‘Retarded’

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

A couple of days ago, I wrote about the dust-up created by Sarah Palin over Rahm Emanuel’s reported use of the word “retarded.” In brief, Palin wants Emanuel to resign for what she deems an unacceptable, offensive utterance, albeit a metaphorical one, comparing liberal Democrats to mentally disabled individuals. Today, Andrew Sullivan and Media Matters ask whether Palin also plans to ask talk show host Rush Limbaugh to step down for doing same on his show on Feb. 3.

“I think the big news is, the crack up going on… our political correct society is acting like some giant insult is taking place by calling a bunch of people, who are retards, retrards.”

Why doesn’t Limbaugh connect the not so tricky dots and just call Palin a retard for being so politically correct? Oh, it’s a mixed up world.

Meanwhile, Palin has criticized an aide to Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) for using the word retarded on a recent conference call, though she stopped short of calling for the guy’s resignation. So many differing standards, Palin seems to have.

Seriously, if everyone who has used the word retarded was forced to resign from office, who would run the government and host talk radio programs?

Take it away Merriam Webster:

retarded: sometimes offensive: slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress

UPDATE: Late Thursday, a spokesperson for Palin issued an e-mail statement to address Rush Limbaugh.

“Governor Palin believes crude and demeaning name calling at the expense of others is disrespectful.”

Apparently, Palin has never listened to Limbaugh’s program.