Admittedly, tho, having the n-word in my LJ makes me flinch, no matter the context.

Originally linked by the always awesome eh_notsomuch, John Scalzi has a great article about FNC's "baby mama" graphic: Fox News Would Like To Take a Moment To Remind You That the Obamas Are As Black As Satan's Festering, Baby-Eating Soul.

Highlights:

So it’s basically fine for Fox News to use “Baby Mama” for Michelle Obama, slang that implies a married 44-year-old Princeton-educated lawyer is, to use an Urban Dictionary definition of the term, “some chick you knocked up on accident during a fling who you can’t stand but you have to tolerate cuz she got your baby now.” Because the Obamas are black! And the blacks, they’re all relaxed about that shit, yo. Word up.
[...]
But wait! Malkin also points to someone in her comment thread saying that one time, Michelle Obama actually used the phrase “baby daddy”! No apostrophe! It’s in a comment thread, so it must be true. Therefore, Michelle Obama apocryphally using a piece of urban slang makes it perfectly okay for Fox News to use an entirely different piece of urban slang. And that’s why, you see, it won’t be a problem for Bill O’Reilly to refer to Barack Obama as “my nigga” on the next O’Reilly Factor.
[...]
Here’s a quick test on whether Obama should be considered fully black: Poof! Barack Obama has been magically transported to a KKK meeting in deepest, whitest Klanistan without his Secret Service detail. There’s a rope and a tree nearby. What happens to Obama? If you say, “why, Barack Obama walks out of there alive, of course” then sure, he’s biracial. Also, you’re a fucking idiot.

Go read the article. It is very, very good.

-Luce

I miss Tim.

WHAT?

Is this a joke? It has to be. He can't be.

ETA: MSNBC is reporting on it and I'm actually tearing up. I just SAW him on the telly the other day.

He's Tim Russert. He was there since I was a child. He's supposed to be a constant.

I'm really choked up right now. I never particularly liked him, but he was undeniably great.

And the MSNC people are getting emotional and I'm getting emotional and this is crazy. I'm a political person. He is a part of that.

I dunno what else to say.

ETA2: Chuck Todd and Keith are breaking my heart over and over again. They need poker faces. And to not tell these wonderful stories. I never knew what a generous man he was. Jesus.