04/29/2008
Clinton Taking Heat for North Carolina Governor's 'Pansy' Remark
North Carolina Governor Mike Easley is being criticized for the use of an anti-gay slur in his endorsement/introduction of Hillary Clinton today. In turn, Clinton is being criticized for standing by and saying nothing.
Said Easley: "This lady right here makes Rocky Balboa look like a pansy."
The Smoking Gun notes: "Easley's compliment, as it were, may offend some voters since the word 'pansy' is often used in a derogative fashion to describe a male homosexual. Or at least that's what it says in the Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary on our shelf (we scanned the 'pansy' entry from page 828 and posted it below). Other dictionaries (Oxford, Cambridge, and Dictionary.com) offer a similar definition for 'pansy,' describing it as a 'disparaging' or 'derogatory' term for an 'effeminate or homosexual man.'"
The remark has already begun to reverberate across the blogosphere. More from ABC.
Watch Easley's remarks, which I've clipped, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 12:49 PM EST by Andy Towle in Election 2008, Gay Slurs, Hillary Clinton, News, North Carolina | Permalink
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He only said "pansy" 'cause "pussy" wouldn't have gone over too well.
Hilarious that anyone would attempt to use this as leverage. HAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAH!
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Apr 29, 2008 1:48:57 PM
oh, for cripe's sake! pansy is a deragotory term for a weak or cowardly man, as well. how many gay men would admit to that? the pansies at the smoking gun and elswhere need to get a clue.
Posted by: nic | Apr 29, 2008 1:49:11 PM
It looks likes a bunch of bloggers are just looking for the right molehile to make a mountain out of, well keep looking this ain't it. I am more disturbed that fellow gay men can get their knickers in a knot over this, than Clinton not saying anything.
Posted by: kujhawker | Apr 29, 2008 1:51:39 PM
I don't find this offensive. I thought Pansy meant weakling.
Posted by: Matt | Apr 29, 2008 1:54:08 PM
I think is horrific that so many gay men and women have been charmed by the Clinton campaign. To me, it's all show, and she's the reason why the democratic party is weak and divided. The comment her little buddy made here, does mean something. "Pansy" in it's essence means girly, therefore being "weak". All of you other commentators can try to douse this comment all you want, but if Hillary is such a steadfast supporter of the gay community, she needs to step it up and apologize on part of her friend here. If one of Obama's supporters had said this, all of you Hillary supporters would be livid, and hungry for blood.
Posted by: Joseph | Apr 29, 2008 1:58:31 PM
I think is horrific that so many gay men and women have been charmed by the Clinton campaign. To me, it's all show, and she's the reason why the democratic party is weak and divided. The comment her little buddy made here, does mean something. "Pansy" in it's essence means girly, therefore being "weak". All of you other commentators can try to douse this comment all you want, but if Hillary is such a steadfast supporter of the gay community, she needs to step it up and apologize on part of her friend here. If one of Obama's supporters had said this, all of you Hillary supporters would be livid, and hungry for blood.
Posted by: Joseph | Apr 29, 2008 1:59:42 PM
Pansy? Oh come on!
You couldn't get me to vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me, but this is just ridiculous.
Posted by: another matt | Apr 29, 2008 2:07:26 PM
Pansy... i have heard and been called far worse! She and her supporters are going to have to do a LOT more than this to change my mind and the minds of others. This is the kind of "story" that i will never think of again beyond this posting, just like so many others that have cropped-up in the media over the past year or so. YAWNYAWNYAWN...
Posted by: virgoboy | Apr 29, 2008 2:11:15 PM
I LOVE THE DOUBLE STANDARD, i just love it. I bet you if obama was the one standing next to that bastard, all hell would have broke lose, but since it is hilary, out "ALLY" (responsible for DOMA and DADT) it should to pass.
heck, i have been on this blog, when the word "fairy" and "girly man" caused a riot.
Posted by: johnosahon | Apr 29, 2008 2:12:56 PM
First come the words, then the actions --
http://365gay.com/Newscon08/04/042908bully.htm
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Apr 29, 2008 2:13:02 PM
I am an Obama supporter, but this is stretching it a bit.
"Pansy" He was using in connection with weakness not a derogatory anti-gay statment.
Obama 08
"Pansy" = nothing what so ever
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Apr 29, 2008 1:27:14 PM
****************************
so by your argument he can use to word fag, since he was using it in connection to weakness. correct me if i am wrong, but wasn't that isaiah washington's excuse for using the word "fag", he said we was trying to say that he is not a follower like t.r., but i guess isaiah is not hilary.
Posted by: johnosahon | Apr 29, 2008 2:18:37 PM
Obama supporters actually exist after full confirmation that Obama sat and listened to the lunacy of "Rev." Wright for 20+ years? Every single one of you need to get a psychiatrist immediately! You are not just a little crazy, none of you should be walking around loose on the streets!
Posted by: Johnny Lane | Apr 29, 2008 2:25:58 PM
Personally, I deeply resent being called a pansy. I consider myself more of a very colorful petunia. And some days I can be a real snap dragon! Good grief, this is much ado about nothing. Get a life folks.
Posted by: Bob R | Apr 29, 2008 2:30:49 PM
Be gone, Racist Johnny Lane. Save your insights for the KKK listserv. Everybody here knows exactly why you're opposed to Obama.
Posted by: 24play | Apr 29, 2008 2:31:27 PM
The sooner people realize that the blogosphere is Obama domain and doesn't truly represent the views and sentiments of middle America, the better off we'll all be. Who cares if John Aravosis gets his pansy panties in a bunch over this? Maybe that pansy should spend less time on Manhunt and more time worried about making Reverend Wright go away. I was actually quite surprised that pansy was listed as a slang term for a homosexual in the dictionary. I mean I can see it being used to describe a gay person but I don't think it is exclusive to that. I have used it a million times to describe plenty of politicians (Howard Dean, Barack Obama, John Kerry, etc etc) without every associating it with their sexuality but more their lack of backbone on serious issues.
Whatever, I think the only people in a tizzy over this are people NOT in North Carolina and Indiana and at this point, no one else's opinion much matters.
Posted by: BANNE | Apr 29, 2008 2:33:01 PM
to BANNE:
*************
tell me you are joking, i love how hilary supporters have turned into republicans, they are now abusing the blogosphere.
if there is one thing i have learnt from the campaign is that the democrats and republicans are no much different, if this is not true can you explain how hilary has gotten away with gay-baiting, race-baiting, gun-baiting, e.t.c.
if bush did just ONE of these we would be pulling our hair out. HYPOCRITES!!!!!!1
Posted by: johnosahon | Apr 29, 2008 2:42:38 PM
Hillary gets a hugh endorsement from the Gov. of N. Carolina and all the Obama bloggers and anti-Clinton media can do is try to make something out of nothing. I am beginning to question Andy's taste. Yesterday he suggests a 15 year old girl is a whore and today, more rubbish.
Posted by: Mike | Apr 29, 2008 2:57:15 PM
Andy, I think the title of your two posts putting blame on a Clinton supporter for Wright's comments and now for saying pansy are way off base. You and the other Obamiacs are so pissed that Clinton is a fighter and people are beginning to see that Obama will only offer 4 more years of inexperienced leadership. Pansies are beautiful flowers don't drag them through the mud too.
Posted by: Pansy | Apr 29, 2008 3:01:18 PM
I never knew 'pansy' was an insult to the gays. Man when did that happen, and more importantly is, how none of these people making a big hooplah have nothing better to do than be the PC police. Get over it. Political Correctness is very overrated.
Posted by: Los | Apr 29, 2008 3:05:00 PM
johnosahon
There is a huge difference between "fag" and "pansy"
Maybe it is a personal bias, I have been called fag but never pansy.
I just do not see the problem here.
He obviously meant it as weakness and not anti-gay
I support Obama 100%, but to make more out of this than it is does not help Obama at all.
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Apr 29, 2008 3:07:21 PM
This site has become a gay gossip site. You sound like bitchy pansies.
Posted by: liz | Apr 29, 2008 3:10:02 PM
sHillary is a major DINO (Democrat in Name Only).
She's a corporate whore who needs to be booted out of the Democratic Party.
Posted by: FunMe | Apr 29, 2008 3:12:38 PM
John, again you try to paint Hillary at fault for guns and god and now gays. She isn't manufacturing this crap, you are. Or rather, Obama is by discussing how people cling to guns god and gay bashing b/c politicans fail them. HE said that, not HER. The fact you all sit around blaming her everytime HE does something wrong for pointing it out is ridiculous and shows just how little substance both you and your arguments for Obama are. Maybe she, like me, is sick of watching the Democratic Party nominate PANSIES who don't understand how the rest of America operates and then causes us to LOSE the White House over and over again.
Posted by: BANNE | Apr 29, 2008 3:29:16 PM
24 Play - With all due respect, go fuck yourself.
Posted by: Johnny Lane | Apr 29, 2008 3:30:13 PM
Hillary a DINO? Yes because universal healthcare is definitely on the Republican Party platform.
Try again.
Posted by: BANNE | Apr 29, 2008 3:40:17 PM