Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:16:31 +0000 – By Andrea TantarosRepublican Political Commentator/FOXNews.com Contributor
A growing trend seems to be emerging. From Perez Hilton to Playboy's "Conservative Women Hate List" to David Letterman's lewd comments about Sarah Palin, it appears that attacking women - specifically conservative women - is not only all the rage, but oddly, acceptable.
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I'm not talking about attacks from bottom feeder leftist blogs either. Notable mainstream brands like the Miss USA Organization, "The Late Show" and Playboy magazine have all lost their sense of humor and their sense of decency by allowing conservative women to become a punching bag -- and a punch line -- for the left.
Watch Andrea Tantaros discuss this topic with America's Newsroom Host Megyn Kelly:
[foxvideo 6040106]
Forgoing all boundaries, a party that once used to claim to own the violence against women issue has embraced it and let their politics run them when it comes to the issue of misogyny.
On its face, this isn't even a political issue.It's a women's issue-- a human issue that transcends politics. But why, when it comes to the most serious and sensitive attacks against women the National Organization for Women spokeswoman warrants a missing person's report?
Carrie Prejean was called the most offensive four and five letter words by Miss USA judge Perez Hilton's after she expressed her traditional views on gay marriage. Was he scolded by one of the organization's owners, Donald Trump? Hardly. Trump actually expressed willingness to allow Hilton to judge at next year's competition.
And that's just the beginning. Playboy magazine published a vile, incendiary list of conservative women it would like to engage in hate sex with, and it was only after public outcry that it pulled the article. Its response was watered down, to say the least. Where was that writer's editor? (And that editor's mind, moreover?) It doesn't take an expert to know that the first stage of violence is thinking about it, then expressing it, then actually doing it.
David Letterman made a disgusting joke about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's underage daughter and he didn't stop there. He continued to make an off color joke about the Governor's appearance making many want to invoke slaps but not against their knees.
Palin is apparently more popular than Letterman. Thanks to growing pressure from viewers Letterman offered -- not one -- but two -- mea culpas. But where was CBS from the start? It was only after the public got involved that the comedian began to react with some seeming sincerity.
For the record, Palin should never appear on his show. Protests calling for his resignation should continue with a larger message to the general population and television executives everywhere: distasteful behavior against females will not be tolerated.
The United States, a champion for women's rights throughout the world, will have a tough time wagging it's finger at countries that are less than progressive in their attitudes toward women and crimes against women all over the world when we tolerate hate speak at the expense of the American female, for a few laughs or fame, no less.
The First Amendment protects free speech but there is no reason that we, as citizens and consumers, should buy it. When it comes to those who want to disrespect any woman, we can take it to their bottom line and not only speak out, but also boycott their business.
Violence against women is wrong, no matter what party affiliation, not to mention it's just not funny. The more acceptable it becomes to express violent, crass language against women in the public arena the more you can expect our country to fray at the seams.
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