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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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 OPINION 
9

Conservative Catfight Knocks Women Down

GOP female pundits attempt fight over party's future, end up in degrading spectacle

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(Newser) – Female Republican pundits squabble over the future of their party and it descends into a snarkfest over age and weight? "You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding," writes Dahlia Lithwick in Slate. Meghan McCain and Laura Ingraham's catfight is the reason why men don't see women as serious political thinkers. "Until we remember to and speak as though what we have to say matters to men as well as to the viewers of America's Next Top Model, we'll never be taken seriously."

Can you see Rush Limbaugh on The View, she continues, "surrounded by four supportive men, lamenting that men should help one another out more and that weight is the 'last socially accepted prejudice' in America?" Political fights should be political, writes Lithwick, and "here's a useful litmus test: As long as the media continue to cover women's political differences in their 'Health' sections, we are probably doing something wrong."

In this Nov. 17, 2005 file photo, conservative political commentator Ann Coulter is seen in Tyler, Texas.
In this Nov. 17, 2005 file photo, conservative political commentator Ann Coulter is seen in Tyler, Texas.   (AP Photo/Dr. Scott M. Lieberman, file)
Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham poses on the red carpet upon arrival at a salute to FOX News Channel's Brit Hume on January 8, 2009 in Washington, DC.
Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham poses on the red carpet upon arrival at a salute to FOX News Channel's Brit Hume on January 8, 2009 in Washington, DC.   (Getty Images)
Megan McCain, left, daughter of Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens to her father's speech in Stratham, N.H. Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007.
Megan McCain, left, daughter of Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens to her father's speech in Stratham, N.H. Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007.   (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter)
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It's one thing to air your dirty laundry. But are we really stupid enough to be having a front-page battle over a plus-size thong? - Dahlia Lithwick

Can you imagine the Y-chromosome version of Meghan McCain's recent appearance on The View? With Rush Limbaugh sitting at a round table surrounded by four supportive men? - Dahlia Lithwick

McCain's problem isn't her weight, or her views , or even the fact that she doesn't know a lot . It's that she suddenly holds a rather enormous megaphone without understanding that the person most likely to be smacked on the head with it is herself. - Dahlia Lithwick

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9 comments
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anchower
Mar 18, 09 2:06 PM CDT
If women "pundits" were more like Lithwick and less like Coulter--i.e., intelligent--we wouldn't have this problem. And who says Limbaugh doesn't get ripped for hugeness? Reply
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woody66
Mar 18, 09 2:48 PM CDT
You have to remember that Coulter and Ingraham have something to gain by generating notoriety and headlines. Thus the name calling and sloganisms. A page from the "be controversial" playbooks of Rush, Hannity etc etc etc. We're suckers for this crap.McCain on the other hand is clearly just speaking her mind. ........also on the Rush side of things.........Limbaugh = huge body, huge mouth, huge ego, even huger bank account. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Rob
Mar 19, 09 7:34 AM CDT
Yes, the same strategy as democratic high brows like Al Franken, Rachel Maddow and Steve Olbermann use. Shrieking accusations is a tried and true strategy employed across the political spectrum. Don't get fooled again.
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AnnieChrist
Mar 18, 09 3:07 PM CDT
If a female had delivered the Gettysburg address or if "Patricia" Henry had spoken instead of Patrick Henry, they would not even constitute a footnote to American history. Instead we would have only the accounts of what they were wearing, how much weight they had gained or some other useless inane fact to remember these historic events. Even Lithwick is contributing to this sexist mindset in her article, describing the females' disagreement as a 'cat fight.' When have two males' disagreement been described thusly? The press are the perpetrators here and until Hillary Clinton and other prominent females start calling them out for it, it will continue. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
bacimom
Mar 18, 09 3:41 PM CDT
Actually the term cat is genrally the masculine just like a dog is masculine to the feminie bitch. The female feline is referred to as queen... which would leave a lot of people really confused if we started talking about "queen fights"
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