Media Hall of Shame.

by canadian gal, Thu Jun 19, 2008 at 10:55:19 PM EST

Cross-posted at Kickin' it with CG

Hillary Clinton may have furthered the discussion of sexism in her concession speech when she stated that women deserve equal respect, along with equal pay, and that "there are no acceptable prejudices in the 21st century in our country."

She was referring in part to what emerged as conventional wisdom by many during the democratic primary campaign that sexism is still tolerated in America.  Chiming in (albeit ill timed) on this topic was DNC chairman Howard Dean, who is among those calling for a "national discussion" of sexism.  

Echoing those sentiments, NOW and Emily's List are generating e-mail campaigns to the cable channels when they see sexism.  "We're certainly not going to take this lying down," said Ellen Malcolm, the president of Emily's List. She said her hope was for a national discussion to focus on "what is fair in the new political world of Internet, cable and traditional news coverage.'

Also created was an online project which it points to examples of sexist language titled Media Hall of Shame, NOW's president, Kim Gandy, said her members need to remain alert, "We're going to keep watching because we think Michelle Obama will be the recipient of the same kind of attacks that Hillary was."

Ya think?




Tags: clinton, media, bias, sexism, dean, michelle obama (all tags)

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remain alert. (2.00 / 12)


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Thu Jun 19, 2008 at 10:55:42 PM EST

Re: remain alert. (2.00 / 1)

I think everyone should look to Michelle Obama for leadership on this issue... and be just as alert and outspoken as she was in speaking out against the media bias against Senator Clinton.


by Xov Wonk on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 12:05:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

good point. (2.00 / 3)

and i think this is where we will see a lot of people in the blogosphere display the double-standards we have witnessed these past months.  but alas - i will continue to call out injustice where i see it.


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 12:11:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: good point. (2.00 / 1)

I applaud your efforts.

Michelle Obama? Not so much.


by Xov Wonk on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 12:51:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I am going to share my thoughts on something.... (2.00 / 4)

not to pass blame or be a troll.  But sexism is something that affects all of us, candidates, spouses and everyone who has ever experienced it in the workplace.

It was extremely offensive when Michelle was called a "baby-mama".  Obama supporters, and concerned citizens should rightfully be offended.  

However, some Obama supporters were complicit in condoning sexist attacks on Hillary.  And since the media, the campaigns, and many supporters were silent then,  it gave the media boys club a free pass to continue using sexism (now directed at Michelle) in the general election.  

Neither sexism nor racism should ever be tolerated or condoned, even if one loathes the candidate against whom it is directed.

I hope we all have learned important lessons from the exhausting primary process.


Hillary/Obama 2008
by Sandy1938 on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 01:24:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

well said! (2.00 / 1)

major mojos for you!


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 01:27:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

So the blame fo the sexism lies at the feet (none / 0)

of "some" Obama supporters?

And where does the blame for the racism lie?


by Neef on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 07:34:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Media Hall of Shame. (2.00 / 3)

They might as well induct Fox News right away.  No need to monitor that station 24/7.


by rfahey22 on Thu Jun 19, 2008 at 11:12:59 PM EST

I'm glad Faux is (2.00 / 3)

apologizing for calling her a "baby mama," but when will they apologize for calling her "another angry black woman"? Michelle will definitely be experiencing the same sort of sexist attacks Hillary faced -- it's already started. She's going to face an onslaught of racist and sexist rhetoric. We'll have our work cut out for us.

Media Hall of Shame is a must read, and I hope everyone else is checking in there regularly.

(Great diary, as usual, CG!)


Even John McCain lusts after teh engels.
by sricki on Thu Jun 19, 2008 at 11:13:48 PM EST

Thanks... (2.00 / 1)

..CG.


I can see Lake Erie from where I live, so can I please run the Navy?
by hootie4170 on Thu Jun 19, 2008 at 11:17:21 PM EST

Re: Media Hall of Shame. (2.00 / 2)

thats super cool. there was some lessons learned by all this primary war, im glad. through the e-mail campaign it will allow some power to be wielded.


by alyssa chaos on Thu Jun 19, 2008 at 11:38:21 PM EST

Re: Media Hall of Shame. (2.00 / 1)

This is awesome. Thanks for the diary and the links. Now let us put together a Hall of Shame on the hypocrites who were cheerleaders for the Irag war and are now sanctimoniously the biggest detractors of Bush and Iraq. I would love to see a page long bio piece on each piece of shit in the media. Yes, shame them into doing their fucking jobs.

Peace


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 12:37:08 AM EST

Re: Media Hall of Shame. (2.00 / 1)

There are very few that piss me off as much as the media.


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 12:39:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Media Hall of Shame. (none / 0)

then i think you'll like this.


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 12:47:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Media Hall of Shame. (2.00 / 1)

Thank-you for the link.I rec'd this when you posted it on mydd. It was an exceptionally good diary and am looking forward to checking out your site and rereading the article.


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 01:39:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Media Hall of Shame. (2.00 / 1)

Oops, double checked the diary and found I had neglected to rec. Now corrected.


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 01:47:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Media Hall of Shame. (1.50 / 2)

On top of your game CG.

Please, please, please write up a Michelle Obama diary. I would love to see you taking it to these media tools  as you did during the primary. I am much more vigilant about sexism and can't believe some of the obvious crap I didn't even notice before.  

Shameful, I know.

Better late than never though.

I have 2 questions that have been buggin me for some time now.

Is sweetie really that sexist? I just don't understand the outrage here. Why is it considered offensive?

Why was pulling back Hillary's chair so she could stand up (after one of the debates) sexist? Maybe it's a cultural thing but opening doors and not letting a woman walk on the gutter side of the street is still considered classy where I come from. I also stand up whenever a woman approaches the dinner table among other things.

I'm sorry if I offend anybody with these questions.


Mooseburgers? Careful Sarah. Moose bite back!
by spacemanspiff on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 12:58:45 AM EST

thanks for the kind words. (2.00 / 1)

to answer your questions, any i only speak for myself when i do.  i personally do not find either of the examples you provided sexist and share your opinions of there appropriateness.

now the likable enough, claws, periodically, etc are a different story - although not sexist, insensitive (kind of like the BC remarks in SC).


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 01:07:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: thanks for the kind words. (1.50 / 2)

Totally agree with the likable enough comment. It was a perfect comeback....on a blog. Not very presidential though. The claws remark I didn't approve of either. It's just that after this primary I'm so fucking confused. Is this racist? Is this sexist? Can I say this? Will this person get pissed if I make this joke?


Mooseburgers? Careful Sarah. Moose bite back!
by spacemanspiff on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 01:12:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: thanks for the kind words. (none / 0)

i know what you mean.  but its really all the media's fault.  they created this racially and (but in my personal opinion much more) sexist charged environment. i curse them!


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 01:21:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: thanks for the kind words. (1.66 / 3)

I totally agree with you. Media = Fail. heh!

During this primary, did you see at any moment a white person making a racist comment in front of a black person?  No.

During this primary, did you see at any moment a male making a sexist comment in front of a female?  All the time.

Chris Matthews alone was one pig wrecking crew.


Mooseburgers? Careful Sarah. Moose bite back!
by spacemanspiff on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 01:43:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: thanks for the kind words. (2.00 / 2)

and the thing that angers me the most about the media is after the fact they say,"Gee were we sexist, our bad, here see a clip of our greatest hits."


John McCain, supports 100 year of war, but not education
by desertlover on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 01:49:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Media Hall of Shame. (none / 0)

I think one of the most sexist comments of the entire campaign was when James Carville joked to Newsweek that if Hillary gave Obama "one of her cojones, they'd both have two." I guess if you're a strong woman you must have testicles, huh?


by jdusek on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 02:14:22 AM EST

Re: Media Hall of Shame. (1.00 / 1)

That was pretty bad. The whole "testicular fortitude" meme was very puzzling and sad. To this day I still don't know what the hell that was all about.


Mooseburgers? Careful Sarah. Moose bite back!
by spacemanspiff on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 02:24:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Media Hall of Shame. (none / 0)

I think it's indicative of selective outrage about sexism.

Carville says Clinton has man parts; Obama uses the word "periodically." Guess who gets labeled a misogynist?

Some woman at a McCain rally calls Hillary a bitch; Tina Fey goes on national TV and calls Hillary a bitch. Guess which one gets a pass?

It's obvious to most people that sexism played a role in this campaign, but the definition of sexism has been inconsistently applied.


by jdusek on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 02:47:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

hhmm.... (none / 0)

i didnt see anything wrong with the analogy personally - because it was meant - i think - to imply that she was ballsy.  and i do not think i have encountered a female that agrees with your take on it.


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 03:07:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: hhmm.... (none / 0)

It was definitely meant to imply that she is ballsy -- i.e., she's got balls.

Hillary is tough, women are not tough, therefore Hillary has balls. It's sexist by definition when applied to a woman.

But I don't know any females who were offended by it either, which is kind of my point. I thought it was one of the more blatantly sexist things that was said during this campaign, but people are more upset about the supposed subtext of "periodically" than they are about someone suggesting that it takes balls to run the country.


by jdusek on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 03:28:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

How would a man know (none / 0)

which one to decry? "testicular fortitude" was another...does a woman need balls to be strong?

It's crucial that you realize men do not have the intrinsic understanding of sexism that you do. It's second hand for us. We need guidance, and some clarity, if we're going to help.


by Neef on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 07:39:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Media Hall of Shame. (none / 0)

I am also puzzled by the whole testicular fortitude thing, I prefer to use other metaphors to describe her strength, and as there are many, it is easy to not invoke the image of Hill or any other woman with balls. However, Tina Fey reclaiming Bitch was an awesome moment. I can take that word back that has been intended to shame me into being nice. I guess I liken it to reclaiming dyke, or Native People or African Americans calling themselves a variety of otherwise repugnant names. In a way it is taking the power out of the name. I do become concerned though when this powerful reclamation ends and we are just calling ourselves degrading names.


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 12:00:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Media Hall of Shame. (2.00 / 1)

I'd participate in this, but that would mean I would actually have to watch the sh*t, which don't, and wouldn't be aware of to begin with, were it not for you vigilant ones.  Rec'd & tipped.  Keep it going.


by redwoodsummer on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 02:29:08 AM EST

I'm calling BS on any list that has the Olbermann (none / 0)

one...

That in NO WAY is sexist.  To be sexist you really need to take out the female, replace a males as the subject and it no longer make sense.  In no way is an analogy about basically having party big wigs put down a campaign that had lost sexist.  If the names were reversed it would have meant the same thing.  There was NOTHING implicitly sexist in the statement and anyone who says it is sexist is overreacting to criticism of THEIR CANDIDATE and not sexism.  

They should add themselves to the "Hall of Shame" for creating fake outrage over a statement that isn't sexist because they dislike the male host for criticizing a female candidate.


by tqdmcgee on Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 05:49:43 AM EST


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