President Barack Obama has apologised to the California attorney general for remarking on her appearance at a fundraising event on Thursday.
Mr Obama described Kamala Harris, a long-time friend, as "the best-looking attorney general in the country".
Ms Harris's spokesman said she strongly supported Mr Obama but would not say whether she had accepted his apology.
Critics have cited the remark as an example of the ongoing hurdles women face in the workplace.
~ BBC News
For those who don't see the problem here, the degree to which women are judged by their appearance remains an important hurdle to gender equality in the workforce. Women have a hard time being judged purely on their merits. Discussing their appearance in the context of evaluating their job performance makes it worse.
It's not a compliment.
~ Jonathan Chait on New York Mag
Usually, when Obama says a high-ranking government official is "good-looking," he's referring to a man.
Introducing HUD secretary Shaun Donovan last February, Obama declared, "There he is, the good-looking guy in the front here."
At a speech last March, Obama pointed out his secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, by calling him "a good-looking guy.”
A couple of months ago, Obama gave a shout-out to the "outstanding Secretary of the Navy," Ray Mabus. "There he is right there — the good-looking guy over at the end."
~ Dan Amira on New York Mag
Obama commented on Kamala Harris' looks. Commence Twitter freakout lady-splaining why this is way worse than the Holocaust. #slownewsday
— TBogg (@tbogg) April 4, 2013
Why aren't we mad when Obama calls men attractive? nymag.com/daily/intellig… #inners
— James Carter (@JECarter4) April 6, 2013
Now the LWNJ's are at it ---> What if Obama complimented AG Harris to troll the media & distract from chained CPI? - demu.gr/1251298281
— Stacey Brunt (@bruntofitall) April 8, 2013
Women furious President called Kamala Harris best looking AG in country. Would it have been better if he called her worst looking?
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) April 8, 2013
"What would have been better"@bettemidler is if Obama just said Kamala Harris was good AG instead of reducing her to "eye candy."
— Crystal Wright (@GOPBlackChick) April 8, 2013
The President of the United States has apologised to a woman for saying she's 'good-looking.' The PC world's officially gone mad. #kamala
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 5, 2013
That's...unsettling. RT @postpolitics: Obama calls Kamala Harris 'the best looking attorney general' wapo.st/YyPlg6
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) April 4, 2013
Note - Pres #Obama did NOT call #Kamala #Harris the most #capable or most #honest Att Gen. @kamalaharris is a corporate sellout politician
— Jerry Gahan (@jerryg125) April 8, 2013
Since Obama has no REAL scandals the Media and GOP have to invent some #Bengazi #Kamala #Beyonce
— amaka (@onlyamaka) April 7, 2013
Nutty that such a non-event, non-gaffe, harmless/inoffensive-to-normal-people thing asObama's playful Harris comment gets ink days later.
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) April 8, 2013
Rob Lowe says criticizing Obama for Kamala Harris compliments is victory for "P.C. Police": slate.me/Zk2Umb
— Slate (@Slate) April 7, 2013
#Fallon: #Obama says comments to Harris were a joke. Michelle's joke: what's black and white and sleeps on the couch usat.ly/XyZFX3
— USA TODAY Opinion (@USATOpinion) April 8, 2013
GOP's best friend?Fauxgressives who are still focused on Obama's "attractive" comment. Apparently more important than guns, NK, etc.
— john miller (@deaconmill) April 8, 2013
When liberals ask why, despite being a majority now, we lose every political fight - 5 days of "sexist Obama" BS scandal is the answer.
— BWD (@theonlyadult) April 8, 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment