"Ethical Disability" - A Republican Meme is born

[SpiralHawk]

I was just reading up on the sleazy doings of pResident* Bush's family, specifically the exceedingly oily brother Neil in the GD thread on the Lou Dobbs TV show.

While scrolling I came accross the "legal argument" being made by Bush's lawyer to excuse Bush's corrupt and immoral behavior. Like Ilsa, who picked up on it and noted it in the original thread, I immediately recognized the birth of a brilliant "Republican meme."

If I was a Dem spokesman, I would give this "Ethical Disability" meme a major workout. I mean, this is pathetic.

Here's the original notation of this meme (Thanks Ilsa)

Ilsa  (1000+ posts) Tue Dec-02-03 07:24 PM

16. I wonder if he (Dobbs) mentioned that Neil's lawyer
told the prosecutors in the Silverado S&L case that Neil shouldn't be prosecuted because he has an "ethical disability".

[Dogmudgeon]

1. That is one HOT meme!

Republican Ethical Disability.

Republican Ethical Disability.

Republican Ethical Disability.

Republican Ethical Disability.

Republican Ethical Disability.

Republican Ethical Disability.

--bkl

[Kanary]

8. Not that it matters

Republican Ethical Disability.

Republican Ethical Disability.

Republican Ethical Disability.

Republican Ethical Disability.

Republican Ethical Disability.

Republican Ethical Disability.

As someone who *IS* on disability, and knows that her time on earth is limited because of the coming cuts, I feel offended by this. It's bad enough it is being used as a defense for a lying ignoramus, but now, the very people who supposedly care about people like me are going to take up this crap, and cheapen further what many of us suffer through?

Yeah, and now I'm going to get bombarded with posts saying "Grow a skin", and all that lovely compassionate garbage.

I really used to believe that there was some sensitivity and compassion left in the Democratic party, but I'm no longer under that delusion. Maybe one day you will be in a similar situation, and find out how discounted you feel by the very people who say they "care".

So, since it seems to be the tactic here, rather than listen to what I'm saying, and how it may make me feel, go ahead and flame away to your heart's content. I won't come back to watch.

Kanary, heartsick

[Skittles]

2. what does this guy Neil ook like?

I hear hot Asian gals are pounding on his door, panting to have sex with him.

[Hubert Flottz]

3. RE: "what does this guy Neil look like?"

A crook!

[ellie]

6. What you'd expect

beady eyes, receding hairline, pasty face, bankrupt morals. Not a looker in the bunch I tell ya.

[cosmicdot]

14. here's a photo

and, this b&w ... beady eyes show up well



perhaps the Ignite! educational business is his ticket (write-offs, business expenses,etc.) to conduct 'other' business

[SpiralHawk]

19. Is that a SMIRK in that first photo? WTF?

This smirking shit must be hereditary. Sheesh: Skulls - Bones - Smirks. agggghhhh! I go crazy....

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Great meme

and it's already starting to spread. I just saw it used in the following thread about Bob Novak:


Talk about a guy with an "ethical disability"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=815378


So who else should we diagnose with this new dread disease? I think we might find that it's an epidemic.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Did they pinch the idea from Douglas Adams?

"My doctor says that I have a malformed public duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fibre and that I'm therefore excused from saving universes." Ford Prefect, 'Life ,the Universe, and Everything', 1982.

[Gman]

7. No doubt it's congenital

[Ilsa]

9. Thanks, Spiral.

And I thought I was probably on "ignore" around here. (my persecution complex)

Last night I was was rechecking it and the site, The Daily Enron
( http://www.thedailyenron.com/documents/20020717082918-03937.asp ) said it was a business expert, not a lawyer, so I got it partially wrong. I wrote an email to Malloy last night, but forgot to send it as my kids needed help getting off to slumerland.

I think it is a great meme also, especially after reading that USA Today post about Cheney on the "grab and go" for campaign funds.

BTW, my son is disabled. Really disabled. But this meme doesn't seem to bother me because it is such a crock: it is so apparent that this is a family character issue. But I can see how a person who is disabled might feel like their condition's nomenclature is being hijacked.

[William Seger]

10. How about "morally retarded"?

[Kanary]

12. Excuse me.

"retarded" people have no choice in the matter. They are either born that way, or have a tragic accident that causes it.

Conservative idiots CHOOSE to kill their morals, ethics and empathy.

Please, do not cheapen the tragic experience of those who are already struggling.

And, no, don't tell me to get a sense of humor.

Some things just hurt.

Kanary

[William Seger]

15. Excuse me, but it wasn't a joke.

I think it's an accurate description. What you're suggesting is that they know they're immoral, but chose to be so. I'm definitely suggesting something else.

[Kanary]

16. My own disability isn't a joke, either

Except to "libruls"

Thanks for caring.

[BeFree]

17. Kanary

Don't take any of this personally...

We are at War with these elite, wanna-be enslavers. Any time we can point out their hypocrisies, we must make use of that. No one means to denigrate or make fun of those who are physically disabled (except these pukes). This term fits well when used to describe the actions of the * brothers. They are truly ethically disabled, and challenged, no matter how many times they plead that they are ethically superior. A worm has more ethics than these Republicans.

[Kanary]

20. Of course it's personal!!!

You've now had two people with disabilities asking you to have some sensitivity and look at how your words and actions are affecting those who are already on the edge and being pushed off. Yet, what you do is put it back on us, say "Don't feel anything", and go merrily on your way. How, pray tell, is that any different than what we get from the oh-so-godly right wing?

Would you be so kind as to stop defending everything for one minute, and consider that this is one thing that is hurtful to those who you claim to care about?

I have tried to say these things in a quiet and measured way, and have been ignored. Nobody can be bothered to even respond, because they are so busy with their ever-so-eloquent bashings of each other to even notice that there may be some hurting people in their midst. Well, dammit, now *I'm* angry too, and will continue to be until/unless a few of you decide you are capble of hearing, listening, and caring.

Get it! The words you are proposing hurt REAL PEOPLE. The very REAL PEOPLE who are already not only reviled by the right wing as Scum and Parasites, but who are facing extinction from rapidly escalating cutoffs.

Kanary, angry as hell and not going to take it any more from "libruls"

[cosmicdot]

11. ethically 'bankrupt' or 'empty' might be better

Being both a beneficiary, as well as a victim (which 'the system' imposes - especially, LTD in the corporate sector), of disability programs ... "disability" implies a human element and/or conditions of being 'human' ... something deficient in the BFEE bloodline ... if someone invoked 'ethical disability' as a safety net to throw to and to, somehow, cushion Neil ... his "disability" hasn't prevented him from 'working' ... there is no (con) job he hasn't been able to perform ... he hasn't been disabled to the point of not being able to continue imposing his ethics, or lack thereof; and, in-the-process, laughing to a place I barely have use for -- a bank.

from a 2002 article:

Neil Bush debuts group here for CEOs


By Cliff Peale
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Neil Bush will be in Northern Kentucky later this month to kick off a new networking group of chief executive officers.

Mr. Bush, a brother of President Bush, also will announce that his Internet learning company, Ignite! Learning, will set up an office in the Madison E-Zone in Covington. Ignite already is providing pilot software to two schools in Cincinnati.

The new group, called the CEO Club, will have its first meeting Jan. 28 at the Metropolitan Club in Covington, featuring a speech by Neil Bush.

Organizers said the group would concentrate on high-tech impact and on improving company performance through sharing information on common interests.

“In business, when you're trying to have an impact on the community, it's relationships,” said Larry Savage, CEO of Humana Health Plan of Ohio Inc., one of several executives to commit so far. “It's how you get things done.”


Dick Lynch, who is organizing the group locally, said several high-profile CEOs have signed up. Dues are $1,200 a year for general members, and $4,000 a year for advisory council members.

~snip~

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/01/12/fin_neil_bush_debuts.html

this was around the time-frame he visited Saudi Arabia

[KittyWampus]

13. Not "Empty" But Antithetical To the Common Good

We make a mistake saying these types have NO ETHICS.'

They do have Ethics-

They have Ethics which reflect the way their Reptilian Mind has dominated their behavior and though patterns.

[Ilsa]

18. Hey Kanary, and other, I'll go with this one with Cosmicdot...

I think I like the "morally bankrupt" or ethically bankrupt theme better, and it is more sensitive to the needs of truly disabled people.

It might be worth starting up a civil dialogue outside this thread, to get the ideas laid out.

The last thing I want, is to be labelled an insensitive liberal or unconcerned about the impact of a meme upon people whose voices are almost silent in our society anyway.

The more I write in this post, the more I agree with Kanary.

But I have to run. I have several appointments this morning.

[Kanary]

21. Thanks for hearing.

I wondered how loud I'd have to scream.

Please don't drop this..... there sure as hell don't seem to be many who are able to hear. Please pick it back up when your time clears.

Thank you again.

Kanary, tired of being used and abused

[Pastiche423]

27. I am sorry you are taking this so personally

I, too, am physically disabled. I am paralyzed (Hemiplegic), have epilepsy and lupus. In October, I hit my 17th year anniversary of cripdom.

IMHO, changing the word "disability" takes the bite out of this wonderful meme. The BFEE, the whole friggen lot of them, ARE disabled ethically.

One definition of the word, "disability" is:

2: lack of legal qualification to do something.

The BFEE lacks the ability to do anything ethically!

[Kanary]

28. And I'm sorry you've sold out

I mentioned yesterday that I had enough of the ugliness and backbiting and gleeful slamming of others on this board, and my anger is now engaged. So, you want to belittle me for "taking it personally", then I'll let you know that I don't appreciate you being willing to let them drive yet another wedge. I believe you saw that one other person also took exception to the term. There are sooo many words in the English language... it is one of the richest languages in the world. If people are incapable of exhibiting sensitivity and choosing words that don't sting others, then it's a pretty sad situation, and there isn't much chance of pulling the fat out of the fire anyway.

Do me one favor.... Think about that phrase, then play around with substituting racial equivalents. You wouldn't even CONSIDER doing that, right? That's because many courageous blacks, latinos and other groups have spoken up, loudly, and taken the risk of being further marginalized by doing so, all in order to bring about some awareness. IT's damn time we do the same. Without apology.

I'm fighting ENOUGH battles just to stay alive in this sorry society, without the help of "libruls", and I certainly don't need "libruls" adding yet another layer to the problems.

Y'know, I would have been willing to support you, or at least *LISTEN* to what you had to say if you were objecting to something, but I'm done with listening and supporting others who don't have time for me.

NONE of these campaigns are going to go ANYWHERE if people aren't willing ACCEPT others.


Kanary

[Pastiche423]

29. Sold out? How?

That makes no sense.

No one has a claim on the word "disability". It isn't insensitive to state what is obvious to many. The BFEE and many repugs are not able to be ethical. When someone is not able to do a certain thing, they are disabled.

I do not see how using the word disabled uses or abuses anyone.

Racial equivalent? There is no racial equivalent to the word disabled. The meme would be using the word, as it is defined, not against the disabled community.

[HootieMcBoob]

23. But it loses the ironic jab at their hipocracy -- howzabout "challenged"?

The republicans and the right-wing are constantly ridiculing PC stuff. That's why morally or ethically disabled has the right ring to it. It incorporates the PC thing to, in an ironic way, call them on their hipocracy. If disabled is no good, how about "challenged"? Why don't we say he is "ethically challenged" and that the republicans are "morally challenged".

We can feign sympathy, saying something like:

"We are are aware of the challenges these people face but they need treatment. They should not be in a position to cause more harm to themselves or others. It's a disease. You wouldn't want to put a compulsive eater in a doughnut shop or an alcohoIic in a bar. We need to remove the temptation for their own good, and the only way to do that is to get them out of situations, like public office, where they are very likely to cause harm to themselves and others, and into some sort of treatment center. It's really for their own good."

I myself am "vertically challenged" and I wouldn't feel insulted or anything if that term was used.
:)

[randr]

22. Ethically challenged!

[kaybea]

24. May I suggest 'Moral Deficit' for a few reasons...

I'm assuming the Republican meme is meant to appeal to a voting block beyond the Dem. base. If so, the term 'moral' might carry more weight because of its religious overtones. The word 'ethical' implies the sense of societal obligation that civilized people owe one another. A lot of people have made it clear they couldn't give a flying fuck about social duty. 'Ethics' then may not move them, or it might even get their dander up. A guilty conscience is a painful thing.

The term 'deficit' harkens to the federal deficit, and acts as a reminder about it and exactly WHO has run it up like mad.

Finally, the term 'deficit' has no baggage like 'disability' which causes offense to people who define language first through a personal lens and last through historical or dictionary standard.

'Moral Deficient' works too.

[LeahMira]

26. With all the ShRubbish's disabilities...

... his disability in speaking the English language and in reading and understanding it, I think the disability (moral or ethical) is good to go. I wondered at first how people with real disabilities, i.e. hearing impaired or mobility impaired etc. would feel about it, but I'd certainly rather have a hearing disability than a moral disability! Or an ethical one!

[calimary]

25. Well, I have a few suggestions...

Let's have some more fun with the English Language, 'eh?

Besides, that way you don't piss anybody off. They're all too busy snickering...

Ethically Challenged.

Ethically Bankrupt.

Ethically Incorrect.

Ethically Unbalanced.

Ethically Adrift.

Ethically Aberrant.

Ethically Anemic.

Ethically ICKY!!

I could go on, but I have a couple of errands to run...

More later (undoubtedly!)...

Cheers!

calimary