Obama Comment Sexist? I Call It a Compliment
Harris is a beautiful woman. She’s also super intelligent and accomplished, which the president also noted. In fact, he lauded her professional merits first. So, I say take the compliment and move on. Or, if you’re slightly embarrassed by the comment, give it back and move on.
President Obama’s observation is not a major offense to women around the globe. Ridiculous flaps such as this one have always made me uncomfortable with calling myself a feminist, especially if that means I have to fly into a fit each time a man makes an awkward comment about a woman.
These were the president’s exact words, according to a White House transcript from the fundraiser:
“You have to be careful to, first of all, say she is brilliant and she is dedicated and she is tough, and she is exactly what you’d want in anybody who is administering the law, and making sure that everybody is getting a fair shake. She also happens to be by far the best-looking attorney general in the country — Kamala Harris is here. (Applause.) It’s true. Come on. (Laughter.) And she is a great friend and has just been a great supporter for many, many years.”
Clearly, the president realized in hindsight that his comment didn’t go over very well, and he has apologized. But I don’t believe an apology was necessary.
More: Opinion: Obama Comment Sexist? I Call It a Compliment
Funny how we have a successful professional woman making a very astute observation about a non-issue while Ruben Navarrette Jr thinks the President was sexist. Even calling the completely accurate comments by the NOW reps an “overreaction”
So, when a reporter for the Fresno Bee asked Patty Bellasalma, president of the California chapter of National Organization for Women, about the president’s comments, she couldn’t hide her disgust.
Not for the president. But for the reporter.
“I wish (this call) was about something substantive,” Bellasalma told the journalist. “I think that is my reaction, is that that seems to be the only time that the California National Organization for Women gets called isn’t when full-scope pregnancy coverage is being cut from the budget or something other that’s going to impact women in a detrimental way right here in this city in the state government. But we worry about whether the president thinks Kamala Harris is pretty. I guess my comment is no comment, because we’re too busy trying to protect women and girls.”
Oh, brother. Talk about an overreaction.
You are the one participating in the overreaction and fake outrage.
There is only one reason the president is skating on these remarks. It’s because the people who normally complain about this stuff — the folks who make up the grievance lobby — are among his strongest supporters.
This is an example of selective outrage and double standards. That part of the story isn’t pretty.
Yes your article is an example of “selective outrage” and the ONLY reason the President is “skating” on these remarks is because he didn’t do anything wrong. Listen to the women.