Outraged Of The Day: "Pansy"

Gov. Mike Easley, known to Obama supporters now as "Hillary's top NC surrogate," used the word "pansy" this morning to favorably compare Hillary Clinton to Rocky Balboa. Eyebrows were raised; Clinton said nothing. The pansy, is, of course, a flower of exquisite delicateness, which is probably where the 19th century taunt originated. It's now seen as a slur, albeit a slur of a lesser register than others. Not the most comfortable choice of words, but was Easley really saying that Clinton made Balboa look like a gay person? Or just an effeminate weakling? Who wrote that line for him?