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Can the Catty Remarks on Clinton's Weight

Focus on appearance is dragging down both politics and journalism

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 1, 2009 8:31 AM CDT

(Newser) – Remarks like Tina Brown's recent crack on MSNBC that Hillary Clinton "needs to get back in the gym," are dragging public debate down to a high-school level, Chloe Angyal writes at SpliceToday. Nobody's looking too hard at the waistline of male politicians or diplomats, Angyal notes, but journalists—especially female ones—can't resist bitchy attacks on women's bodies and clothes.

The crack put Brown on the level of conservative radio host Laura Ingraham, who pegged Meghan McCain as "a failed plus-size model, too fat to be taken seriously as a GOP thought leader." Such attacks lay bare a "cultural discomfort" with women in power, Angyal writes, and perpetuate the myth that one needs to be beautiful to be heard. America needs to decide if it will let female politicians make a contribution, or continue to "waste time, and talent, chatting about lipstick, hairstyles, shorts, and pantsuits."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at the Department of State last month.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at the Department of State last month.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Meghan McCain  was  likened  to a failed plus-size model by  conservative radio host Laura Ingraham earlier this year.
Meghan McCain was likened to "a failed plus-size model" by conservative radio host Laura Ingraham earlier this year.   (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at the Department of State last month.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at the Department of State last month.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
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America has a widespread cultural discomfort with women in positions of power. Sexist remarks about Clinton's appearance and demeanor...were infuriatingly frequent during last year's primaries. - Chloe Angyal

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 23 comments
riffran
Sep 4, 2009 11:09 AM CDT
beep beep beep beep ...LOOK OUT SHE'S BACKING UP!
riffran
Sep 2, 2009 6:06 AM CDT
hilary hilary hilary,,hillarhoid, hitlery..all the same
Shannonals
Sep 2, 2009 3:46 AM CDT
The media most have nothing to report on if they are weasting time talking about Clintons weight

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