Canadian Columnist's Palin Joke Draws Fox News Outrage

Heather Mallick, an opinion columnist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Web site, is known for her use of humorous exaggeration. But last week after removing a column by Ms. Mallick, which said that Gov. Sarah Palin has "a toned-down version of the porn actress look" and suggested that Republican men were sexually inadequate, the government-owned CBC ruled that its opinion writers had to stick to the facts even when they were joking around.

Although the broadcaster's Web site, www.cbcnews.ca, has relatively few readers in the United States, Ms. Mallick's comments became an issue last month on the Fox News Channel, which, because of Canadian cable TV rules that limit its distribution, has relatively few viewers in Canada. Greta Van Susteren, the host of "On the Record," condemned the column as "beyond vicious" and repeatedly referred to Ms. Mallick as "a pig." A right-of-center columnist for The National Post, of Toronto, also criticized the column.

The CBC ombudsman, Vince Carlin, said in a report that his office had received more than 300 complaints about the column.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[zwack000]

Ms. Mallick is quoted as saying: "I had no idea anyone would take the remark about sexually inadequate Republican men literally!".

I believe she should rethink your opinion. Male Republicans are highly sensitive regarding such statements for whatever reason.

[JohnnyBeBad]

More BO rac!sm!

[imsosure]

Oh big deal, watching Fox news is like watching a poorly written comedy, no one ought to take anything they report seriously anyway.

[JumpingCholla]

Ms. Mallick, Mr. Carlin wrote, was unable to present evidence to support her suggestion that that Republican men were deficient sexually or that Ms. Palin"s supporters were "white trash."

Isn"t that obvious? What proof is needed?

[tydicea]

Now that you mention it, Heather, I see what you mean. She does look and act like a call girl.

[MikeDu]

I would've found this joke offensive if I hadn't seen with my own eyes Palin winking and flirting to the cameras and giving that suggestive spin to the chant "Drill baby drill". Mallick's observations seem alarmingly close to the mark. Its hard to believe this is the same right wing that expressed such faux outrage when Senator Clinton dared show a hint of feminine 'cleavage' on the Senate floor a couple years back.

[protagonia]

The response from fbc is the sign of their desperation and fear.

Good!

They deserve to be panicked for the rest of their days.

[CharlieMarlowe]

Hey teapot, I just called to let you know there's a tempest coming.

[berkleyb]

There seems to be a paradox at work here...
So Greta, if you call Ms. Mallick a pig, isn't that worthy of your own outrage towards yourself???

[Loki1967]

pretty funny anyone on Fox News using the pig reference since they all wear kipstick...even the men.....and it does change the fact that they are all pigs including rupieboy murdoch

[grantlingel]

haha... it is true! she shouldn't get in trouble for speaking her opinion.. especially when it is so close to the truth.
http://grantlingel.blogspot.com

[Marlyn]

Republican men do have a taste for porn. A favorite theme is the librarian with glasses, who underneath it all, is a sexual hot pot.

[bored2tears]

There's nothing like calling someone a pig when decrying her "vicious" comments about someone else.

The next time she goes in for more cosmetic surgery, Van Susteren should also get an irony implant.

[respectingothers]

ps hey she could do a visual satire on sarah palin just like Tina Fey!

[respectingothers]

republican administrations have been responsible for changing education toward the dumbing down of America. there is much written on this. repubs that make it into office don't want americans to be able to think for themselves

[Marlyn]

SO TRUE!

[moreupnorth]

I wonder the total number of American Republicans who had a hand in those 300 complaints. Since you are always sticking your stinking noses in someone elses business for your own benefit, this comes as no suprise. "Your either with us or against us." comes to mind here. Who cares what some Canadian Journalist wrote about Piglin. Take your lipstick and go home. It's bad enough you run a state bordering our country!

And to Greta I guess it is OK to call a Canadian a PIG but not for a Canadian to observe an American who looks a little pornish! Don't make me send my porn collection to you to prove the point! By the way where is the Porn capital of the world?

Oh and let me guess some big feeling Republican is now gonna come out and call me a terrorist and call for me to be killed. Seems to be the theme of the Republican party!

[postman606]

San Fernando Valley, hands down.