Did Hoffa cross the line by calling Repubs "sons of bitches"?

[kentuck]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/teamsters-president-no-regrets-after-firey-speech-draws-right-wing-criticism.php

<snip>
Teamsters union president James Hoffa would say it all again if he could, he told TPM Monday.

Hoffa riled up Fox News and the right wing Monday with a Labor Day speech in Detroit in which he called Republican members of Congress "sons of bitches" and said union workers are ready to "go to war" with the tea party next year and "take out" Republicans at the ballot box.

Hoffa said he'd say the exact same words all over again.

"I would because I believe it," he said. "They've declared war on us. We didn't declare war on them, they declared war on us. We're fighting back. The question is, who stared the war?"


---------
(I think "stared" should be "started"?)

[Unvanguard]

1. I would have preferred "assholes" or something of the sort

but the sentiment is right.

[coalition_unwilling]

87. "Douche-nozzles" would be my first choice - n/t

[Turbineguy]

2. He crossed the line

of over-politeness.

[monmouth]

9. You're right, he was way too polite...n/t

[tsuki]

45. +10000 nt

[B Calm]

50. Should have said NO GOOD CHEAP LABOR CONS SOB's!

[Broderick]

3. Did Burger King go to far

by saying they would make your way?

Good grief. When are the Democrats going to fight.

[spanone]

4. he was waaaay too kind

[malaise]

27. Ditto n/t

[Glimmer of Hope]

35. Oh yes.

[tblue]

76. He'd better not EVER apologize!

I am grateful for his balls.

[Supply Side Jesus]

5. fuck ya

call them as they are. no retreat

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Didn't go far enough.

[a kennedy]

7. Isn't this what we've been waiting for??? Fighting words...

D*mn, bout time someone gets riled up. :applause: :applause: :applause: :patriot:

[Skip_In_Boulder]

8. No he did not cross the line

That's what we need more of is people who are willing to take a stand and plainly state we are not going to take this. If people don't develop this attitude in this country and soon we are done for.

[kentuck]

12. I agree Skip...

...and I think most of the posts above this one agree also.

[SusanaMontana41]

102. ... and more than a few below.

:applause:

[tblue]

77. Agree. No he sure as hell didn't.

We are so hungry for a fighter.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Nope, they are sons of bitches

and more colorful language too.

[TwilightGardener]

11. Fell short of the line. It's FILTHY NO GOOD SONS OF BITCHES.

[a kennedy]

30. It's FILTHY NO GOOD SONS OF BITCHES

D*mn right.....and well said. :yourock: :applause:

[tblue]

78. FILTHY NO GOOD LYIN' SONS OF BITCHES

[a kennedy]

88. OMG, that's even better.....

:thumbsup:

[my2sense]

13. Not at all

We need someone on our side that will speak up for us and get down and dirty when necessary. Sometimes it's necessary to fight fire with fire. We need to quit trying to play nice with bullies. And I hope he DOES NOT a-pol-i-lie for his words like RETHUGS do after they've said something they REALLY mean.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. Be interesting if the spin holds...

It should never have started, but then again, its the repukes

[montanacowboy]

15. If the Dems don't start using this kind of language

and soon, we will wake up to the freak show running the country.

Kick those bastards to the curb - enough of the bipartanship shit

Good for Hoffa! More, we need more of this and even worse - calling them exactly what they are is the RIGHT thing to do.

[rury]

16. He was actually too timid there

They are beyond the pale...
They are sons of bitches on steroids!

[sufrommich]

17. Fox News will use any fake outrage it can get. Remember,

this is from the network who had no problem with a congressman shouting "you lie" at the President or paying Glenn Beck to compare Obama to Hitler and claim he doesn't like white people.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

69. They're already bringing Obama into the mix

by demanding that he "denounce" Hoffa's rhetoric. Betcha some (more) Republicans will use this as a convenient excuse to join Walsh and DeMint in skipping his address on Thursday. :shrug: :eyes: :puke:

[immoderate]

111. If Obama is cool...

he will "denounce" it as is exemplified in this thread.

Or he can take the high road:

"While I sympathize with Mr. Hoffa's sentiment, and understand his feelings, I might have chosen words that would not be so provocative to thin skinned hypocrites."

--imm

[Lucian]

18. Hell no.

He was too soft on them.

[Waiting For Everyman]

19. Exactly appropriate. n/t

[NNN0LHI]

20. I call them a lot worse so no he didn't cross any line

[Initech]

21. Hell no! I wouldve used much harsher words!

[sarge43]

22. He insulted dogs.

There are no words vile enough to describe what they're doing to this country and its people.

[hfojvt]

23. yes he did

some of those Republicans aren't male.

[livetohike]

24. No. It's language everyone can understand n/t

[BlueIdaho]

25. I don't give two shits who started this war on workers

But I'm eager to help my union brothers and sisters finish it once and for all.

[ChandlerJr]

26. Only Media Matters seems to be trying to walk it back

Hoffa said he'd say the exact same words all over again.

"I would because I believe it," he said. "They've declared war on us. We didn't declare war on them, they declared war on us. We're fighting back. The question is, who stared the war?"

He meant what he said and he'd say it again.

Eff you MM. let the RW whine all they want.

[Snotcicles]

67. Where did you get that from? What I read from media Matters was

how fox news had edited the clip to make Hoffa seem to be inciting violence.

[Luminous Animal]

79. Media Matters is walking nothing back.

Fox News, as usual, edited Hoffa's comments to make it appear that he was advocating physical violence against Republicans.

Media Matter exposed Fox's lie and reported Hoffa's comments in context. They made zero comment about the appropriateness of Hoffa's comment.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201109050003

[kentuck]

86. You don't like Media Matters?

Where did you hear that story?

[GentryDixon]

28. Not at all.

They are the scourge of our society. How they sleep at night is beyond me. Don't any of them have parents? Were they taught to hate the underprivileged by these parents? It is beyond my understanding how they can be so evil.

[demosincebirth]

29. that was mild compared to the way some teamsters talk.

[Safetykitten]

31. No, why would there be a problem with that? I like it.

[tularetom]

32. That's a rhetorical question, right?

You've been around here a long time so you know he didn't cross any line.

What we need are a lot more people calling them sons of bitches ("sumbitches" as my dad used to say before he became refined).

Can you imagine the support the President would get if he called them that?

Of course fix news(?) and wing nut radio would be shocked, shocked I tell you but that's why it would be so much fun.

[GodlessBiker]

33. He's a Hoffa. I'm not bothered.

[Bluenorthwest]

34. Glad someone is saying it.

The whole language of bipartisanship thing is a clearly proven failure.

[Modern_Matthew]

36. Hell no. It's time we rained the fires of hell upon them. nt

[Raine]

37. FINALLY someone is willing to fight, it's about time! nt

[AzDar]

38. I would have gone with 'Union-busting, middle-class killing sons of bitches' , myself.

:hi:

But Hoffa's remarks will suffice...

[in_cog_ni_to]

39. That's our Clean name for Teabaggers. Wanna hear the good ones?

:evilgrin::hippie::smoke:

[woodsprite]

40. IMO, that insults their mothers more than them. n/t

[Fly by night]

65. If their mothers had spent less time swapping meds with their bridge-buddies at the country club ...

... and more time trying to build an ethical foundation in their offspring, maybe the current stain of Rethugligans would have some moral fiber. Sadly they do not.

Some people just should not have children. Republican women are in that category.

[LiberalFighter]

41. Did Fox or ABC news go overboard for reporting that he said it?

[CANDO]

42. Rat Fink Fucking Bastards!

And even that isn't going far enough.

[Dawson Leery]

43. Truth hurts. West, Palin, the teaklan, and the rest of the fascists

have never once backed down after using much worse rhetoric.

[Jennivell]

90. So you aspire to becoming like the teaklan?

Nice.

[tsuki]

44. No. Most all of the Republicons I know are SOBs. nt

[get the red out]

46. Time to stop

Democrats and their supporters have gotten way too into the hand wringing of "going to far" when they tell the truth on these SONS OF BITCHES, and that is part of our problem.

I don't think he went far enough.

[DearAbby]

47. They have Mothers?....n/t

[Tom Ripley]

48. Yes, he did! Some of them are female "daughters of bitches"

[kestrel91316]

49. They found Hoffa (and brought him back to life)????

[kentuck]

51. It does appear that way, doesn't it?

If you can remember his father? :-)

[WinkyDink]

52. Bwahahahaha! Yeah, he crossed the line---the line of "TooPoliteVille"!

[glowing]

53. NOPE. They are!!!

[ThomWV]

54. Nope.

[dionysus]

55. he's not in govt, so no.

[kentuck]

57. Between now and Thursday, the President will probably be asked to denounce Hoffa?

I hope the President or the VP will have a similar response ready.

[dionysus]

68. i hope it's a "no comment" or "thats his opinion" response if he is asked.

[vim876]

83. The best we can hope for is

evasion that sounds vaguely disapproving: "That was a poor choice of words," (right-on, since 'Santorum-feeders' would be better, obviously) or "Sometimes good people lose their cool."

[Better Believe It]

56. Hoffa is running right now for President so he is turning up the political rhetoric a bit.

For General President of the Teamsters Union that is.

He has two candidates running against him including Sandy Pope, the first woman to run for General President of the Teamsters Union.

[teamster633]

66. You are exactly right.

It's pretty easy for Jimmy Jr. to talk tough to the politicians. He's hoping it distracts the rank and file from his dismal performance where it really matters: enforcing the terms of Teamster contracts. I don't know if Sandy Pope has a prayer of winning the election next month but, I do know that I'm voting for her.

[Better Believe It]

82. And he can get his mug before the TV camera's and in the newspapers.

[OHdem10]

58. Absolutely not---Tell the "Whiney-bug Republicans to calm down

People on the Right have done worse.

Democrats, this is how we stay cowed. The Republicans
start yipping and we appease.

[kentuck]

59. No one above your post has yipped or appeased?

No one is cowed on this subject.

[Loki]

60. Just calling them what they are.

My father, my two uncles, my father-in-law and my future son-in law would have called them far worse. And they are and were solid, loyal union men.

[Warpy]

61. Hell, he's right about that. They have declared war on us

and throwing common pejoratives at them is the least we should be doing.

[grntuscarora]

62. No. nt

[PuffedMica]

63. Cross the line? Hoffa didn't even get up to the line, much less cross it

We have been at war with these bottom feeders since President Clinton was in office. Hoffa just used the term most people think when the conversation turns to TeaBaggers.

[PuffedMica]

64. K&R

[Retrograde]

70. That's what my grandfather used to call them

He told me never to vote Republican, advice I have followed to this day.

[UTUSN]

71. Really, he said that, well, then I now LOVE him. n/t

[Rosco T.]

72. Not just no, but HELL NO.. he didn't go far enought...

let's add -

Criminals
Thieves
Bastards
Scum
Lowlifes
Liars

and everything else.

[mulsh]

73. HELL NO, IT GOT THEIR ATTENTION.

although I prefer to use the term "ass squirts" when referring to individual teabaggers in person.

[Zax2me]

74. There's a line? Since when?! n/a

[bermudat]

75. No, he didn't cross the line. He has them in the Mammalian class.

I consider them maggots.

[eridani]

80. What about "amoral sociopathic shitstains"? n/t

[vim876]

81. The article doesn't say whether...

he made it clear that the acceptable way to "take out" Republicans is through the ballot box. (Though I'll admit, I only skimmed it. I could be wrong, but it didn't appear to mention that.) If he made that clear, then the only problem I have with his statement is that SOB is a sexist term. Him calling them f***wads or a$$holes or d*ckweasels would be no problem. Advocating or seeming to advocate violence would be a big problem. Sexist language is a less severe problem. But telling the truth? Go nuts, Jimmy!

[Gemini Cat]

84. They are sons of bitches.

I don't understand why telling the truth about the sons of bitches is a problem for the sons of bitches.

I call them that and even more truthful terms everyday.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

85. Truth is an absolute defense to slander. Legal rule.

Yes, they are sons of bitches.

Hijos de putas.

Figlios da putanas.

On edit: Yes I am a lawyer but I don't practice. :D

[Jennivell]

89. If nothing else, he crossed President Obama's line

Remember how after the Giffords shooting, President Obama called for "civility" in public discourse, and for people to be "talking to each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds”?

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/obama-urges-civility-in-public-discourse

Can I get a show of hands please? How many think Hoffa honored the President's plea?

And how many think he simply acted as a mirror image of a teabagger? (That would be me.)

[TwilightGardener]

92. You might have a point, if they weren't anti-American traitorous filthy no good sons of bitches.

[Bake]

91. The truth hurts sometimes!

They ARE SOBs. Take 'em OUT!

Bake

[lonestarnot]

93. I didn't hear a word about motherfuckers, so no, no he didn't.

:applause:

[Ferret Annica]

94. Nazi scum sucking pieces of shit would of been better

and still too polite to use to describe them.

[sfpcjock]

95. Not at all. And therefore, of course, Fox had to doctor the video of him...

and say that he was advocating violence against Teabaggers. I'd try to be fair, but he was obviously saying to beat them electorally, and no other way.

[mstinamotorcity]

96. Nope

No and Hell no!!!!!

[krispos42]

97. One of the Koch brothers just called Obama "Saddam Hussein"

Fuck'em.

[yodermon]

99. wait, what?

really?

[krispos42]

104. Yup!

Consult the might kpete!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1884920

[cascadiance]

103. F all of those Koch shills!!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

98. Goat fuckers would have been appropriate as well. nt

[lumberjack_jeff]

100. Only if it hurt their feelings. We can't have that. n/t

:sarcasm:

[hobbit709]

101. I would have used much worse.

[bvar22]

105. ANYONE who is trying to "trim" my retirement,

or force me to Eat Peas
while the Corporations, The Military, the Wall Street Bank CEOs, and The RICH
are enjoying their Best Year EVER,
IS a Son of a Bitch!



Cherish your memories, SUCKERS!
because we're TAKING everything else!
Hahahahahahaha!





You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Recursion]

106. This kind of stuff is much less important than supporters or detractors seem to think

Rhetoric in general is.

[geardaddy]

107. He was bang on.

[workinclasszero]

108. Filthy lying nazi anti-american pond scum

is more like it but Mr Hoffa did just fine IMO! :toast:

[Vinca]

109. Sons-of-bitches is a real step up.

[TeamsterDem]

110. Absolutely not. What a joke

Jim Hoffa is a Teamster. He was representing the Teamsters Union's views on the tea party. Last I checked Teamsters weren't under some decree to use clean language. If we were I suspect we'd exist only in history books. If the tea party is so incensed about Hoffa's remarks then perhaps they should tell Michele Bachmann to not use the phrase "take them out" when she refers to progressives, or perhaps Judson Phillips' view that we - liberals - have "killed a billion people" in the last century. I didn't have a problem with the phrasing in either of their remarks, although I do dispute their ideology overall - not to mention the obvious lie in Phillips' statement.

What a hypocritical, dim, pathetic group of goons they are.