Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

President Obama’s Use of “Teabagger” Term Sparks Media Debate
Mediaite.com ^ | 05/05/10 | Glynnis MacNicol

Posted on 05/05/2010 4:55:25 PM PDT by OldDeckHand

ABC News’ Jake Tapper took heat from “some liberal bloggers” when he contrasted President Obama’s call for civility in politics with Obama’s use of the term “tea-bagger” in a November interview for Jonathan Alter’s new book. At issue was Tapper’s failure to point out that the term was originally coined by the Tea Party movement, which he addressed in an update.

WaPo’s Dave Weigel, meanwhile, traces the movement’s attempt to frame the term as a slur. It’s time to correct the record once and for all.

Let me first address the criticism of Tapper’s story. The fact that the Tea Party movement coined the term has little relevance to Jake’s point. In comments to Mediaite yesterday, Dave Weigel summed up the civil way to deal with this:

I like to follow a policy of calling people what they want to be called — or at least don’t object to being called. This is why you don’t see me call people “teabaggers.”

(Excerpt) Read more at mediaite.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: andersoncooper; epithet; obama; slur; teaparty
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-54 next last
To: OldDeckHand

He calls me the “T” word one more time and I’m going to dust off the “N” word!


21 posted on 05/05/2010 5:23:22 PM PDT by ThePatriotsFlag (http://www.thepatriotsflag.com - The Patriot's Flag)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand

The tea party patriots never called themselves that term. IIRC Cooper on CNN started it not us.


22 posted on 05/05/2010 5:25:01 PM PDT by chris_bdba
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: longtermmemmory

One time I heard someone refer to our former Governor as “that babykilling faggot”.


23 posted on 05/05/2010 5:25:36 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Republicans, the REAL civil rights party.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: chris_bdba
"IIRC Cooper on CNN started it not us."

I think Jonathan Alter used the term first - in print - and Cooper was the one to first use it on the air.

As a homosexual man, he knew EXACTLY what he was calling them.

24 posted on 05/05/2010 5:26:24 PM PDT by OldDeckHand
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand
Where in the world do they get they get the idea that "The Teaparty" coined the term“Teabagger” or "Teabagging"?
25 posted on 05/05/2010 5:26:41 PM PDT by tophat9000 (It ain't about Black... It ain't about White...It's about a Red...Trying to take our rights!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand

Any time a reporter uses that vulgar sexual term I use it as a litmust test that 1. they are a homosexual 2. they are using it to transmit their PERSONAL political view.


26 posted on 05/05/2010 5:29:33 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: tophat9000
"Where in the world do they get they get the idea that "The Teaparty" coined the term“Teabagger” or "Teabagging"? "

They pulled it from the same orifice they pulled "tax increases help spur economic growth"

Here's a hint - everyone has one.

27 posted on 05/05/2010 5:30:09 PM PDT by OldDeckHand
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand

He and Bawney Fwrank are the only teabaggers I know for sure are teabaggers in American politics...


28 posted on 05/05/2010 5:32:28 PM PDT by Vaquero (BHO....'The Pretenda from Kenya')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand
At issue was Tapper’s failure to point out that the term was originally coined by the Tea Party movement, which he addressed in an update.

Tea Party Movement coined the term "teabagger?" AFAIK it was 'coined' by Cooper Anderson when he said "it's hard to talk when you're teabagging."

29 posted on 05/05/2010 5:33:25 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand

Anderson is a Tea Bagger.


30 posted on 05/05/2010 5:33:51 PM PDT by ncfool (The new USSA - United Socialst States of AmeriKa. Welcome to Obummers world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

They lie, the term was not “coined” by the tea party movement. The first it was used was by a bunch of gay a**hats trying to put down the tea partiers.


31 posted on 05/05/2010 5:35:59 PM PDT by calex59
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand

If you want to be historically accurate, they could refer to us the same as the british, “those bloody coffee drinkings”

we leave the tea drinking to the poodle politicians.


32 posted on 05/05/2010 5:36:26 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: jeltz25

“at least with Nixon given his history and the way the media and the elites felt about him and his background and all, you could understadn where his paranoia and thin skin came from.”

I really do not think Nixon was paranoid...they were really out to get him. They wouldn’t have gotten away with it (democrats) in todays world with media outlets that will tell the truth, like Fox News, BigGovernment.com, etc.


33 posted on 05/05/2010 5:39:03 PM PDT by Wpin ("I Have Sworn Upon the Altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Wpin

and for some reason they still take Walter “the liar” Cronkite seriously.


34 posted on 05/05/2010 5:40:18 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom
When asked to comment on the “teabagger” namecalling, Tea Party spokesmen should be instructed to simply say “close enough!” with a big smile, and move on.

Now why would they do that? That doesn't even make sense. Your other idea about asking them what teabagger means is ok.

35 posted on 05/05/2010 5:40:22 PM PDT by calex59
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand
He's quickly surpassing Nixon as the most shallow, abrasive and petty man to ever hold the office.

I think you've got a tagline in there somewhere.

36 posted on 05/05/2010 5:41:25 PM PDT by GOPJ ("Draw Mohammad Day" - - May 20, 2010 - Draw for freedom - draw for your children's freedom.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand
So according to this logic I can use the N word to describe blacks. I hear them use it all the time. So since they use is it is OK that I use it too.
That is what this is saying.
37 posted on 05/05/2010 5:56:55 PM PDT by oldenuff2no (Proud vet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jeltz25
What does he have to be resentful or upset about?

He's terrified that his secrets will be discovered, the BC being first and foremost.

38 posted on 05/05/2010 5:57:04 PM PDT by buccaneer81 (ECOMCON)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand

As a member and supporter of the local Tea Party, I present the following:

“Teabagger” is our “N” word.


39 posted on 05/05/2010 6:12:20 PM PDT by meyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Good point. I wonder to what extent we could complain to the FCC equating the “T” word with the “N” word or more importantly as simply an obscene word not to be uttered on the airwaves? Maybe hit the commentators with a fine or two ... ;-)


40 posted on 05/05/2010 6:14:54 PM PDT by Tunehead54 (Nothing funny here ;-)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-54 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson