Anderson Cooper: 'Why Does Alec Baldwin Get a Pass When He Uses Gay Slurs?'

Alec Baldwin's recent Twitter rant/meltdown (which included the former 30 ROCK star calling Daily Mail reporter George Stark a "toxic little queen"), has caused Anderson Cooper to pose an interesting - and necessary - question.

The CNN anchor posted: @andersoncooper: "Why does #AlecBaldwin get a pass when he uses gay slurs? If a conservative talked of beating up a "queen" they would be vilified."

The actor's anger was a result of Stark's accusation that Baldwin's wife, Hilaria, was constantly tweeting during James Gandolfini's funeral.

Suddenly, the Words With Friends fiasco doesn't seem so bad.

Baldwin is an outspoken liberal who once expressed interest in running for Mayor of New York City. However, the majority of New Yorkers weren't so hot on that idea.

Regardless of a potential double standard here, Baldwin has since recanted, issuing an apology to GLAAD:

"My ill-advised attack on George Stark of the Daily Mail had absolutely nothing to do with issues of anyone's sexual orientation. My anger was directed at Mr. Stark for blatantly lying and disseminating libelous information about my wife and her conduct at our friend's funeral service. As someone who fights against homophobia, I apologize.

I have worked, periodically, with numerous marriage equality organizations, especially over the past couple of years, to achieve the very rights that gay couples are earning by recent court decisions. I would not advocate violence against someone for being gay and I hope that my friends at GLAAD and the gay community understand that my attack on Mr. Stark in no way was the result of homophobia.

Many Thanks, Alec Baldwin."

What do you think? Is there a double-talk standard with liberal members of the media, versus conservative?

For the record, here's a screenshot capturing Baldwin's (very angry) Twitter rant (via Huffington Post):

Top Photo by Walter McBride