The White House just lost its chief media strategist and Fox News just lost its best P.R. tool. Anita Dunn, the outspoken and controversial communications aide to President Obama has announced today that she’ll be leaving her post; her deputy, Dan Pfeiffer is to replace her. Though Dunn’s title was communications director, at times, “Fox News Basher” seemed more appropriate as she seemingly and bizarrely began to publicly wage war on the network roughly a month ago.

Fox is "opinion journalism masquerading as news,” Dunn snapped, which ignited the jihad on Fox News’ journalism.

When asked further to elaborate, Dunn expanded:

A growing media bloodsport seems to be emerging: From Perez Hilton to Playboy’s “Conservative Women Hate List” to David Letterman’s lewd comments about Sarah Palin, it appears that attacking women – specifically conservative women – is not only all the rage, but oddly, acceptable.

I’m not talking about attacks from bottom feeder leftist blogs either. Notable mainstream brands like the Miss USA Organization, “The Late Show” and Playboy magazine have all lost their sense of humor and their sense of decency by allowing conservative women to become a punching bag — and a punch line — for the left. Forgoing all boundaries, a party that once used to claim to own the violence against women issue has embraced it and let their politics run them when it comes to the issue of misogyny.

On its face, this isn’t even a political issue. It’s a women’s issue –- a human issue that transcends politics. But why, when it comes to the most serious and sensitive attacks against women the National Organization for Women spokeswoman warrants a missing person’s report?

Carrie Prejean was called the most offensive four and five letter words by Miss USA judge Perez Hilton’s after she expressed her traditional views on gay marriage. Was he scolded by one of the organization’s owners, Donald Trump? Hardly. Trump actually expressed willingness to allow Hilton to judge at next year’s competition.

And that’s just the beginning. Playboy magazine published a vile, incendiary list of conservative women it would like to engage in hate sex with, and it was only after public outcry that it pulled the article. Its response was watered down, to say the least. Where was that writer’s editor? (And that editor’s mind, moreover?) It doesn’t take an expert to know that the first stage of violence is thinking about it, then expressing it, then actually doing it.

David Letterman made a disgusting joke about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s underage daughter and he didn’t stop there. He continued to make an off color joke about the Governor’s appearance making many want to invoke slaps but not against their knees.

Palin is apparently more popular than Letterman's pitiful, dysfunctional sense of humor. Thanks to growing pressure from viewers Letterman offered — not one — but two — mea culpas. But where was CBS from the start? It was only after the public got involved that the comedian began to react with some seeming sincerity.

But was it even sincere at all? It shouldn't have taken him two times to get it right and both aplogies were laden with excuses (something my mother always says "negates the apology in the first place"). Note the excuse: he meant to insult her older daughter. Frankly it's too late and the impetus wasn't guilt, it was the impending ratings dive and protests as a result of outraged females. In other words: money.

For the record, Palin should never appear on his show. Protests calling for his resignation should continue with a larger message to the general population and television executives everywhere: distasteful behavior against females of any age will not be tolerated.

The United States, a champion for women’s rights throughout the world, will have a tough time wagging it’s finger at countries that are less than progressive in their attitudes toward women and crimes against women all over the world when we tolerate hate speak at the expense of the American female, for a few laughs or fame, no less.

The First Amendment protects free speech but there is no reason that we, as citizens and consumers, should buy it. When it comes to those who want to disrespect any woman, we can take it to their bottom line and not only speak out, but also boycott their business.

Violence against women is wrong, no matter what party affiliation, not to mention it’s just not funny. The more acceptable it becomes to express violent, crass language against women in the public arena the more you can expect our country to fray at the seams.

We expect this from gossip magazines like Star, OK! and In Touch.  Newsweek is supposed to be an unbiased, substantive weekly, not some fly by night publication that can afford to appear unprofessional. It is expected to have standards (except when it comes to conservative, backwater female politicians, apparently) and a competent photography department  It's incredible how this photo editor didn't have time to make Governor Palin look her best but manages to make Barack Obama look like a statuesque, presidential image of perfection just about every other week. Mindboggling.

The most offensive: the picture is coupled with a headline that reads "She's One of the Folks (And that's the Problem)".

Problem? That's her strength. Last time I checked Newsweek wouldn't survive without all the "folks" that subscribe to their magazine. In point of fact, these same "folks" makeup a majority in the United States. Unlike movie stars and liberal media types regular "folks" have other concerns besides tweezing, waxing, moisturizing, exfoliating, detoxifying and pore tightening. We're busy.

This cover displays how insular and divorced from reality big city, liberal media types are, and the power and populism of Palin. The only argument the left can muster is essentially "she's not one of us." Damn right she's not. Liberals, if you want to have this culture fight I say bring it on.

Palin's got an election to win, a jam packed campaign schedule, a state to run, and five children. She's not perfect. She's real. That's why "folks" love her. She deserves the same treatment as other candidates: a fair shake and a flattering cover shot.

Attention media: the only mustache that deserves to be on a magazine cover is Geraldo's.

Guess what they found?! (Besides an opening for a lawsuit.)

-Her husband's legitimate email! Imagine that!

-Correspondence from a known associate of Palin's from Wasilla who "might" have the governor's personal email. Groundbreaking! (Just think, a friend of Palin's might have her personal email). Someone call Dick Wolf. This has Law and Order written all over it.

-The most stunning: pictures of her children! Gasp!

Gawker followed these jaw dropping revelations with an ironic, and moronic, headline: "Palin Emails Reveal Press Hate." Gee, I wonder why.

The media has called Sarah Palin names, ridiculed her children, crucified her for her conservative beliefs and questioned her personal choices, ability to govern and adeptness at mothering. Now they've broken the law and invaded her personal privacy. Spiro Agnew wasn't even treated this badly.

What do Democrats have to say about this? Not a peep. But they'll raise hell about protecting the privacy of suspected terrorists when an illegal wiretapping bill hits the Senate floor. If Obama was smart he'd condemn this behavior. It'd be advantageous for Democrats to do the same thing. But they haven't. And they won't.

Anyone who tries to debunk the fact that Palin isn't under attack or defend the media's behavior is delusional or just plain lying. The more the press tries to disgrace her, the more they affirm the suspicion that she is deeply threatening to anyone favoring Barack Obama. It's vile, it's out of hand, and it must stop.