Like Putting Lipstick On a Pig: Olbermann, Musto, and Yes, Jay Leno

(bumped up from this morning)

As a liberal from way back, I must say, if anyone on the left allows themselves to be represented in thought or deed by the likes of Keith Olbermann and Village Voice’s Michael Musto, they really need to rethink their life choices. Jay Leno has also earned himself a spot on the “who’s got the attitude of a pig” list by insulting Hillary yet again, but we’ll get to him in a minute. First, Olbermann did a feature on Countdown the other night where they “outed” the unfortunate runner up of the Miss USA contest, Carrie Prejean, as having breast implants! Oh, horrible, horrible and most horrible!! To the pitchforks!!

I bet Keithie puffed his chest up really high to deliver this news! What a precious little rooster he is! As you may be aware, the unfortunate Miss Prejean found herself in the cross hairs for truthfully answering a question she should never have been asked at a beauty pageant – her position on gay marriage. Even the Donald makes clear that question was ridiculous. No other contestants were asked this. Why her? This was nothing more than Perez Hilton trying to gain mileage for his cause in California, as payback, perhaps, for Prop 8 getting passed.

But Mr. Hilton and others like him would do well not to pick on Miss Prejean who had the courage to answer honestly, whether you agree with her or not. Especially since her position is no different than President Obama or VP Biden.

Mr. Hilton would do better to direct his anger toward President Obama, who gave his voters very mixed messages on the subject, saying vote “no” on Prop 8, but that “marriage is only between a man and a woman.” That was what ABC News referred to as a “nuanced position.” I see. It is fascinating that they must all find someone else to project their anger onto because they cannot bring themselves to lay responsibility at the proper door. And guess what, the fault ain’t with Miss Prejean for Prop 8 passing. Many of President Obama’s voters voted “Yes.”

It is hard to even stomach the following transcript, to see the depths of depravity of these two gents as they rip this woman apart with glee:

OLBERMANN (4/30/09): After going rogue at the Miss USA Pageant, Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was enjoying her new title as self-appointed champion of “opposite marriage.” Pageant officials are now retaliating. They’ve outed her—for having breast implants. Our number-one story, Miss California now being accused of using performance-enhancers…
snip
OLBERMANN: There it is here, Miss California is opposed to same-sex marriage, which is at least marriage between two human beings, but she has fully endorsed now marriage between a man and a woman who is partially made out of plastic.

MUSTO: Well, she’s dumb and twisted. She’s sort of like a human Klaus Barbie Doll. I mean, you tell Perez Hilton you’re against gay marriage? That’s like telling Simon Cowell you’re against screeching a show tune. This is the kind of girl who sits on the TV and watches the sofa. You know, she thinks innuendo is a Italian suppository. Can I keep going? On the pageants now, they really should have easier questions, like what’s your middle name or what show was Seinfeld on. I mean, this girl’s a ding-dong. I didn’t even like her earrings.

OLBERMANN: The cruelest cut of all. The outcomes here, too. Perez Hilton looks like an intellectual titan and some sort of civil rights leader. And the new poster girl against same-sex marriage is not just a boob, but a fake boob. This is a real win for this cause, is it not?

MUSTO: Well, Perez is the new me, let’s leave him alone. And using the C word is something I wouldn’t do. But yes, Carrie Prejean, however you say it, she’s getting something off her chest. But what she really needs to get off is the price tag there.

OLBERMANN: Now, the moral in this is what? Never cross a beauty pageant official who knows you’ve had implants?

MUSTO: Yes, exactly, that’s it. This has escalated to a public shaving. I mean, and what Moakler has left out, Keith, is they also paid for Carrie to cut off her penis, and sand her Adam’s Apple and get a head-to-toe waxing. I know for a fact that Carrie Prejean was Harry Prejean, a homophobic man, who liked marriage so much he did it three times. Now he’s a babe who needs a brain implant. Maybe they could inject some fat from her butt. Oh, they have?

OLBERMANN: There it is, your guilty pleasure. The one and only Michael Musto of the Village Voice. As always, good to talk to you, Michael.

Geez, guys, why don’t you just point a camera into your locker room while you slap each others’ naked butts with a towel? There is something sick and sad about this. What does it say about Keith Olbermann that he takes “guilty pleasure” about denigrating the mind and body of this woman, whatever her personal beliefs may be? With all the important news, and yes, even with all the other “guilty pleasures” out there, I wonder what made Olbermann once again, spend time demeaning and insulting a woman. I hate to give the guy oxygen, but clearly if he didn’t think he’d find a grateful audience for this sort of tripe, he wouldn’t be doing it.

Furthermore, if this woman were pro gay marriage (unlike Obama), waving an Obama sign, shouting “yes, we can!”, do we still think Olbermann and Musto would have decided to single her out and talk about her this way? If she had the “correct” politics, her implants, or anything else about her, wouldn’t be a problem for them. While we are on the subject, not long ago, President Obama appointed Governor Kaine to be the new Chairman of the DNC. He is reeeaaally against gay marriage. Got any “guilty pleasure” segments devoted to picked on this gentleman, Keith? I thought not.

Hypocrites, much?

But hey, don’t feel bad, he isn’t the only pig who could use a little lipstick to pretty himself up.

As Rev. Amy reported yesterday, Thursday night, Jay Leno joined the fray yet again to prove that sexism and denigrating characterizations of women are alive and well – even though the election is long over. While dancing around the dial Thursday night, this was the joke I was unfortunate enough to hear Jay Leno tell in his monologue:

“Kenyan women have vowed to withhold sex until their leaders stop bickering — they said they got the idea to withhold sex from a recent visit from Hillary Clinton.”

Thank you, Jay Leno, for advancing the theory to the audience that Hillary Clinton must be a robotic, frigid, ice queen. Surely everyone knew that — didn’t they? For anyone who laughed at this joke, you belong with Keith and the rest. Nothing like being disrespectful for no reason to an honorable public servant who is carrying your guy’s water! She is also the one who has been saying “women’s rights are human rights” for many years. Remember, Jay? But surely, let’s trash someone who is an advocate for women. Why not? It’s still open season for your cheap jokes, isn’t it?

Just to provide a little context, Jay also nailed Biden for his little gaffe about the swine flu – but he was making a joke at the man’s expense with some cause – VP Biden screwed up running his big yaw to unintentionally cause a panic. But why did Jay bring Hillary up? What possible reason could he have to make her the brunt of yet more insults? The woman has higher popularity than even the President right now, surely because she has already logged in over 75,000 miles working to improve our foreign relations. She has restored the State Department as the center of US foreign policy, as opposed to leaving it in the hands of the military. Wow. Sounds awful.

Surely we must find a reason to make sure the audience laughs at her. Personally, I don’t find Leno funny and never have. He’s always been a rather cheesy comic. But he has a huge following — this is the best he can do? Certainly, this is not the best we can do.

It is the year 2009 and apparently, many of the boobs on the news (whether these males have boobs are not), and our typical misogynist comedians, can find nothing else to talk about, joke about, crow about than to make women the brunt of their foolish put downs and insecurity.

I will not give it a pass. This “boys will be boys” crap is way old and indicative of the fact that in this day and age, too many outlets are sending the message that it is still not necessary to treat women with respect.

Until men and women stand up in a loud voice and protest, boycott and shout from the highest hill this has to stop – guess what? It’s not going to. Let those who would demean women find new jokes to tell or find themselves out of a job.