UPDATED
ST. PAUL - Carly Fiorina and other women supporters of Sen. John McCain blasted “the media” for what they called sexist coverage of vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, and denied that the Republican party had inflicted its own sexist attacks on Hillary Clinton.
“The Republican Party will not stand by while Sarah Palin is subjected to sexist attacks,” Fiorina said.
She singled out a column by The New York Times’s Maureen Dowd that referred to Republicans’ “tradition of nominating fun, bantamweight cheerleaders from the West” as a glaring example of gender stereotyping.
When asked what was sexist about examining Palin’s experience or judgment, Fiorina said she objected to the media “trying to portray her as a show horse, not a work horse.”
She also denied that Hillary Clinton had been subjected to sexist attacks by Republicans, drawing a few sarcastic chuckles from the audience.
Fiorina said she had stepped up to defend Clinton by going on television to express her outrage over sexism.
Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn thought the media was to blame for Republicans not doing more to support Clinton, arguing that, “Had we been more vocal, you all would have chosen not to report it.”
UPDATE:
However, not everyone in the McCain camp appeared to be on the same page. When asked on Fox News whether there was any sexism in the reaction to Palin, Meg Whitman, McCain’s national campaign co-chair, said, “I wouldn’t say there really has.”
“I actually think it’s completely fair for the media to vet Sarah Palin, just as they did Barack Obama, and John McCain and everyone else who’s running for office,” she said. “I mean you are running for the second highest office in the land.”
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- Photo credit: REUTERS/Rick Wilking. Carly Fiorina speaks at a press briefing at the Republican National Convention, Sept. 3, 2008.
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Carly always did do her best work with a shovel. When things went wrong at HP it was always someone else’s fault.
Glad to see she hasn’t lost her touch.
- Posted by Doug ChanceWomen in politics are submitted to the most abusive double standard by the media. This is not new news to anyone.
The first step to recovery is to admit that you have a problem. So, dear media, from Kos to US to the Washington Post: Get over the denial, fess up, and get some help.
- Posted by newton31It was pretty clear to both sides Palin was chose, in part, to draw disgruntled Hillary Democrats to the GOP.
Let’s be honest…McCain overlooked many, more qualified candidates that happened to be male and chose Palin.
Palin stood up and said she was ready to shatter the glass ceiling “for women”!
That is sexism.
- Posted by William Mtypical republicans-
- Posted by oscar texpressing ‘outrage’ over something that is not happening, so the issues aren’t discussed.
It’s fun playing the gender card against you people. You don’t belong in the USA anyway. I here Putin is looking for a few socialist reporters to replace the ones he had shot. If palin were a commy dem you socialist would be pushing here the way you push the “O’messiah”
This is fun to watch. When Sarah Palin gets done with you lefties you’ll know first hand what a good old fashion ass kickin really feels like.
I’d buy tickets to that for sure!
- Posted by chanceFiorna - we have rights to question who we elect to office. Ordinary people like myself cannot ask questions to the candidates directly so the media is our voices. Get of this crap and stop trying to use sexism because it would not work. The media is doing a fantastic job of informing the public of the answers to questions we cannot ask of the candidates.
To the media - please continue with what you are doing and don’t stop because of the GOP’s fear mongering. McSame know he picked the wrong person in Palin so why don’t you just admit to it and cut the crap. The American people are too smart for your BS.
- Posted by ob08It would be interesting to hear what the republicans are saying to themselves when they are not being quoted.
- Posted by RobertThe Republican party would like nothing better than not admitting any press while Sarah Palin makes her official debut tonight. (Freedom of the press? They hate the media.) Maureen Dowd tells it like it is, which is why she’s still persona non grata with the Bushes.
And if Carly Fiorina thinks Sarah Palin is as capable as she, Hewlett-Packard must have been paying Carly too much.
Maureen Dowd tells it like it is, which is why she’s still persona non grata with the Bushes.
- Posted by Elinor LynchThis role reversal - Republicans expressing outrage against viral anti-Republican websites - is quite entertaining. Apparently those protesting have not read their own websites which continue to pour out vile accusations against Obama and company - his terrorist ties, his education in Islamic extremism, blah, blah, blah.
How does it feel getting a taste of your own slanderous medicine? Only a taste as what the Daily Kos is dishing out isn’t even close to what conservative hate sites have been dishing out for years . . .
- Posted by Jim BrinkmeyerI believe that most voters (and I do mean most) are intelligent, informed and honest people. When they compare the direction these 2 candidates focus on in their debates, speeches and statements of policy they will bring to a new administration, it is quite evident who is the right candidate for the position.
When watching the 2 of them for signs of prudent, decisive actions within their canmpaigns, I noticed that Obama tends to respond to McCain’s remarks in a susinct, straight forward manner. McCain on the otherhand, tends towards more of an attack mode.
Issues are the main focus of this election year. How can we not believe that.
Choreographing this latest media release by the McCain campaign, shows us how desperate they are in getting votes from the Pro-Hillary women. In my opinion, these women had passion and a firm belief in their candidate. They had a right to be angry when their candidate lost. The conviction they had can not be ignored. If Hillary were to reappear on the presidential election stage in 4 years, they may very well be a movement to carry her through to the presidency.
Don’t believe for a moment that these intelligent woman are so blind that they don’t understand what the McCain campaign is trying to do here. They believe in the issues that Hillary espoused and are not going to insult Hillary by allowing McCain to ‘use’ them in attaining his agenda.
McCain wanted ‘Joe” and he couldn’t get him. So what does he do? Well, he is desperate and knows that he needs the vote of the ‘PUMA’s’ and other supporters of Hillary. His campaign advisors formulate a plan at the last minute (and I do mean the last minute - vetting in one day?) and decide to pick a woman for a running mate. I would be appalled if I were a Hillary supporter. To consider them ( Hillary supporters) to be ’stupid’ enough to fall for this and insult their candidate with such a ploy is unimaginable! McCain’s blunder, was in not taking the time early on to vet her properly. Yes, they didn’t think that Palin’s family issues would affect their campaign, because they knew that Obama couldn’t go after her. And let’s be honest here folks, Obama is a family man and declaring that ‘Family is out-of-bounds’ was an honest feeling on his part. Although, I do believe that Biden will go after her on a number of issues, he certainly will not go after her family (he too is a family man). But, you will see this as the campaign moves on.
In closing I will say: I am a veteran (62 years young) and would have supported McCain, but I am also an American with ‘family values’ that I will not give up for the sake of seeing someone violate those values in using another family with values, to achieve his personal agenda. So much for McCain’s view on ‘policies’. I have decided over this past weekend to support Obama. I thank the dear Lord for letting me see the truth. God bless all Americans and may he giude your concience in this election year.
- Posted by germanguyI resent this profoundly. Where does Fiorina get off? A democracy depends mightily on a free press, and ours is doing its job. Thanks to the press, we have learned that Palin slashed funding for teen mothers in her state, aggressively pursued pork barrel projects and has an abysmal record protecting the environment. She has advocated teaching creationism in public schools, and she has never been out of this country. We have the right to know those things. Perhaps Fiorina would prefer life in China, where neither independent press coverage or dissent is tolerated?
- Posted by Rebecca RLBelittle?
The GOP put her on the ticket to play the gender card in their quest for the symbolic appeal. Palin is a lightweight — in fact, just another business-as-usual corrupt Republican. McCain (aka the Hanoi Songbird)is demented and Palin is just trailer trash.
Who wants this dynamic duo to do anything but go home?
Wendy
- Posted by wendy taoIt’s an interesting position to have women suggest that moms and dads are interchangeable. The truth is, in most divorces, mom gets primary custody - even when she is working full-time. This is because our society and courts support the idea that a mom is more equipped to nurture and rear the children than a dad.
If Palin succeeds in becoming our first female Vice President, this could send a message that says “moms and dads are truly equal when it comes to raising our children, and finally begin to put cracks in that Glass Ceiling that says “divorcing fathers should just get weekends.”
- Posted by Shelly GatesI was ahillary supporter, but i will be backing Mcain and Palin. I do not like the dirty way the media is doing palin because she is a women. Some people need to get some class! It is dirty to attack a women through her children! Mcain has my vote and i was a democrat! Tracie Gibbie
- Posted by Tracie GibbieWow, all of a sudden the Republicans are femnists! What a magical transformation! And in only a week’s time!
And the Rove playbook is back in use.
Imagine the audacity of the press to vigorously investigate Palin, who may stand a breath away from the most powerful office in the land—next to her 70+ year old partner who has had cancer, oh, like FIVE times.
Last time the Rove style pushback intimidated the press, we got into a lovely war when the media failed to do a tough investigative job.
Grow some rocks, Rebublicans. You are embarrassing. I thought you guys and gals were the “tough” ones.
- Posted by tdub–Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn thought the media was to blame for Republicans not doing more to support Clinton, arguing that, “Had we been more vocal, you all would have chosen not to report it.”–
Oh, THAT’S why Republicans didn’t rush to Hillary’s defense against sexist Fox News coverage. Of course, of course…how could I not have seen that myself?
- Posted by LouCan’t believe they keep trotting out that failure, Carly Fiorina. If McCain somehow wins, she and Phil Gramm will finish off the US economy in no time.
Don’t buy this “sexism” stuff, its just the latest spin from the Repubs to stifle any criticism of the far-right looney they selected for a VP.
- Posted by MichaelPointing out that a person is vastly under-qualified to be the vice president of the united states is now greeted as sexism?
Wonderful.
Facts:
Sarah Palin won second place in Miss Alaska.
She has only an undergraduate degree in sports journalism from the University of Idaho
She was a mayor of a town of 6000 that nearly recalled her from the position.
She has been governor for less than two years of the second-smallest state in the nation.
This is not sexism… it’s reality.
- Posted by ericI can only imagine what would the Dobson’s and Robertson’s of the world would say if it were Barack’s daughter!! Republican party has a set of separate laws from themselves - corruption is OK as long as it only
- Posted by Guy From LAbenefits other Republicans, ear-marks are OK if only it goes to Red States and Red Constituencies, blasphemy and satanic acts are OK if only done by republicans and their children. The people who support Republicans needs to think one more time what they are supporting and where their contributiosn are going.
Someone needs to pull the plug on such hate-mongerering sites as HuffPo and The Daily Kos. The level of malevolence there is frightening and those who support them should be ashamed. Don’t be surprised if the MSM experiences a backlash from many honorable Americans on this issue; I am more committed than ever to seeing John McCain and Sarah Palin elected. Our country’s future is at stake in more ways than one.
- Posted by RR/FL