Tucker Carlson questions Obama's masculinity

Interesting

I wasn't aware that The Senator even displayed non traditional gender behavior...

... Or, for that matter, that Tucker Carlson does.

< tongue in cheek > Hmmm.  Guess I need to go to gender behavior school.  Learn some more about this stuff.

I'll put that on my list after I transition. < /tongue in cheek >

http://www.dyssonance.com  Breaking all the rules...

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by: dyssonance @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 07:16:31 AM CDT

I blame Maureen Dowd

For whatever sick reasons of her own, Maureen Dowd in the New York Times has been beating this drum for months and infecting the political/cultural discourse.  She's questioned Obama's masculinity in many columns, even calling him "Obambi."  Of course, the right wing has picked up this trope or meme and run with it like they were headed for the end zone.  Even Salon has seen this kind of tendentious, frivolous "commentary" masked as analysis.  Michael Scherer just ran a column about Obama and Clinton saying she was the man and he was the woman, ending with the foolish "May the best woman win."  In his response to the dozens of protests by Salon readers (I wrote one of them), it was clear that he doesn't get it.  Jumping on this rhetorical bandwagon is the same thing as writing any kind of column about Al Gore's "truth problem" back in 1999 and 2000.  It was not only stupid and dishonest, it played in the hands of the GOP.  You can already see the media taking this new set of lies and foolishness on and making it the centerpiece of a campaign.  The MSM does not want to do analysis, it wants to play at it.  And Maureen Dowd is deeply responsible; she's read and respected by hundreds of thousands, influences the discussion (or what passes for it).  She needs a shrink. Or a vacation till after the campaign is over.

"In order to maintain an untenable position, you have to be actively ignorant."  The Colbert Report

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by: Lev Raphael @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 08:14:56 AM CDT

Lev, exactly who are these "hundreds of thousands"

who respect Maureen Dowd? She's there on the NYT editorial page because she isn't too threatening and feminist, generally doesn't talk straight policy, does add some catty humor, and the NYT needs a token woman regular columnist.

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by: NancyP @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 19:12:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Her audience

Look at the sales figures for her book--it was a huge best seller.

"In order to maintain an untenable position, you have to be actively ignorant."  The Colbert Report

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by: Lev Raphael @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 21:56:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Isn't Tucker Carlson Gay?

I could have sworn Mike rogers over on Blog Active outed him about a year or so ago.

The funny thing about all these right wing newscasters if how the love to throw the F-word about Democrats and label them as feminine and then they turn around and gush out their man crushes like WeHo twinks in heat over the newest hunk to hit Boys Town.

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by: SuzyQ @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 08:40:31 AM CDT

PS

Take a look at Tucker's hands--his nails are beautifully manicured, yet he talks mockingly about "mani/pedi parties."  And he never drinks white wine?  The hypocrisy and projection of the right wing never ceases to turn my stomach.  I guess that's a good thing.  Jessie Jackson said "Keep hope alive," but I guess we also need to keep outrage alive, or we'll sink into depression and despair.

"In order to maintain an untenable position, you have to be actively ignorant."  The Colbert Report

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by: Lev Raphael @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 08:45:50 AM CDT

Tucker

Tucker is in the business of manufactured controversy, forced to come up with something "hot" on a daily basis, and his lackluster ratings prove that after all the phoney dust clears, there is really not too much substance there, and, more importantly, folks can see that.  It is really very thin.  The ratings terror that can compel Chris Matthews to interview Ann Coulter, in spite of his clear distaste for such a spectacle, is the same illness presented by the same network.

"You are the rest of the world."

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by: TomChicago @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 10:00:21 AM CDT

Reading books is for queers

Right, Tucker? Or is it discussing the ideas therein that you have a problem with?

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by: eastsidekate @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 10:32:03 AM CDT

turn the channel

TC recently called Larry Flynt a pig plus some after it came out that he was behind the Vitter DC Madame story...He wasn't being nice about it either...This is way too much attention aimed in the ex box ties direction.

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by: Karen in Kalifornia @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 10:41:38 AM CDT

Tucker Carlson is Gay, No?

How can this prissy, sissy-man attack another man's masculinity.  He's as gay as a tulip!  Like all the rest of these Right-Wing nut jobs who claim the moral high ground, he will eventually be 'outed' for some embarrassing act or other.  It's just a matter of time. 

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by: bobach @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 11:12:33 AM CDT

This is what I think about Tucker...

Tucker Carlson is the "Anderson Cooper of right-wing news".

It's funny that the men who talk about "machismo" and how "girly" the liberals are...are nothing but wusses themselves.

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by: Blood From Machines @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 12:32:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I've been a terrible parent!

What does he mean by "Everybody knows a book club is no place for a man"?  I have ignored that and I've been encouraging my 2 sons to read since they were born.  They are  now avid readers.  In fact one is a great writer and is majoring in it in college.  He's in a book club at school.  I now realize my actions have turned him into "some kind of a wuss".

Equally bad is that my daughter has excelled in the math and sciences.  Everybody knows that math and science is not for girls and yet I have encouraged her in those areas.  In fact she plans to major in the life sciences when she goes to college in two years. 

Thanks for bringing me to reality Tucker.  Looks like I lost my son but I have one year left to turn my daughter around.  Please pray for me that I can.

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by: brgbuddy @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 11:40:51 AM CDT

Condemned

Your children are condemned to a life skulking in the shadows of the gender underground. Even sadder, they may be content doing so.

Tucker will go to heaven. You and your children won't, but I'm praying for you nonetheless (so that I may go to heaven).

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by: Jim @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 13:12:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

you sound

like a great dad :)

Electricity's for light bulbs!

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by: n8nyc @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 17:08:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Too Late

It's too late.  Both of your book-reading sons will be queens and your daughter will be taking up with the likes of Mary Cheney.  You should have gotten Tucker's advice earlier, no doubt! 

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by: bobach @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 11:52:37 AM CDT

to quote Paris Hilton

Tucker Carson is, like, hot.

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by: Puddy Katz @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 15:55:56 PM CDT

lol

"to quote Paris Hilton"  :) now there's something you don't see here very often, lol.

Electricity's for light bulbs!

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by: n8nyc @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 17:07:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Like it or not.....

but, almost all politics - be it presidential or otherwise - is about some level of alpha-maledom. 

I think a fairly good example is the Bush '04 election, in which there were numerous examples (this one comes to mind) in which Dubya successfully portrayed himself as being very masculine, while Kerry made himself (with plenty of help from various media outlets) as a primadonna, a priss, a wimp, or limp wristed.

But you can go back further - Clinton was twice the young stud who defeated Grandpa Republican (or as I like to say, "Your Father's Republican"). 

It happens with any kind of voting - be it your student counsel or American Idol.  (ha - think of Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard) 

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by: dan l @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 17:51:42 PM CDT

Tucker is straight....thank GODDESS

Even at that, he's not going to be teaching any classes on being BUTCH, anytime soon. He's a spoiled little rich boy, who's Daddy had to buy him his PBS show. Does anyone think Tucker ever had his lunch money still in his pockets, by 9 am.?
I'd bet he had a permanent wedgie with his Calvin's stretched over the back of his head and tucked in his bowtie in front....maybe that's where "Tucker" came from?

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by: underbear1 @ Sun Jul 15, 2007 at 10:02:17 AM CDT

Underbear

You are the KING of analogies.

ALLY (ALLIE) (transitive) To connect or form a relation between by similitude, resemblance, friendship, or love.

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by: Vicster @ Sun Jul 15, 2007 at 19:57:52 PM CDT