hussein Obama billboard is standing outside of West Plains, Missouri, author unknown. The t-shirt is being hawked at the Crucial Brutal website. Neither appears to have any connection with the campaigns.
These are examples of free speech on the edges. We may not like it, but what are our options?
Personally, I'm willing to put up with almost anything short of inciting violence-- and it wouldn't be smart to wear that shirt in a lot of places.
I thought about bowdlerizing the Sarah Palin insult like some other sites. But what's the point? The word itself is still obvious.
Interesting sidelight: the discussion on a lot of sites got sidetracked to the topless women Crucial Brutal uses in some posts.
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Those are examples of over-the-top, tasteless attacks. Bet the billboard will be removed. This is the ugliest campaign I can ever recall.
There's no such thing as "free speech on the edges".. free speech is free speech. If it is hindered.. it's not free speech.
Where can we get the Palin shirts?
:} Alright.. ending this comment with "Gobama" on someone else's blogsite would just be tacky, so I won't end this with Gobama!
The line is drawn somewhere around "fighting words" and "shouting fire in a theater". I'm okay with that.
With all the hate that's spewed, I'm surprised we don't have violent elections (and we've been doing it for more than 200 years). Look around the world.
I gave the link to the site -- they just crowed about being mentioned on Fox in a post. The online store is on the (what else?) 'Other shit' menu.
:} Haha
bowdlerize? OMG-I'd forgotten that word.
Thanks, Ken.
I've always had a nostalgic affection for the word; it evokes 19th Century drawing rooms. It was also the best word for what I wanted to say.
This is getting to be a very nasty election. As an Obama supporter, I am embarrassed by the T-shirt. It is degrading to all women. It is negative for the message Obama is trying to present. Maybe it is really being worn by McCann/Palin supporters. Is somebody so stupid and ignorant, they can't get their point across without using the "N" word for women.
I'm not sure the Crucial Brutal people are anybody's supporters or are even trying to make a point. To me, it reads more like a skirmish in our culture wars and a bid for fifteen minutes of fame.
I haven't read their posts closely enough to get their take on religion, but I'd assume they'd have the same glee in dropping a turd in a collection plate if they could post video reactions.
I wonder how many of them will actually vote.
But I did wonder about McCain supporters until I found out more about the people involved.
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