Opinion Editorial:
PAGE 10 | Iowa State Daily | Wednesday, February 24, 2010 Editor S. Prell | opinion@iowastatedaily.com | 515.294.6768
Politics:
Palin: Take it easy, double standard not fooling public Recently, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel made a comment in a private meeting about liberal activists, calling them “fucking retarded” — comments Sarah Palin called “unacceptable... it’s heartbreaking.” Palin — whose youngest son, Trig, has Down syndrome — later called for Emanuel to be fired or to resign from his position, comparing the use of “retarded” to that of the n-word. And that’s about the time Rush Limbaugh felt the need to weigh in and said, “Our politically correct society is acting like some giant insult’s taken place,” and went on to use the r-word 27 times on his nationally-syndicated radio show the day after Emanuel’s comments were reported.. Palin responded to that, too, and said, “He was satirical in that ... Rush Limbaugh was using satire. So, I agree with Rush Limbaugh.” Umm. What? This ridiculous politically correct merry-go-round kept going last weekend, when a new episode of “Family Guy,” titled, “Extra-Large Medium,” aired. In the episode, Chris Griffin reveals that he is infatuated with a girl in his class, Ellen. And, as harmless as that may seem, when we are first introduced to the object of Chris’ affection, we find she has Down syndrome. In normal “Family Guy” fashion, outlandish and potentially offensive jokes ensue — as well as an elaborate musical number about “that Down syndrome girl,” — and, at one point in the show, she adds “my father is an accountant, and my mom is the former governor of Alaska.” Naturally, the Palins didn’t appreciate the stab at their family. Sarah’s oldest daughter, Bristol, called the show’s creators “heartless jerks” on her Facebook page Monday morning. The former governor also chimed in and said, “This world is full of cruel, coldhearted people,” and demanded to know when society was going to say “this stuff isn’t really funny?” In place of the word “stuff,” I believe the what you were looking for there, Sarah, is satire. Let’s take a look at these comments from the actress who was both the model and voice for the Ellen character in the now-infamous episode of “Family Guy,” Andrea Fay Friedman. Andrea, herself, has Down syndrome. “I guess the former Gov. Palin does not have a sense of humor,” Friedman said. “I thought the line, ‘I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska’ was very funny. I think the word is ‘sarcasm.’ In my family, we think laughing is good.” The actress went on with her own satirical stab at the former governor and said: “My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life. My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread, the way former Gov. Palin carries her son Trig around, looking for sympathy and votes.” While we agree that sometimes satire can be boorish or lack tact, we cannot choose when we want to see something as “satire” and when we want to see something as “unacceptable.” Sure, maybe Seth McFarlane and the writers of “Family Guy” had some fun at your expense, Sarah, but sometimes we all just need a good laugh, sometimes we need to be able to laugh at ourselves, too. Sometimes, we need to be able to find joy in our lives. Even if it comes out of the tougher things we face each day. Take a page out of Friedman’s book and “have a sense of humor and live a normal life.” Editor in Chief
Opinion Editor
Zach Thompson 294-1632 editor@iowastatedaily.com
Sophie Prell 294-2533 letters@iowastatedaily.com
Editorial Board members: Sophie Prell, Zach Thompson, Kyle Peterson, David Riegner, Allie Suesse, Jake Lovett and Jessie Opoien
Feedback policy: The Daily encourages discussion, but does not guarantee its publication. We reserve the right to edit or reject any letter or online feedback. Send your letters to: letters@ iowastatedaily.com. Letters 300 words or less are more likely to be accepted and must include names, phone
numbers, major and/or group affiliation and year in school of the author or authors. Phone numbers and addresses will not be published. Online Feedback may be used if first name and last name, major and year in school are included in the post. Feedback posted online is eligible for print in the Iowa State Daily.
2008 presidential candidate, Ron Paul, along with Texas Republican Congressman won Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll at national convention. Courtesy photo: RonPaul.com
Not a typical Republican T
exas Republican Congressman and 2008 presidential candidate Ron Paul won the Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll at its national convention last week. He got one-third of the vote — 31 percent. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney got 22 percent of the vote, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin came in third with 7 percent and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty was fourth with 6 percent, tying “undecided.” Indiana Rep. Mike Pence received 5 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich got 4 percent, as did former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, followed by South Dakota Sen. John Thune, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum — each with 2 percent. Mississippi Gov. Hailey Barbour came in last with 1 percent. If you listen to Ron Paul’s speech, as I did this morning, you will hear some startling points generally conflicting totally with the establishment Republican positions. He does not sound like the other conservative Republicans. So, if he won the straw poll, doesn’t that tell you something about the conservative movement or at least at CPAC? Here is a short summary in my own words of what Ron Paul said in his speech.. It is classic isolationism — don’t get involved all over the world. Smaller government. No preemptive wars or torture.
Want more?
For related videos, check out Professor Schmidt’s column on iowastatedaily.com No interventionist foreign policy. Keep us out of war. No nation building — sounds like these Republicans are antiwar. No draft — it is forced service, and the “Military Industrial Complex” is wrong. No NATO, no United Nations. Personal freedom. Tolerance of differences. Respect each other. No anti-gay bashing. Personal freedom – for example, to smoke whatever you want, “Putting in your mouth or lungs whatever you want” or else the heavy hand of government comes and says, “We need to protect you against yourself.” “End the fed” (not “bail out the big banks, farmers, insurance companies and other private sector failures”). Don’t follow “mainstream Republican message” (watch out Republicans!). How are we going to pay for it? Our “world empire” is wrong and so expensive it will bankrupt the United States. “Our economy is on the edge of a cataclysmic economic event.” “A currency crisis is coming.”
Don’t print more money. Freedom of speech should be respected – you have a right of dissent. No prison for dissenting. Government does not give liberty – you have it as God given. Even Eugene Debs should have had the right to speak out against war. Woodrow Wilson jailed him. Limit government – government is the enemy of liberty. Do not listen to the Neoconservatives. They are globalists and like to drag the United States into wars and nation building. Ron Paul has a passionate following which the dismissive media that disagrees with him (such as the Huffington Post) calls “cult-like.” It is very organized, uses the Internet and social media to fund raise for him, create dynamite Web sites, it leads the Ron Paul “revolution” from the bottom up and supposedly shows up in large numbers at events like CPAC. That may be the case. But if the Republicans are going to do well in 2010 and in 2012, they need to listen to some of the “insurgents” in their camp, which includes Ron Paul and of course also the “Tea Party Movement.” Last week I had coffee with a good friend of mine and a GOP “big shot.” He said “Steffen, where are the tea baggers and the Ron Paul followers going to go on Election Day? The Republican party and whoever is running as the Republican candidate!”
I said, “Are you sure?” The “mainstream” Republicans want to have government interfere in people’s lives just as much as the democrats do. No smoking. No texting. No abortions. No gay marriage or gays in the military. Fight preemptive wars. Bring Democracy to other countries and make them like the United States. Bail out the big failing corporations, farms, insurance companies and anyone else who has given money to the campaign. In Iowa the politicians are actually thinking of forcing everyone who uses diesel (schools, businesses, diesel cars, the trucking industry, etc.) to buy Biodiesel because Iowa investors in bio-diesel plants are going broke! What’s next, forcing consumers to buy Pella windows, only Iowa made ethanol, only local Iowa produce, only Amana appliances? The CPAC crowd and the tea baggers are not going to just get absorbed by the Republicans and unless the party establishment figures out how to deal with these two uprisings in its ranks 2010 and 2012 are going to be a lot more interesting than I thought.
Steffen Schmidt is
a professor of political science and chief political correspondent for www. insideriowa.com
Letters:
Roling, Dobbles hold Petersonpotential to progress Wilson ready to stand up On March 1 and 2, students will have a chance to make their voices heard and elect the next president and vice president of the Government of the Student Body. These are two of the most influential positions student leaders can attain at Iowa State, and as such should be held by those who can be trusted to make a difference during their time in office. For this reason, I would like to express my support for Luke Roling and Nate Dobbels as the best choice in executives for all students. Both Roling and Dobbels are extensively involved in organizations spanning the breadth and depth of campus. They already cemented relationships with myriad student groups and associations, and truly care about maintaining these links and further developing new connections — both on-campus and off. They fully understand that GSB must reach beyond its own doors and seek out partnerships with groups at Iowa State and in the City of Ames in order to benefit the student body to the greatest extent possible, and both candidates have repeatedly stated their willingness to continue to do just that.
Katharine Hughes is a junior in psychology
Roling and Dobbels recognize that the current GSB has a tendency to take on an impersonal attitude of superiority, and they have promised they can bring change to this external image while improving internal relations at the same time. A more personable and levelheaded government has the potential to lead only to more positive results for students and better communication between constituents and representatives. Roling and Dobbels are committed to promoting programs that will reduce student debt, increase diversity on campus, and generally improve each and every student’s experience. If elected, Roling and Dobbels would have the opportunity to implement their detailed plans and make real progress toward making their goals a successful reality. A vote for Roling-Dobbels is a vote for the candidates who will passionately dedicate their tenure to enhancing Iowa State.
Roling, Dobbels’ passion indicates great leadership I am writing this letter in support of the Roling-Dobbels campaign in the upcoming Government of the Student Body election. I’ve known both Luke Roling and Nate Dobbels since my first day at Iowa State. They were both extremely helpful during my first year, giving their advice on everything from the best dishes in the dining centers to how to get involved on campus. As I got to know them, I found them to be passionate about their beliefs and willing to go the distance to overcome any obstacles on their paths. Even though I’m not anyone important with a title to add after my name, Roling and Dobbels listen to my opinions and concerns about campus issues avidly. For this reason, I believe that they will do everything in their power to address issues brought to them by any student, no matter how “unimportant”
Haley Comisky is a junior in
linguistics
they believe themselves to be. I’m voting Roling-Dobbels because I believe that their campaign goals are realistic and very attainable. If elected, both Roling and Dobbels will do everything in their power to create stronger partnerships between not only the students and GSB representatives, but also the university and the City of Ames. So I’m asking you, student body of Iowa State, to give these two guys a chance. They have the potential to be great leaders and to facilitate the forward progress of GSB while creating lasting partnerships that will allow all voices to be heard. Please vote Roling-Dobbels on March 1 and 2.
I’m writing in support of Chandra Peterson and Jacob Wilson’s campaign for GSB president and vice president. One of the most important qualities in a GSB executive is often overlooked during the promises of campaign season: his or her ability to stand up and be independent to university administrators. A few weeks ago GSB voted to fund the Varsity Theater and contribute yearly to its budget up to $40,000. Did you know that in the same meeting GSB voted to fund a Web site for Event Management for $31,000? Also at the same meeting, the university asked GSB to contribute $7,000 to install new maps on campus. When GSB executives and legislators don’t stand up to the administration, the funds that are supposed to make our student experience better end up padding the budgets of campus departments. In my extensive work with Peterson and Wilson, I think they are ready and willing to stand up for students in a constructive way. GSB needs good relations with the ISU administration to solve the problems that face students, but it needs to be ready to be an honest, frank and resolute voice for student interests. You need only look at the fantastic work Peterson has done in Campustown to know that she is able to use her passion to build a coalition of support for important issues. Jacob has acted on the senate to encourage GSB to show consistency and favor toward students in funding. I say keep up the good work and vote Peterson-Wilson on March 1 and 2.
Ian Ringgenbery is a graduate in interdisciplinary graduate studies.