Guide to Sexist Attacks on Clinton
- Nov 25, 2016
- 3 min read
Below is a guide to sexist attacks on Hillary Clinton from the 2008 campaign, for a full comprehensive list click the below.
- Commentators Complain That She "Shouts," "Shrieks," "Screams." Media attacked Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for celebrating her victory in the Iowa Caucus, claiming her tone during her speech was "unpleasant," "angry, bitter, screaming," and suggested that Clinton "may be hard of hearing."
- In 2007, Glenn Beck called Hillary Clinton a "Sterotypical Bitch." The then-CNN Headline News host and ABC News commentator claimed Clinton could not "be elected president because ... there's something about her vocal range ... it's not what she says, it's how she says it." He added, "She is like the stereotypical -- excuse the expression, but this is the way to -- she's the stereotypical bitch, you know what I mean?" A year later Beck was confronted over his remarks on Good Morning America, where he said "I don't think I'd call her that. I hope I've never called her that. Saying, 'sounds like the stereotypical' -- probably a better word was 'nag.'"
-Sen. John McCain made a statement that said"How do we beat the bitch?" referring to Clinton.
-Village Voice Columnist Claimed "Whisper Campaigns" Alleged Clinton's Lesbianism. The Frisky documented the history of smears about Clinton's sexuality, noting that conservative author Ed Klein first popularized the idea that Clinton was a lesbian back in 2005. After Clinton declared her candidacy in 2007, Village Voice gossip columnist Michael Musto claimed "whisper campaigns" alleged Clinton was involved in a lesbian relationship with a top aide, Huma Abedin. Musto suggested, according to The Frisky, that "Clinton was trying to hide her lesbian lover 'in plain sight' by hiring her on staff."
-Fox Suggested Clinton Was Wearing Bright Colors To Solve Her "Likability Problem." During a May 2007 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume, chief political correspondent Carl Cameron claimed that Clinton had adopted an uncharacteristic wardrobe and sunny expression on the campaign trail in order to benefit politically, saying, "Wearing bright colors, smiling constantly, as if to deal with what polls say is a likability problem, she has surged 10 points since the Democratic debate." In fact, Clinton had worn bright-colored clothing and smiled in numerous prior appearances.
-Rush Limbaugh: "Will Americans Want To Watch A Woman Get Older Before Their Eyes On A Daily Basis?" On his radio show, Rush Limbaugh jumped off a picture of Clinton that had appeared on the Drudge Report with the caption, "The Toll of a Campaign" to claim that "Americans are addicted to physical perfection" and asked, "Will Americans want to watch a woman get older before their eyes on a daily basis? And that woman, by the way, is not going to want to look like she's getting older, because it will impact poll numbers. It will impact perceptions."
-NYT's Maureen Dowd Repeatedly Called Clinton "The Man," "The Manliest Candidate." A Media Mattersreview of Maureen Dowd's New York Times columns between January 1, 2007, and June 8, 2008, revealed that Dowd frequently characterized Clinton as masculine, while describing other Democratic candidates Barack Obama and John Edwards as feminine. Dowd called Clinton "The Man," described her political message as "man-tailored with a dash of pink femininity," claimed Clinton was "the manliest candidate among the Democrats," and called her a "debate dominatrix."
-Bloomberg Columnist Margaret Carlson: Clinton Is "Big Mama," A "Domineering Mother." Discussing a YouTube video which portrayed Clinton as a Big Brother-type figure, MSNBC host Chris Matthews asked his guests, "Is she Big Brother?" In response, Bloomberg columnist Margaret Carlson said on MSNBC that Clinton was "big mama" and likened Clinton to a "domineering mother." Host Chris Matthews, who had previously said Clinton had a "scolding manner in terms of her public speaking," added, "She's going to tell us what to do."
This list goes on and on and it all just proves that no matter what, women in politics, and in general, are judged much harsher on superficial things. They are called names, judged on their lack of make-up and even judged on wearing too much make-up and not looking natural enough. These women are ridiculed for their outfits, for the tone of their voice, for pretty much anything and everything that will in some way demean them and discredit them. This world is filled with harsh critics who will take superficial things and make them much more important than the cause that is actually going on. We, as humans, need to cut this out now.
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