Rahm Emanuel: Liberals Are “F–king Retarded” - Jame Hamsher/FDL

[WillyT]

Oopsie...

Rahm Emanuel: Liberals Are “F–king Retarded”
By: Jane Hamsher Tuesday January 26, 2010 8:44 am

<snip>

One thing you find out pretty quickly when dealing with beltway press is that Rahm Emanuel is a source for most of them, and that they’re generally unwilling to criticize him lest they blow up one of their best sources of White House spin. So, it’s rare that a journalist (in this case the Wall Street Journal’s Peter Wallsten, recently arrived from the LA Times) runs a non-lapdog profile.

Most amusing to me was the fact that he finally got the goods about Rahm’s famous Veal Pen tirade, when Rahm showed up at the Common Purpose meeting and lambasted the liberal interest groups because MoveOn was running radio ads against Blue Dogs. Previously it had been reported that Rahm called them “f*#king stupid,” even though the scuttlebut was that Rahm said they were “f*#king retards.” It’s a tight-lipped crowd to penetrate, and nobody wants to get zapped from the meetings for talking to the press. But Wallsten managed to get the story:

The friction was laid bare in August when Mr. Emanuel showed up at a weekly strategy session featuring liberal groups and White House aides. Some attendees said they were planning to air ads attacking conservative Democrats who were balking at Mr. Obama’s health-care overhaul.

“F—ing retarded,” Mr. Emanuel scolded the group, according to several participants. He warned them not to alienate lawmakers whose votes would be needed on health care and other top legislative items.

Yesterday a journalist asked me if I thought Rahm was a “tough guy,” because he’s hearing many people say that he’s actually shallow and weak. I pointed him to this famous story:

The definitive Rahm Emanuel story takes place in Little Rock, Ark., in the heady days after Bill Clinton was first elected President.

It was there that Emanuel, then Clinton’s chief fund-raiser, repaired with George Stephanopoulos, Mandy Grunwald and other aides to Doe’s, the campaign hangout. Revenge was heavy in the air as the group discussed the enemies – Democrats, Republicans, members of the press – who wronged them during the 1992 campaign. Clifford Jackson, the ex-friend of the President and peddler of the Clinton draft-dodging stories, was high on the list. So was William Donald Schaefer, then the Governor of Maryland and a Democrat who endorsed George Bush. Nathan Landow, the fund-raiser who backed the candidacy of Paul Tsongas, made it, too.

Suddenly Emanuel grabbed his steak knife and, as those who were there remeber it, shouted out the name of another enemy, lifted the knife, then brought it down with full force into the table.

”Dead!” he screamed.

That’s not “tough.”

“Tough” is knowing you’re going to take massive shit for standing up to powerful interests and then doing it anyway, because it’s the right thing to do — that’s what Obama told people he would do when he was running for President.

You’re not a tough guy if your first thought upon assuming the power of the Presidency is to use it to punish your enemies. You’re a cowardly, petty, small-minded thug.

I’m sure Rahm spreads the knife story around to promote the myth of himself as a rebel and a fighter, but most people experience “that guy” as a brown nose for power ready to rumble on behalf of the status-quo.

It’s like watching a sixth grader snatch the lunch money from a kindergartner for calling him a bully. The day that becomes “tough” is the day Rahm fits the bill.

<snip>

Link: http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/01/26/rahm-emanuel-liberals-are-f-king-retarded/

:mad:

[Autumn]

1. Maybe he's right,

he still has a job. And the silly fucker should be dragged out of the Whitehouse, and have his ass kicked.

[glitch]

57. Closer to far right, IMO.

Jane's correct about what qualifies as strength and what qualifies as petty. I suppose only the insiders would know if Rahm actually did these things, but if he did they should know better than to suck up to him.

[rocktivity]

2. Rocktivity: "Rahm is “F–king Running Scared"

Doesn't he realize that when he says things like that he hurts ALL voters?

x(
rocktivity

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[damntexdem]

33. Disrespectful of the intellectually disabled, as well as the core of his Party.

Rahm is the pivot of the death spiral of the Democratic Party.

[roguevalley]

65. little man syndrome. big mouth, tiny penis. that's our Rahm.

[notadmblnd]

3. o is he saying he is retarted (which says something about his respect for the disabled)

or is he saying he's not a liberal?

[jgraz]

4. When Rahm finally falls, he's gonna leave a mighty big crater.

Can't wait.

[CoffeeCat]

5. "Tough" is restoring our democracy...

...and having the cajones to stand up to the henchmen criminals who are nothing but insecure, greedy
babies.

The Founding Fathers would have kicked Rahm and the rest of these assholes to the curb and exposed them for the cowardly,
unimaginative, un-serious peckerheads that they are.

The people in power in this country are an embarrassing circus of wannabes who stand for nothing.

I don't even believe this weirdo knife story. The fact that they would concoct this pathetic
tale, in hopes that it would make Rahm look "tough" is laughable. These people are such
amateurs, and that's why none of them have the guts to speak out against the corruption, or
try to change it. They're anti-heroes. They're all mediocre, insecure jerks who know that if they weren't
in government--they'd be selling shirts at Macy's.

So, they go along with all-things-rotten to protect the status quo--which is that a bunch of undeserving
punks have reached high levels in government--not because they are wise, honest and decent, but because
they are all rotten to the core and protecting the guy next to them, who is rotten to the core.

Truly pathetic.

[WillyT]

12. Exactly... And...

It reminds me of a quote from the movie 'All The President's Men'.

Deep Throat: Forget the myths the media's created about the White House. The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

:shrug:

[midnight armadillo]

62. Rahm is not tough

Rahm is a bully. He gets his way by being louder and more profane than anyone else in the room. This is not the same thing as being 'tough.'

[YOY]

6. So why is this shitstain ruining our party still?

Oh yeah...money.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Wizard]

8. Rahm is right

of Attila The Hun.

[Me.]

9. Nice

:sarcasm:

[Raineyb]

10. If you think Rahm is right well let's just say Rahm's epithet is more apt for HIM

(and his sycophants) than it is liberals.

[TheKentuckian]

11. Then you can join him too. I hear the GOP needs members

Rahm reminds us that eventually the tent gets too big, I think the little fuck is breathing my air.

[tavalon]

71. Yeah, our tent is big enough for the likes of Rahm

and his brother while we're at it. He's our turdblossom and turdblossoms can go hang with that last President.

[WillyT]

14. Noted...

:puke:

[tekisui]

15. All you do is bash the left. Whose side are you on , anyway?

[yorgatron]

16. AFAIK no one ever suffered any consequences for crossing Clinton.

"Revenge was heavy in the air as the group discussed the enemies – Democrats, Republicans, members of the press – who wronged them during the 1992 campaign."
Or any other Democrat,liberal,or progressive.
EVER :eyes:

[WillyT]

17. Maybe, But Then... How'd That Health Care Thingy Go Back Then ??

:shrug:

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FiveGoodMen]

18. The ones who continue to trust Rahm and his boss certainly are

[TheWraith]

19. More lies and nonsense from the Firebaggers.

Anyone who is NOT singlemindedly dry-humping the concept of Rahm Emanuel as Satan can clearly say that that is NOT what he said. :eyes:

[grantcart]

20. And of course at no point did Rahm say "Liberals are Fucking Retrarded"

He was in fact talking about a particular strategy used by a particular group.

In fact the strategy he was arguing against is highly counter productive.

[TheKentuckian]

25. With his idea of productive being to silently kiss his ass and wait for the

crumbs to be dispersed at the time of his choosing.

Give us a real seat at the table, at least pretend our pleaded for efforts and money matter, and respect the ideals of the party or expect a battle. If we can't "win" then the damage will be so severe that no one does.

This was the party of Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Johnson long before it was the party of Emmanuel, Lanny Davis, Dick Morris, and Evan Bayh. Whose policies and ideals better match your's?

Are you with Ben Nelson or Bernie Sanders? Are you for DiFi or Barbara Boxer? Are you with Sheldon Whitehouse or Joe Lieberman?

What side are you on? Are your for the people or are you for corporate influence and big money? You don't get to pick both because a house divided against it's self cannot stand.

[WillyT]

28. Maybe... But Then, Usually... a + b = c

:shrug:

:hi:

[slipslidingaway]

30. As noted below we do not know exactly what was said, as was originally...

reported back in August he attacked the people not the idea.

But none of us know for sure, he could have said both the strategy and the people were stupid or retarded.

:shrug:


Rahm Slammed Dems Attacking Other Dems As “F–king Stupid,” Sources Say

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/rahm-slammed-dems-attacking-other-dems-as-f-king-stupid-sources-say/

[grantcart]

41. The title of the OP is incorrect

[slipslidingaway]

43. So you are saying that Greg Sargent was wrong back in August ...

how do you know exactly what Rahm said in the meeting.

:shrug:

[grantcart]

56. The OP has already agreed that the quote by FDL did not include the words

included in the title.

But I guess you are arguing that if you dislike someone then its ok to put words in their mouth.

[slipslidingaway]

59. How do you know what Rahm said, nobody knows for sure, although...

this was your original reply that I responded to...

"And of course at no point did Rahm say "Liberals are Fucking Retrarded"

He was in fact talking about a particular strategy used by a particular group..."


So again I ask how do you know exactly what was said, this is what Greg Sargent posted at that time and linked to by Hamsher back in August and again today, maybe he was stretching the truth. Forget about the other links in the OP and history on this subject?

:shrug:




"Sources at the meeting tell me that Emanuel really teed off on the Dem-versus-Dem attacks, calling them “f–king stupid.” This was a direct attack on some of the attendees in the room, who are running ads against Dems right now..."


It is all very well and good to point to today's article which makes it sounds as if Rahm is calling the strategy retarded (great choice of words Rahm!) and forget about what was written at the time.

As I have said earlier, none of us know for sure, but we should be aware of what was written in August.

[mzmolly]

77. Exactly! But why let facts get in the way of a good lather.

:hi:

[mzmolly]

22. He called the IDEA retarded, though the fact that some claim otherwise may

bolster the case on the retarded thing in general.

[slipslidingaway]

29. We do not know the exact exchange between Rahm and those who ...

attended the meeting. If you have a link to what was said please post it, TIA.

The Plum LineGreg Sargent's blog
Rahm Slammed Dems Attacking Other Dems As “F–king Stupid,” Sources Say

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/rahm-slammed-dems-attacking-other-dems-as-f-king-stupid-sources-say/


"The Politico’s Jonathan Martin reported this morning that Rahm Emanuel warned leaders of liberal groups in a private meeting this week that it was time to stop running ads attacking Blue Dog and “centrist” Dems on health care.

I’m told, however, that Emanuel went quite a bit further than this.

Sources at the meeting tell me that Emanuel really teed off on the Dem-versus-Dem attacks, calling them “f–king stupid.” This was a direct attack on some of the attendees in the room, who are running ads against Dems right now..."


Tuesdays With Rahm

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091026/hayes

"In August several outlets reported Emanuel's chastisement of some attendees for targeting Blue Dog Democrats wavering on reform. Anyone who went after Democrats, he reportedly said, was "fucking stupid."

[mzmolly]

36. My comments are directed at the article as presented. Your post

further solidifies my opinion on the matter.

I agree with Emanuel. The circular firing squad is "f*cking stupid."

[slipslidingaway]

37. The Plum Line link is part of the original article as presented, if you want ...

to ignore that piece of the article so be it.

None of know exactly what was said at that meeting, did Rahm attack the strategy, the people or both.

[mzmolly]

51. I find the quote suspect. If someone called "liberals" "f*cking stupid" I'd imagine

the word "liberals" would be inside the quotes?

[slipslidingaway]

60. Then maybe you should have posted that instead of saying you KNOW...

what Rahm said back in August.

None of us know for sure, it can be helpful to look at what was said at the time.

The link from August was in the article posted today.

[mzmolly]

68. I never said I KNOW what anyone said in August. I said the case hadn't been made

to support the assertion in the OP.

[slipslidingaway]

70. Your reply # 27 ...

"He called the IDEA retarded, though the fact that some claim otherwise may
bolster the case on the retarded thing in general."

Now you say the case has not been made, which was part of my original post to you.


We do not know the exact exchange between Rahm and those who ...
attended the meeting. If you have a link to what was said please post it, TIA.


We agree

:)

[mzmolly]

74. Again, my comment was based upon the OP which made the claim he called liberals

retarded. The burden of proof is NOT on ME. :hi:

[tavalon]

72. Well, he should know

It's his favorite tactic.

[lightningandsnow]

23. The R-word is an ableist slur.

Plain and simple.

Funny how many on DU fail to realize that.

[omega minimo]

38. +

[GreenTea]

24. Slimy corporate ass-kissing DLC Rahm Emanuel, his disgusting corporate blue dogs who are republicans

[slipslidingaway]

26. The Plum Line - Rahm Slammed Dems Attacking Other Dems As “F–king Stupid" ...

...Sources Say

8/7/2009

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/rahm-slammed-dems-attacking-other-dems-as-f-king-stupid-sources-say/

"The Politico’s Jonathan Martin reported this morning that Rahm Emanuel warned leaders of liberal groups in a private meeting this week that it was time to stop running ads attacking Blue Dog and “centrist” Dems on health care.

I’m told, however, that Emanuel went quite a bit further than this.

Sources at the meeting tell me that Emanuel really teed off on the Dem-versus-Dem attacks, calling them “f–king stupid.” This was a direct attack on some of the attendees in the room, who are running ads against Dems right now..."


Rahm Goes Apeshit on Liberals in the Veal Pen

By: Jane Hamsher Friday August 7, 2009 2:21 pm

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/08/07/rahm-goes-apeshit-on-liberals-in-the-veal-pen/

"On Tuesday, Common Purpose held its weekly meeting where lobbyist Erik Smith and a comm person from the White House tell liberal interest groups what they should be saying that week. Then if anyone gets out of line, they kick their asses. Along with Unity 09 and the 8:45 am call, they exist to form a solid left flank and keep the White House immune from liberal criticism. I like to call them collectively "the veal pen."

This week’s meeting was somewhat remarkable — as Jonathan Martin reported, Rahm Emanuel showed up. But Martin’s account is an entirely sanitized version of the meeting. It sounds like Rahm dictated it himself, in anticipation of the stories that would no doubt immediately start to materialize about the heated event. In JMart’s version, Rahm made a "request" and said that "he didn’t like seeing dollars used by liberal groups to target congressional Democrats."

Um, it’s missing a few words, most of them four letters in length.

Admittedly I wasn’t there and like about 9,000 other people in DC just heard tales that made their way down the food chain, but it appears Greg Sargent wasn’t so easily played..."

[WillyT]

27. Yep...

:kick:

:hi:

[slipslidingaway]

32. So people know, it was not just FDL that reported this back in August ...

:hi:

[WillyT]

35. Yes... And She's Referring To This That Came Out Today !!!

Link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703808904575025030384695158.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines#printMode

Even Cenk gets a nod in this article.

:shrug:

:hi:

[slipslidingaway]

39. Yes and we'll never know exactly what was said by Rahm, a snip ...

"...For the president, Mr. Emanuel is a useful foil, playing a role akin to that of James Baker, who absorbed attacks from unhappy conservatives while chief of staff to Ronald Reagan. Mr. Emanuel is a centrist cut from the Bill Clinton mold, and his presence is useful as the president tries to cut deals with centrists and conservatives..."

There really is a campaign to paint FDL in the worst light.

:shrug:

[WillyT]

31. And From The WSJ Article Jane Cited...

<snip>

After the party's Massachusetts loss, criticism of the chief of staff—not only from activists, but from members of Congress—has increased.

In recent days, the White House turned to two other top advisers, Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod, to discuss on network television how the Massachusetts defeat will affect the president's agenda.

There have been reports of tension between Mr. Emanuel and Ms. Jarrett, who is more ideologically in tune with the liberal base and close with the Obama family, but several people who have worked with the two say they get along fine.

Matthew Rothschild, editor of the Progressive, an antiwar magazine, wrote this month that Mr. Emanuel has "delivered defeat" for Mr. Obama and should be fired.

The president, he wrote, "needs a chief of staff with the wisdom to help point him down a bold, progressive path."

Mr. Emanuel responds with a reference to the party's base: "They like the president, and that's all that counts."

<snip>

Link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703808904575025030384695158.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines#printMode

Not any more Rahm... not any more...

:shrug:

[ellie]

34. He apparently

has never heard of the expression, "I am rubber you are glue ..."

Who gives a fuck what he thinks? I think I am developing a tougher skin from all my time on these political boards.

[JI7]

40. i hate it when people use that word as an insult

[cali]

42. unrecced because it's a flat out lie and I have nothing but contempt for

this. Raw Story ran an honest story about this. that I recced.

He did not call anyone a "fucking retard". He said that the approach liberals wanted to take re those opposing hcr was fucking retarded. that's bad enough without LYING YOUR FUCKING ASS OFF.

I despise liars.

[slipslidingaway]

45. This is Greg Sargent's post back in August ...

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/rahm-slammed-dems-attacking-other-dems-as-f-king-stupid-sources-say/

"Rahm Slammed Dems Attacking Other Dems As “F–king Stupid,” Sources Say

The Politico’s Jonathan Martin reported this morning that Rahm Emanuel warned leaders of liberal groups in a private meeting this week that it was time to stop running ads attacking Blue Dog and “centrist” Dems on health care.

I’m told, however, that Emanuel went quite a bit further than this.

Sources at the meeting tell me that Emanuel really teed off on the Dem-versus-Dem attacks, calling them “f–king stupid.” This was a direct attack on some of the attendees in the room, who are running ads against Dems right now..."


Only those in attendance really know what was said.

[mzmolly]

75. It is "f-cking stupid."

Which does not mean liberals are stupid. IMO, the article is a bald faced lie, until I see proof otherwise.

[mzmolly]

76. Hear hear!

:toast:

[MissDeeds]

44. Why does Obama keep this clown

Apparently he doesn't find him as offensive as many of us do...which it troubling.

Hey Rahm, you can't whiz all over the left and then expect them to help your guy in 2012. :thumbsdown:

[Gman]

46. Hearsay and innuendo

[CrawlingChaos]

47. Obama fires Van Jones but keeps this toad? Blech. (n/t)

[branders seine]

48. he's a turd.

I don't know who is worse, him or Geithner or Summers.

[Raine]

49. JERK!!!!!!!!!! nt

:mad:

[Doctor_J]

50. Looks like the sources are FDL and Murdoch Journal

Probably fair & balanced. Maybe we should ask Limpballs for confirmation.

[slipslidingaway]

61. Also ...

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/rahm-slammed-dems-attacking-other-dems-as-f-king-stupid-sources-say/

The Plum LineGreg Sargent's blog

"Rahm Slammed Dems Attacking Other Dems As “F–king Stupid,” Sources Say

The Politico’s Jonathan Martin reported this morning that Rahm Emanuel warned leaders of liberal groups in a private meeting this week that it was time to stop running ads attacking Blue Dog and “centrist” Dems on health care.

I’m told, however, that Emanuel went quite a bit further than this.

Sources at the meeting tell me that Emanuel really teed off on the Dem-versus-Dem attacks, calling them “f–king stupid.” This was a direct attack on some of the attendees in the room, who are running ads against Dems right now..."

[hulka38]

52. Someone needs to pick Rahm up and give him a swirly.

[D23MIURG23]

53. Another few years and Rahmbo is going to be just another low circulation pundit or lobbyist.

After Rahm, Kaine, and Obama finish totaling the party there won't be a place left for him in a public office. Maybe he can set up shop as Hannity's next pet "liberal" or something.

Hopefully by then the DINO wing of the party will have alienated everyone who isn't Joe Lieberman, so the rest of us can form a real party and bury that rotting corpse of a donkey once and for all.

[slampoet]

54. Palin acts personally offended by the comment in 5....4....3....2........

[Cali_Democrat]

55. I smell bullshit in this article....Jane is trying to get the left riled up without real evidence.

Something just isn't adding up and the fact that it's written by Jane Hamsher has my bullshit meter in the red.

Citing the Wall Street Journal? Really?

:thumbsdown:

[tavalon]

73. Jane doesn't actually need to rile us about Rahm

He's quite hated by many of us and has been since before he became Chief of Staff. As a matter of fact, an awful lot of us screamed outrage when he was appointed by Obama. It was my first exposure to the possibility that this hope and change thing was obfuscation and bullshit. It hasn't been my last. Many of us considered him an enemy of the party and especially liberals well before Jane even brought him up. She's, well, kinda late to the party.

[mzmolly]

79. Exactly. Note the positioning of the quotes? The word "liberals" is not included.

:hi:

[Eric Condon]

58. I'm waiting for him to call liberals "gay" nt

[TroglodyteScholar]

63. What a creepy little weasel.

Nothing has damaged my view of Obama more than his association with Emmanuel.

[Bluebear]

64. What kind of low thinker uses that 'descriptive' word these days anyhow?

[bluestateguy]

66. The evidence that this actually happened is suspect and not reliable

and it is not being picked up elsewhere either.

[BlueCollar]

67. Jeez...thanks Rahm for the diagnosis

FU 2

[Canuckistanian]

69. And fuck you too, Rahm

Although I'll NOT use language denigrating disabled people.

[KamaAina]

78. Many people with intellectual disabilities view the R-word as an offensive slur

much like African Americans do the N-word.

http://www.r-word.org

Interesting that the F-bomb is censored but that is not.

I can't imagine that self-advocate Chester Finn, recently appointed to the National Council on Disability, is real happy with this.

[amborin]

80. firing Rahm is long overdue; same holds for Geithner