"Pansy" reference in Hillary Clinton endorsement raises some hackles

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley's high-profile embrace of Hillary Clinton may not play out as an unalloyed asset for her. The main sound bite he delivered in endorsing her presidential candidacy today sparked criticism (muted, for the most part) for being an insult to gays.

Referring to his own reputation as a hard-charging politician, he said, "I've been accused of being persistent and downright aggravating." As Clinton stood next to him in an auditorium at North Carolina State University, he added, "But this lady right here makes Rocky Balboa look like a pansy." (More about the event is available here.)

The first definition in Webster's New World Dictionary for pansy is "any of various violets." But then there's this: "[Slang] an effeminate man; esp. an effeminate male homosexual: often a contemptuous term."

Although Barack Obama's overdue stiff-arm of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright overwhelmed coverage of virtually anything else in politics today, Easley's comment did not go completely unnoticed.

As of this afternoon, a  handful of blogs had commented on it, including this post on The Smoking Gun, which noted that when Clinton ...

"stepped up to the mic to accept Easley's endorsement, (she) said nothing about his 'pansy' comment."

The Drudge Report linked to this item, meaning awareness of Easley's phrase is likely to grow.

We checked with the Washington headquarters of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's premier group promoting gay rights, and it already had a statement in the works.

Trevor Thomas, the group's deputy communications director, sent out this e-mail a few minutes later: "We certainly wish the governor would have chosen his words better and have expressed our disappointment to his staff.”

We've asked the Clinton campaign for a comment but, as of now, nothing has been issued.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Associated Press

 

Comments

[Justin]

It is an unfortunate/ignorant choice of words, but can we focus on the fact that the endorsement was essentially that Sen. Clinton is more "persistent and downright aggravating" than Gov. Easley?

Are those virtues we want in a president? Our current president has been plenty persistent. More importantl,y why should somebody support a candidate who's best case for election is tearing down their opponent?

[Rocky]

Reading some of the posts here is disheartening. How about talking about some actual issues instead of re-hashing this Rev Wright madness. If this is what American politics has become, I'll tell you this, God Damn America!

Rev Wright said nothing yesterday or the day before that was anything new. The message, that black people are just different, not deficient; was totally lost to almost all of you.

It's just sad that things are going down the way they are. Barack Obama now has to denounce his own pastor in order to stay politically relevant when it should not even be an issue. It shouldn't be an issue no more than President Bush supporting Pat Robertson's or Jerry Falwells bigoted views. Bush has never had to denounce Pat Robertson or Falwell, why should Obama have to denounce Rev Wright?

What has this country become when political candidates have to denounce their pastor's views in the public eye to stay relevant politically? It sounds like something that a political candidate in Iran or the Taliban would have to do. I'd like to think that we are above religious fundamentalism, but the way this country is reacting to what Rev Wright said shows that some of us are just as fundamentally religious as those in the Taliban or in Iran.

What Rev Wright said was nothing new. All he did was speak the truth, the truth has been around a long time and it's about time we accept it. Instead of picking little sound bites about an AIDS conspiracy and Farrakhan to focus on. The focus needs to be on the message, not these little tidbits of sound.

I hope some of you realize how ignorant and stupid all of this is. Think about the massive problems we are facing in almost every domestic issue you can think of. If you think about that, and still want to focus on this, you've got some major personal issues that you need to deal with.

Barack Obama is still the best candidate to be President of the United States of America. Hillary doesn't have the judgement, McCain is too old and he wants to continue these same failed policies. Obama is the best candidate hands down. It's up to the American people to realize when they are being 'swiftboated' with some nonsense.

All I'm saying is think about it before you let the words of a pastor determine who you vote for. Nothing will change if we continue to fall for this manufactured BS.

[a joke]

the whole obama thing is over race his whole be the first black man in the white house is about race everything is abut race so anyone who wants to vote for a racist like most black people then u should just go back to africa and shut up about it.

[grow up]

hyper hyper sensitive is the reaction to this comment

Tells you how touchy the homosexuals are.

oh no, i shouldn't said touchy. eegads.

Grow Up.

(oh no, there's conotations in 'grow up')

Everyone. Please. Get a LIfe.

[D.C.]

It's pretty bad when all we care about is if someone said 'pansy', rather than who is best suited to lead this country out of the horrible mess we're in. Wake up America, this isn't a soap opera.

[hammerdown]

Well there goes the pansy vote.

[MarkyMark]

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Who gives a crap?

[Chris Dolejs]

I'm a supporter of both Hillary and the Human Rights Campaign. I would not call any gay man a "pansy." Of course, the fact that Rocky Balboa is a purely fictitious character might make some difference, yes? The dictionary definition emphasizes the "effeminate" part of the slang sense of the word. Should little girls take offense if someone says that Hillary makes Rocky look like a little girl?

There have been, of course, unfortunate statements made by supporters of the candidates:

Wright: "God damn America."
Easley: "This lady right here makes Rocky Balboa look like a pansy."

And however vexing either or both may be, neither should bear at all on people's decisions about whom to vote for. The statements are not relevant.

This is a non-issue, and even Obama would call this a silly distraction from bigger, more meaningful issues. I have to agree with him.

[William Anderson]

I've never associated Pansy with gays personally. I also find that term a lot less offensive that much of the vile language that Reverend Wright has been spewing so pointedly about Americans, Whites, Italians and Jews. I'm sure given time, this crazy uncle will add more categories to his growing list of people he despises.

[Dao Of Zombies]

So, we've resorted to looking up definitions of words in order to uncover inflammatory comments?

I hardly doubt this was intended as a slight to any group, and people who dig like this are the same people who talk about Barack Obama making a odd gesture during a debate.

Get over it, find something a little more worthy to cover. Honestly.

[Tophier Verdugo]

I'm not sure what this has to do with how good a president Hillary Clinton would be. I am gay, and I couldn't care less about what the Governor of North Carolina said. Perhaps the press should be giving the Republican candidate a hard time about receiving endorsements from people who say that gay people deserve to die. That is the actual stuff that is hurtful. Let's keep our eye on the ball people!

[William Anderson]

I've never associated Pansy with gays personally. I also find that term a lot less offensive that much of the vile language that Reverend Wright has been spewing so pointedly about Americans, Whites, Italians and Jews. I'm sure given time, this crazy uncle will add more categories to his growing list of people he despises.

[mateo]

Not surprising that this kind of gotcha tactic is all these two candidates have left.

I for one am not convinced either is significantly more qualified or more deserving of the job than the other.

How about a truly experienced, principled, deserving candidate?

www.votenader.org

[unscum]

I'm an Obama supporter, but I must say, this is such as stupid story. Is this what you guys at the LA are payed for?
I guess 4000 dead in iraq, rocket slamming into the green zone, $4 gasoline and 40 million people without health care is no longer any news. Pathetic!!!

[Eric]

Finally, something IMPORTANT that will seriously affect my vote! /sarcasm

[Al]

I presumed he was talking about Obama Barack and was using the phrase in the sense of metrosexual, an appellation Howard Dean declared applied to himself. Alternatively, HRC counselor's have frequently been described as gurly men, and he may have decided it was necessary to differentiate her from them.

Truly a macaca moment.

[wildbill]

It was an unfortunate choice of words on the part of the N.C. Governor.He,like most people say what is on their minds,before they engage their brain and think.

[B]

Look, I don't care much for Hillary or Governor Easley for that matter ... but come on, is our country so anal retentive and uptight that the guy gets stuck with criticism for saying Hillary makes Rocky look like a pansy?! Those who take offense for those comments have unresolved issues with themselves that they need to deal with, don't take it out on a simple, common, everyday phrase that I've heard people of all races, genders, and sexual orientations use as something humorous.
Frankly, I've heard far worse comments than that coming from those who'd take offense to such an inane phrase.

[Ben]

Here comes "Pansygate."

This will be for Hillary Clinton what "Bittergate" was for Obama.

Thank God the Nation is finally becoming interested in some real, serious issues that make a difference in folks' lives! God bless America!

[Larry Sidney]

Seriously, the political correctness in this country is disgraceful! First, counting negatives again Obama for comments that his pastor made--which by the way are irrelevant as we consider what Obama may accomplish as president. Now, penalizing Clinton's standing because of the use--by someone else who happens to support her--of the word "pansy?" What the hell is wrong with people in our country? Are there not more important issues to consider than these? Whose thin skin is being ripped open by these almost insignificant remarks?

The sad truth is that neither of these issues would be a problem at all, except that we now have people whose very livelihood is to sound the alarm for the rest of us, to get everyone riled up and over-sensitive to the minutia, while the real issues--economy, foreign policy, environment, war, povery, etc.--take a back seat. Shame on the alarmists for doing it, and shame on US for buying into it!

[steve pesce]

Pansy in the boxing lingo sense is not any more offensive than saying someone was hit so hard he was on "queer street". This is boxing lingo and not about gays.

[John_Lai]

This is the type of media coverage that Elizabeth Edwards found so abjective. They twisted the speakers meaning, sidestep the main issue, try to frame the audience and disorient them for their LEFT WING liberal PURPOSE: biased towards OBAMA.

These extremists try to influence voters towards their anointed candidate with no regard to public interests. We get misunderstanding rather than understanding from their reports.

They serve to distract the issues about policy and development.

The degenerated journalism it is. It is disgusting to see reports like that. We should tell them to stop this nonsense. We want to be relevant. Do not baffle us with this BS.

[Kat]

If the Repugs and the Clintonista are going to hang on every word of the Rev. Wright, then any of Hillary's and Bill's buddies become fair game. Pansy is derogatory, unless you are a gardener. Hand signals and dog whistles to the intolerant white undereducated community. In other words, appeal to the lowest common denominator by denigrating anyone who is not a white, hetero, factory worker. Nice work, Hillary. You should be real proud of yourself. I hope your Wellesley friends don't catch up to you, you disgusting hypocrite.

[dt]

whatever... this is just downright stupid.... I'm gay and really don't care that he used the word "pansy"

[downhill240]

Havn'et we had enough of the go-git-em mentality from the bush gang? Remember the "Bring-em on" comment? Remember the photo-op where Hillary was belting a shot of whiskey and a beer chaser to win acceptance from the good old boys? This too sounds like George trying to win approval from the good old boys (Cheney/Rumsfield).
We don't need another "Hard-chargin" to hell with the cost kind of President. We need a President capable of thinking through every action possible including blow-back on any action we take. This Military/Industrial think has got to stop. We don't need anyone who wants to one-up Margaret Thatcher.We simply cannot afford it any longer.
We need a person who has the ability to make the right decision, not the politically expedient decision. Senator Obama is the person capable of correcting our course in the world, domestically and in history.

[Heidi]

I guess he could have said "girly-man" and all this ruckus would have been avoided? Good grief he was looking for a word that meant: weak man, and picked that one. Would it have been better if he had just said "weak man"? He was making a comparison between a FICTIONAL character and Clinton. Does anyone think that Rocky was offended? I'm sure Gov. Easley would be happy to give a pretend apology to him. I' going to actually find some news to read now. Congratulations on pickng up another Super Delegate Ms Clinton.

[Geoff Lander]

I hear the press repeatedly putting words into Obama's mouth that he did not utter. Obama did not repudiate, reject, or abandon Wright. HE HAS NOT SAID ANY SUCH THING. All he said is that "any relationshp I had with him as changed."
"Changed?" That's pretty weak and ambiguous if you ask me. Yet the press put the typical leftist, pro-Bama spin on it to make it sound like he said far more than he did.

[Obamamania]

Obama is our Savior. Obama, Ayers, and Reverend Wright are Right! God D*** america! The stupid, bitter, racist "typical white people" of pennsylvania voted for clinton. How disgusting, now they have even more blood on their hands! They ignored their opportunity to redeem themselves for their racim, and evil past -> slavery - to finally make Michelle proud. How sad. Please no hater responses, but you bitter, typical Indiana white people, please stop buying guns and save your money for my reparations check! Obama ''08, Repartions Check, ''09! http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/racism/010827.reparations.html

[Lisa Kirby]

What a Grrly-Man jerk! If we're gunna split hairs about "bitter" Pennsylvanians and "Under fire in Bosnia" let's split even more hairs, eh? "Pansy" is a lovely flower and should never be used inslutingly. Shame on him! - LOL

[Daly]

BHO showed Wright more compassion and respect than Wright has show America. It is amazing that Wright would wait until this moment to resurface, he started with a reasonable tempered PBS interview and from there he was a racial maniacal nightmare dispersing bombs of hate at every phrase. With time and the foundation of his past works, he could have been forgiven but instead of acting as a man of faith he lashed out like unwanted terrorist pronouncements a la bin Laden.
Wright's willingness to hold Obama hostage and by virtue holding the American people in distain will have to answer to a higher power for his actions.
You could see and hear that Obama was ashamed and humiliated by the lunatic.
Even in his darkest hour Obama stood in the most difficult of positions and had to share with us his shock at how a man he has trusted would callously try and burn a lifetime of dreams for a few minutes of glory.
I hope for an Obama bounce back, he has lots to offer and given the chance would thrive in pushing us to where we need to go. He has staked out some grounds that prove he thinks of a better tomorrow, a stronger and prouder America if people could embrace the contents of his character deciding to vote hope, we have witnessed the man travel through the valley of hate like no other that I can ever recall.

[self sycophant]

My god, Democrats are just pathetic. All of this- the damn campaign- is just really pathetic.

[Adam Shea]

Hey!! I'm a *very* proud "Pansy" voting for Senator Obama thank you very much Governor!

Purple Pansy Passion

[Dave]

News like makes me forget that the dollar is crashing, and the US military is consuming oil at a rate that is putting a solid floor under rising oil prices.

[EX-OBAMA SUPPORTER]

Clinton has said outriht she would never have attended this church after hearing one of these speeches.

and the reverend disgraced the Clinton's in his sermon by name.

that doesnt sound like a meeting of the minds rather it souns like the polygamist wives who refuse to believe anything bad about obama and would rather sell their souls instead.

wakup you obama followers - - no one sleeps forever.

[Jim Andris]

Now think about it folks. "Clinton makes Rocky Balboa look like a pansy." You were expecting something else from the bubba gov? These macho types define their masculinity by how far they can stand away from looking like a woman. This is an endorsement? I guess if she can stand the insult, we Clintonistas will just have to put up with it.

Signed,
A gay man, no pansy at that, but some of my best friends are.

[Lynne B]

I don't see anything wrong with his use of the word 'pansy' and I am an Obama supporter, long before the use of the term as a derogatory slang used against gay people, it had a different connotation. My parents used it freely - as a little girl they constantly called me a Pansy - I asked them why and they said that "pansys wilt for no reason at all", Easley could well come from the same generation where the word was used without any anti-gay bias. I think this whole primary thing has gotten nuts, reporters are trying to write the news instead of reporting it. We have serious issues and the MSM seizes on every single misspeak, every action by an associate..reporters 'making news' rather than 'reporting news'..a country that is on the brink of moral and fiscal bankruptcy and the MSM treats us to non-stop, trivial crap.

[John Pansy]

My last name is Pansy. Can I sue?

[Larry Oregon]

I'm not gay but I am bitter about this remark. Pansy? If you are a professional pollitician then you wouldn't make those mistakes. How Rude!

[senior pansy]

I am a 72 year old pansy and my pansy partner and I have already voted for Obama and most of the other pansies and their partners we know are voting for him too.

[Mark]

Playing to negativity is what Sen. Clinton is all about. She knows how to bring out the worst in people's natures. What an inspiration! Yeah, I'd like 4-8 years of that. Like I want an earache.

I can't imagine why 48% of the voting age population says they wouldn't consider voting for her. Can you?

[docb]

Hillary let this gay slur pass...she is always attuned to her audience ..The rest be damn...throw them under the bus if it is expedient.

[charlieb]

Panzy was not meant in any way as an insult to anyone. Please do not take it as an insult. Maybe it's generational....eons ago I use to call my brother a panzy. I always equated it as not tough, like a flower. Nothing more.

[Margaret B.]

"Pansy"!!?? We are really reaching here. That is a totally cliche and very common phrase that's been around for decades. A pansy is a pretty but delicate flower that wilts easily. I think it's also a way of calling someone a "wimp" or "girly".

I've lived in San Francisco for 25 years, am a passionate supporter of gay rights, and would never occur to me that that was a slur against gays.

This is getting pathetic. I can't believe I'm reading the L.A. Times. I expect better from the Times. Frederick and Malcom are ridiculous.

[Gays,bi-sexuals and other perverts for the Chicago guy!]

Hey one guy seems to be attracting 99 %of the lunatic
fringe:The judas gov.,Hanoi Jane,Carter,Rezko,Ayers and
the LGBT with the other extreme left wing bums.....great
for him..so let the lady from New-York benefit from the
support of middlle-America and it's core values.

[Sally]

The truth is, the Clintons were responsible for NAFTA, and while Hill can say "I was secretly against it back then," the reality is, it was the signature of the Clinton years. And it was her own campaign head, Harold Ickes, who as part of the DNC rules committee, stripped FL and MI of their seats. She agreed with him until she started losing, and she's trying to spin the fact that she wouldn't allow people who had voted GOP in the first MI vote to vote Dem in the revote as promoting a legitimate revote, when it's not b/c a lot of people knowing the original wouldn't count had switched over. And when people talk baggage, it's funny- Bill was almost impeached, Hill is being arraigned in a few months (not someone she knows but she herself)in the Paul v Clinton case, objects were stolen by the Clintons from the White House when they left, documents went missing, Hill obtained a criminal pardon for her brother's criminal friends, Vince Foster was murdered, Monica, Jennifer- the list goes on. It's just that Obama wanted to keep it clean so he didn't mention any of these, but the reality is nobody has more baggage and shadiness than the Clintons. The Clintons had even bombed Iraq, if anybody cares to remember. It was not a rainbow and unicorns peaceful time. Even Hill's claim to be active in the administration was proven false by the records; she started out strong, but when her health care efforts failed, she became another tea and tourist first lady. People even forget her outrageous lies and her constant smearing with the absurd excuse of preparing Obama for Republicans, as if that were her job. A former governor's wife and then the president's wife, Hill has 100 million dollars in her pocket and grew up well-off, to become a member of the head board of anti-Union Walmart- yet she pretends now to have any semblance of connection to grassroots America. From moving to NY, a state she never lived in, to take advantage of an easy election that would put a big state in her hand come 08, to her episodes of tears, to her whining about speaking first in debates and her willingness to put McCain above Obama, Hill has shown that she has been planning a long time for the throne that was her birthright. The only reason that the 90s was prosperous was because there was a computer, internet and technology boom which is now over. Even the concept of a president's wife now becoming president is inherently ridiculous- it smacks of royalty. Now, her campaign, badly managed, is in debt, and she's had to fire 3 top campaign strategists. She didn't even bother to read the Iraq intelligence reports when she voted to send our boys to war. There is simply, absolutely nothing that would make her qualified.

[Darrel]

She is no pansy, but she sure is skanky eh?

And she pimps out Chelsea.

And she for sure is no feminist, since she attacked the character of the women that Bill Clinton assaulted, instead of attacking Bill the sexual serial abuser abusing women left and right for decades while Hillary turned her skanky head to the side and ignored it all time after time after time.

After all, the non-pansy Hildebeast sure wasn't going to satisfy Bill the sexual abuser was she? Especially when she let him abuse all those women, then attacked those victims when it went public - eh?

Right - no pansy - right, I got it Governor, you freaking idiot. Elect a woman who enables sexual abuse. Hide the women and children first though, governor.

[jordan40]

I am amazed by the way people in this country condem others by association, and assinate you, because of association. The media create controversy and dought. When is everyone going to wakeup from their dream and make their own decissions?

[I am the Egg Man]

Obamamania there you go again.. you are so jealous that your man is not fit for the nomination. you making racist remarks only shows your ignorance.. you must be from the ghetto... SO STUPID to make remarks that do nothing more than to show your IQ of being a slimeball lowlife.. you think this is all about race.. what planet did you come from..does your mom and dad know how stupid you sound. geez , stop with theremarks and say something that is significant to the issues at hand.. obama is a loser and will not make it to the final showdown as hilary is going to win this one.. in another couple of months he will be history as hilary will win the nomination and obama will be a name that will fade in time.. this time next year no one will remember who he was.. like the sun setting in the afternoon so will the name Obama be likewise.. he will fade away like a flower., Hey! but theres always next timein 4 more years.. se la vie.. adios. asta la vista baby!! its over.. obama wil not be our president.. JOhn McCain will prevail and win it.. so obamamania try focusing on mccain and remmember to pray for our nation..obamamania you seem like a person that needs to be on retalin. remember hilary for 2008.. and john macain as WELL. get used to that name.. JOHN MCCAIN.. the number 1 contender

[SophieL]

Funny how the gay community (of which I am a member) is not troubled by this phrase. To you folks who are "outraged" over this: stop trying to help us in this manner. I'd rather have you dance at my wedding.

[Maureen Canavan]

His whole statement was ignorant. If this was an Obama supporter Hillary's crew would be hysterical. Remember the monster quote. . .

[poet1b]

This is just more nit picking political correctness nonsense blown grossly out of context. The word pansy also refers to "a timid man or boy considered childish or unassertive", or in general some one who is overly effeminate. It seems that any reference that could mean a man is effeminate has been turned into offensive attacks against gays. Why don't we ban every possible word in the English language that some one might find offensive, and stop communicating all together.

Maybe we should start banning words like non-college grad or professional because they are classest code words. The term lower income, definitely offensive. There has to be large numbers of other words that the muttering of should lead to immediate social condemnation.

[kellyiz]

Lets give Hillary equal time..why elect her and Bill again?

Hillary Clinton Won't Be Deposed in Fraud Case before November
By Fred Lucas
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
April 29, 2008

(CNSNews.com) - A fundraising controversy involving Hillary Clinton's 2000 Senate run that has moved through California's courts for about five years probably will have no effect on the presidential race, given the latest court ruling.

Superior Court Judge Aurelio Munoz of Los Angeles ruled Friday that Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), vying for the Democratic presidential nomination, will not have to be deposed in the fraud lawsuit brought by Hollywood businessman Peter F. Paul against former President Bill Clinton until after the November 2008 elections

[Joe]

If Hillary is so "tough," why did she whine like a scared little girl when Rick Lazio tried to shake her hand in a debate? Hillary is not tough: she simply surrounds herself with political thugs.

[kg]

HILLARY VOTED to 4000+ US ARMY DEATHS and 1 Millions IRAQI Deaths and $4 GAS by VOTING "4" IRAQ WAR.

http://icasualties.org/oif/

[kg]

Just Words?! Clinton Says Actions Matter - They Do!

CLINTONS:
Paula Jones - LIE
MONICA - LIE,
BOSNIA - LIE,
COLUMBIA - LIE,
IRAQ VOTE - LIE,
NAFTA - LIE,
WRIGHT ONLY FRIEND OF OBAMA NOT CLINTON - LIE,
RUNNING FOR 2008 BUT NOT FOR 2012 - LIE
RACE CARD - LIE
RE-OPENING MI, FL VOTE - LIE
OBAMA AS VP - LIE
POPULAR VOTE - LIE
FERRARO - LIE
FARRAKHAN NOT FRIEND FOR ED RANDELL - LIE
$105 MILLION ASSET, 50% NOT FROM LOBBYISTS - LIE
ENDING IRAQ WAR - LIE
BILL, not intentionally "RACE CARD" topic every primary day to capture more WHITE VOTES - LIE
NOT FLIP-FLOPING ON OBAMA ELECTABILITY IN DEBATE vs RALLY - LIE
CLAIMING HER FAILED HEALTH INSURANCE UNIVERSAL - LIE
BILL "NOT" Bombing other countries 7 times day before Monica's Court Appearance - LIE
HILLARY NOT USING 3AM Ad, "BIN LADEN" to use BUSH SCARE TACTICS - LIE
Last 20 YEARS its "BUSH+CLINTONS" like SADDAM HUSSAIN did to IRAQ REGIME. USA IS NOT REGIME - LIE

Do you really want to VOTE for 8 more years of these?

[Virginia]

I am getting very weary of Hillary's "tough broad" stance! As a woman, I would like to see a Strong Woman as POTUS, but this boilermaker driinking, "I can do anything better than a man" ,Annie Oakly persona is really stupid. Let's wait for a woman who can be proud of being a woman and show that feminine qualities are equal to the job . The great woman of history have kept their womanly qualities, without being masculine!

[Pam]

The Press is trying to make this a slur. Most people don't connect pansy and gay at all. Pansy brings up wimpy but it doesn't make one think of a homosexual. Maybe 30 or 40 years ago it did but it doesn't now.

The Press once again goes on the attack against Clinton using their own bias and bigotry. Shame on them.

Lets get to the issues. The Press is so tabloid and immature it's unbelievable.

[FahQue]

You people need to toughen up and quit being frigging pansies about every term used.

Practically everything is offensive to someone. I'm sure the term "pansy" was used to denote "wimps" long before the PC police decided "gay" no longer meant "happy"

[James Twait]

I am a 71 year old senior with a MA degree and I can recall the numerous times that youth sports coaches encouraged me and my team mates that we could beat the opponents by calling them" pansies". Should we get rid of any coach who has ever said that to his or her team? I think not. Took 71 years for me to be asked to focus on a single meaning for a word which has multiple meanings. I did learn a new meaning for a word which I have used before. Key word here is CONTEXT You negative folks need to get a life!!

[Ben Dover]

I guess we will have to boycott PIXAR now. They used the dreaded "P" word in Madagascar.

I think Hillary makes Rocky Balboa look like a pussy.

[Spruce Bringsteen]

If you are offended by the word PANSY this all I can say is that you are definitely a.....well.....flaming pansy.

[brian]

i'm an effeminate gay man, and i could not care less about this comment.

are we going to have "pansygate" now?

PLEASE. WHO CARES?

She is tougher than Rocky, and is the ONLY candidate I would consider voting for.

stop it. now.

[Durant Imboden]

Will Hillary denounce the governor, reject him, or both? And shouldn't we question her judgment for not having grilled the governor about homophobia before accepting his endorsement?

[Brian Schmidt, New Jersey]

Who was that woman crying In Connecticut? Looked like Hillary to me. Certainly looks like somebody was playing the pansy card then.

[tarheel]

where is north carolina university? might be missing a word there buddy

[smiley]

Poor choice of words - what he meant was: Compared to Rocky Balboa Clinton has reall b**ls! Does that take the heat off the gays? LOL

[javameish]

NC resident here - in local version of the English language, pansy and sissy are interchangable.

However If Gov. Easley got out into the world a bit more, or gosh, even out to different parts of the state, he might have figured out that not everyone thinks (or speaks) like him, before he had to get a hand slap.

That said - there really are bigger problems with his endorsement - McCain '08 would have been much better.

[xbjllb]

"Pansy" quaintly equates with the antiquated word "milquetoast" and is in no way any longer a sexual orientation reference. Not since we have so many other "wonderfully more descriptive" derogatory words that DO refer to sexual orientation like the "f" word, the "q" word, the "d" work, and the "c" and "a" words.

This attempt, if it's actually coming from the gay community at all, is merely the tiny contingent of gay ObamaNation trying to paint an ugly face on HRC's latest damaging endorsement.

Nothing more. Even they aren't really offended by this, but merely feinting for desperate political advantage.

Not working, by the way.

[Paul]

Wow, there are two types here, one type is saying what I think - (A) This is all a side issue, the issue is the comparison and implications made to Hillary's personality. So we want difficult people to run things? Somehow difficult is equal to strong? I don't think so. The pansy comment was a misstep and while it is offensive, it is not the end of the world. (B) It is better to get on to the real issues in America which are now practically overwhelming - a false war in Iraq, a real war on terror that has been forgotten along with Bin Laden, the crashing economy, the inequity in America, the oil and environmental crises, the mortgage crisis that is without borders and rippling globally (made in America though!), the deficit (trade and annual overspend for the false war), social insurance, health care, global relations, etc. etc..

The other types are basically seeing this as a small little foible unworthy of mention and trying to mitigate for Clinton - oh its not as bad as you are! Yeah, well, nobody is perfect. And least of all you! When you attack you are presuming that you don't make any mistakes yourself and you don't want this to be taken seriously. If it happened to the other side it would be a major test of character though. Let's get real and focus on more serious issues - I think that is the right message to the press and others.

[Chuck Hansen]

Has the word "pansy" actually been used to describe a gay person since, what, 1935? The governor did not say "queer" or "faggot" or anything remotely like that. He said "pansy" as in "wuss" or "pussy." Period. Get over it.

[Rob]

I'm gay - the word pansy bothers me - but - taken in context, I don't think the Gov was referring to me!! What bothers me a whole lot more is something very telling in Easley's other words, and one of the main reasons Senator Clinton should not be our next President. He described her as persistent and aggravating to underscore her strength. We REALLY do not need another divisive, polarized, insular individual leading this country - look what 8 years of that type of leadership has accomplished. This, in addition to her dishonesty, inconsistency on policy, and horrible management of her campaign and those around her, makes her totally ineligible for my vote. That said - Clinton supporters remember this next time you jump all over something one of Obama's supporters says and please, try to find some balance.

[Jeff]

I'm about the same age as the Governor, and when I was young, all men knew exactly what "pansy" meant, and it DID NOT mean "like a flower". It meant "FAGGOT"...and it was never said kindly when it came out of a man's mouth. All you men know this. It is highly unlikely that the Governor was ignorant of this usage...especially when one considers how easily it slipped off his tongue, though I'm sure he will claim ignorance in his spin.

Isn't it interesting that any other derogatory and degrading term we can think of for ethnic and gender groups would be quickly condemned today, but everyone seems quick to rush to the Governor's defense when it comes to a tried and true anti-gay term that has been used for at least the last 5 decades as a tool to keep both gay and straight men in their place.

Are there more important issues at stake? Of course...but that doesn't mean we tell fibs about or diminish the impact of this man's insensitivity to a very large voting bloc. We need to have the discussion, and then move on if we are going to be grown-ups.

[Renaldo]

Actually I wish that the North Carolina governor would have been quick enough on his feet to have issued a double entendre which would have subtly referenced Obama.....something to the effect of, "But this lady right here makes Rocky Balboa look like a pussy."

[Chris]

Wow. I wasn't aware "Pansy" = Gay Man. I never made that association. I've heard the word used as far back as high school sports, and used it myself. I had always thought, up until I read this story, that "pansy" meant someone who quits easily, which I didn't take as having any sexual connotation.

Learn something every day. Still, hyper sensitive for people to freak out when I doubt the governor was thinking about gay men when he made the reference.

[goldenstate]

Pansy is pretty tame compared to some other words. Some may find it offensive, but most won't. He used it in reference to a fictional character.

[NinaK]

Gov Easley is a dork! It's all in the perception and if you feel it is offensive, then it IS offensive.

Why does Hilliary desperately try to portray herself as being tough and a fighter? In her writings she tells the story of coming home in tears from school because another little girl had punched her. Her mother told her, "there is no use for cowards in this house, the next time she hits you, I want you to hit her back!" Hilliary goes on to say that's exactly what she did and from then on she was able to play with the little BOYS. Now tell me, what does punching a little GIRL have to do with her being to play with little BOYS??? Another lie perpetrated by Hilliary?? That woman just does not make sense most of the time!! Hilliary has lost her womanhood, perhaps as a result of being rejected by Bill so often and with so many women. Bill, in essence said to Hilliary, I prefer other women to you; you are a poor excuse of a wife". So, Hilliary decided to play the tough macho role and probably thinks she is a latent male. Those pantsuits she wears say a lot about Hillary, she REJECTS and DENOUNCES being a woman!! She prefers to ACT tough and to fight because that's what she thinks men do. What she does NOT realize is that most men prefer to "negotiate" and to "reason"; they are confident in their real strength and don't have to act tough and fight to prove they are powerful!! Hilliary is so damned insecuret and cowardly, she cannot stand on her womanhood, she has to borrow Bills genitalia to prove she is manly!!

[NinaK]

Anyone else notice how "white" Rev Wright is? Literally, his skin is as light as Hilliary's. Are you aware it was a Hilliary supporter who set up Rev Wright's speaking schedule? Are Hilliary and Rev Wright, or Bill and Rev Wright somehow related? It would be interesting to see their family lineage. Why is a Clinton supporter making arrangements for Rev Wright's schedule? Are Hilliary, Bill, and Rev Wright in cahoots to destroy Senator Obama? Sure makes one wonder, doesn't it?? It sure looks to me like Rev Wright has a lot of white ancestors, based on his skin color. Is he angry, maybe because a white plantation owner raped his grandmother or mother? Is that where his anger is really coming from? Food for thought. Was that plantation owner one of Billl's ancestors?? Ummm.

[Ken]

Obama is taking all this grief because the pastor of his church is a nut case and Hannity. Limbaugh, O'Reilly and a couple of the other talk show bufoons want to keep the pot boiling. Lets put a little sanity into this affair. In the first place the pastor was the one who said the anti American disgusting things NOT O'bama. Now I want to ask you this, If you are guilty by association, in other words you are vilified just because you know the guy how bad would it be if you actually went to a foreign country and marched up and down in their capital carrying a sign that said America is a bad country that kills inocent women and children? I would say thats pretty anti American wouldn't you? Well my friends there were two people who did just that. Their names if you are interested are Bill and Hillary Clinton. It happened at the same time that Jane Fonda was chatting with the enemy in Viet Nam.Do a Google folks and look it up. I am writing this because I want Obama to win. I am not black but I admire the guy. He is a black guy who started out with nothing and fought the Clinton attack machine plus Bill and Hillary. He kept his cool and beat 'em all. He collected more contributions, all legit, no chinese dish washers giving $2500 a pop. Plus he did all that with dignity and a touch of class. My money is on the guy who can put together a winning team like he did.

[Ken]

I am not too sure of the American army but I spent a long time in the English airforce and if you ever called anybody a pansyyou had to be quick on your feet because a knuckle sandwich was coming your way. It was/is very insulting.

[karen]

Most of you people who are crying about the Obama pastor problem and say ing it doesn,t matter have very little interest or no understanding about politics or you do understand and your spinning for him. For those who have little interest or no understanding you need to awake if you really feel this country needs change if you do feel that then understand as president Bush said today he has a problem with congress and that my friends will create the real change in this country, your local representative that is, the house and senate! So do yourself a favor and stop crying about Obama pastor problem and do something about your own and pay attention to your local polititions and vote accordlingly.You don,t have to have an Obama to better your country. Remember an old saying ask not what your country can do for you but what YOU can do for it. If you want real change elect a women because not a one has been elected and even Obama knows this would be real change, but his ego is as big as his pastor,s so don,t expect him to rise against the old politics anytime soon? Think about it!

[Chris]

Hillary Supporters:

It looks like we are going for a TKO. How about a one, two punch and he's out!

That being said, maybe after we get to know Senator Barack Obama a litle better, maybe we'll see him in about 8 years and just maybe, he might be one of our greatest leaders....we'll have to see and learn more.

Hillary's dirt is already out there and has been for many years, We are over that ! We need a strong, experienced leader like Hillary Clinton to get the job done!

Who cares about the word "pansy"??? This just means this lady is strong!

She just wants to go the distance, she knows what she has to do and she WILL do it!

Hillary 2008

Chris in Indiana (where my vote will count!!!)

[curtis andrew]

using pansy as an adjective is referring to the qualities of that flower, compared to some other flowers, they bruise or wilt more easily.

[Angel]

maybe he meant "pandsy"
as in "pandering" ?

[Barackcan]

I am gay and I find this offensive. Sorry but I was called names like this when I was in school. When I heard people utter words like pansy, fag etc it made me feel less then everybody else. I don't believe the other people on this blog that say they are gay and this is not offensive. This wouldn't bother a lesbian, but if you said Hillary is no dyke the gov would not be able to get out of the mansion. I am sick of the bull s- - - - politics. The sad thing about this election is that so many people are paying attention. I thought our government was more sophisticated then this. Politics are basically smart people trying to fool the stupid people of this country. Can anyone just win the election just being themselves?

Wet-back, porch monkey, cracker, dyke, sand monkey and so the name calling goes. Feel free to add more.
Lets all stop being so sensitive.

Kike

[Darrel]

Since Hillary's minions keep labeling people let's try a couple of actual labels that fit.

Bill Clinton is a serial sexual abuser, he is a flasher, he is a groper. Bill Clinton is a rapist. Blill Clinton should have done prison time, and he should be registered in the sex crimes register. Hillary is an enabler of a sexual pervert/criminal. Their crimes against women go way way beyond a BJ with Monica.

Put a sexual molester monster and his enabling "wife" in the White House - elect Hillary.

Now THOSE labels fit and are factual.

[Darrel]

Clinton Misogyny - Sex
Juanita Broaddrick (AR)- rape
Eileen Wellstone (Oxford) - rape
Elizabeth Ward Gracen - rape - quid pro quo, post incident intimidation
Regina Hopper Blakely - "forced himself on her, biting, bruising her"
Kathleen Willey (WH) - sexual assault, intimidations, threats
Sandra Allen James (DC) - sexual assault
22 Year Old 1972 (Yale) - sexual assault
Kathy Bradshaw (AK) - sexual assault
Cristy Zercher - unwelcomed sexual advance, intimidations
Paula Jones (AR) - unwelcomed sexual advance, exposure, bordering on sexual assault
Carolyn Moffet -unwelcomed sexual advance, exposure, bordering on sexual assault
1974 student at University of Arkansas - unwelcomed physical contact
1978-1980 - seven complaints per Arkansas state troopers
Monica Lewinsky - quid pro quo, post incident character assault
Gennifer Flowers - quid pro quo, post incident character assault
Dolly Kyle Browning - post incident character assault
Sally Perdue - post incident threats
Betty Dalton - rebuffed his advances, married to one of his supporters
Denise Reeder - apologetic note scanned

Clinton Misogyny - Other
Linda Tripp - coerce, intimidate, deny - Bob Bennett calls her a liar, release her job application, transfer her.
Julia Hiatt-Steele - Willey's friend and neighbor - used the machine to change her story.
Hillary Rodham Clinton - used as a cover humiliated
Chelsea Clinton - ignored
Betty Currie - used as cover and enabler
Donna Shalala - used as cover, used as whipping post in Cabinet meeting
Madeline Albright - used as cover
Secret Service - female agent complaints
Kathy Ferguson – unwelcome advances

Clinton as a Ladies' Man?
Marsha Scott - claimed an affair
Connie Hamzy - claimed sex
Bobbie Ann Williams - claimed paid sex, paternity

Following are names of ladies rumored to have had sexual relations with Bill Clinton. We of course do not have information to support these rumors and do not intend the reader to think that we believe any of them to be true. Some could be true, some could be false and some could be intentionally spread rumors so absurd as to make the ones listed above and all other rumors look absurd as well. As always, please draw your own conclusions:

Clinton as a Ladies' Man - Rumors
Marilyn Jo Jenkins - rumored
Susan Coleman - rumored (suicide 7.5 months pregnant)
Robyn Dickey -rumored, staffer
Lenora Steinkamp - rumored - mystery jogger on video tape entering the "infamous hallway" with Clinton
Kimba Wood - rumored, judge
Kelley Craighead - rumored, staffer to Bill and Hillary
Sharline Wilson - rumored, claimed drug association
Dee Dee Myers - rumored, staffer
Suzie Whitacre - rumored
Catherine Cornelius - rumored, "distant cousin".
Cheryl Mills - rumored, WH attorney
Current Secret Paramour (per Tripp/King interview) - rumored

Clinton as a Ladies' Man - Rumors with quid pro quo?
Beth Gladden Coulson - rumored - young judicial appointment
Eleanor Mondale - rumored - celebrity daughter, dated Ron Perelman (see Jordan)
Shelia Lawrence - rumored - Widow of Ambassador
Deborah Mathis - rumored - reporter/WH advancements
Debra Schiff - rumored - ex flight attendant, now staffer
Susan McDougal - rumored - business connections
Benazir Bhutto - rumored - current opposition leader in, and former prime minister of Pakistan

Clinton as a wanna be Ladies' Man or intended disinformation? - Rumors High Profile
Barbara Streisand - rumored - celebrity
Markie Post - rumored - actress
Sharon Stone - rumored - actress
Lencola Sullivan - rumored - beauty queen
Martha Stewart - rumored - celebrity
Diana Wiley Pietsch - rumored - sex therapist - Oxford.
Princess Di - rumored - royalty, deceased

[Ken Taylor]

God help America,
Are there important issues concerning the U.S. ?
You would never know it reading and listening to all this crap.

Who gives a rat's ass what Rev. Wright Said, or Gov. Easly.

Have a look at the State of the Union, it's in great shape isn't it, wow look at all the new jobs being created, people are buying houses left right and centre, America has found new repect in the world, gas is so cheap compared to 10 years ago, and best of all health care is available to everyone and cheap too.

It must be something in the water?

All is well with America, things couldn't be better.

I love the color of the pink sky.

War is good, it boosts the economy.

We don't need any changes!

[Chris in Tennessee - Rebuplican!]

There is nothing wrong with using 'pansy' if any of the 'trendy' folks out there get offended then they are admitting they are a 'pansy' and have personal self esteem issues. People want to be victomized so bad they jump on anything and take it out of context.

[Nimrod Loteng]

Hope they don't push to Obama's camp again.

[DM.CA.]

Clinton is not about the american people ,Her goal is to be part of the elite few who will rule the world (literlly).
That is the long term goal. Brown, ( England) gave a speech stating The United States needed to get behind Globalliztion, In other words a World Goverment,Europe has already converted to the Euro,but these pesky americans are so slow coming around!
All the super rich know what is taking place right under the noses of the american people,But they figure we are to stupid to notice, and they are right!.
For years pieces of America have been sold to different countries,our borders are wide open,Nafta ,Cafta.
All of this is designed to smooth the way for the changeover.
Bush ,the president of Mexico, the Canadian Gov,have long been working behind the scenes.remember the Three Amigos?
Hillary is is part of this grand scheme,Hillary is not a Dem. she is not a Rep.she is part and parcel of this group.
Once she is president ,Hillary will be able to move a head with the finalization of the plan. to put us under that world gov.
Hillary is banking on the poor ,uneducated and the racsist element to push her passed the obstcle in her way.(Obama).
Those secret facilities , scattered round the country, you will soon know why they were built. so by the time America wakes up it will be too late.
A vote for Hillary is a vote for the down fall of our Soverenity and Democracy.

[Pat]

I was at the event in Raleigh. I heard the whole speech and not just a sound bite. Governor Easley was referring to her dedication and work ethic in dealing with problems. The character Rocky Balboa is recognized as someone who didn't give up even though all the odds were against him and his dedication and hard work resulted in success. It thereby follows that Governor Easley's usage of pansy was as a weak person who gives up. I've lived in the South all my life and have never heard the word pansy used for a person who is gay here.
In her comments, Hillary indicated that her style is to get input from those that are knowledgeable and effected in other to develop a plan and then to implemnt the plan. This are the qualities of a good manager and leader. Easley also emphasied that she GETS IT, to me that meant understands what our problems are, and that with her experience she would be able to start turning this country around on day 1.

I was able to shake her hand and talk to her briefly. She was respectful to everyone, looked them in the eye, and gave individuals thoughtful answers, not canned responses.

I would have never made the assumptions that I have seen listed. I guess you just had to be there. Or maybe you need to understand the audiance as Rev. Wright has said.

[tommyjonq]

she also makes bill look like a pansy. she also makes lindsey graham look like a pansy. she also makes democrats look like racist, beer-guzzling, gun-polishing neanderthals. she also makes america look like a mud-wrestling sink hole. but for some reason she can't make chelsea look like bill.

[WhereHaveYouGone,JoeDiMaggio]

I have said it before and this article proves you are not listening. You have watched your independent newspaper become a branch outlet, received your layoff notices and seen your ESOP plumet in value, yet you confess ignorance as to why NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU SAY. Please wake up, we need you! People stopped reading what you write because you insult them with your red-herring approach to the news we need. You tell us about irrelevent junk, yet we yearn for usable information. We have the most important decision to make this year. It might mean the end to our war, I hope. It might mean the end to our calloused treatment of our brothers and sisters who are Americans also. It might mean that we can avoid the looming world-wide financial depression on the doorstep.
Why do you act paternalistic by keeping important information away from us? Are you our keeper? Are you not my intelligent brother telling me what I need to know to thrive?
Morph to usefulness or become an historic relic.