Wolf Trap: Sexism Looks the Same From the Left and the Right
After voting in Alaska’s Republican Primary on Tuesday night former Governor Sarah Palin was asked by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer about the ongoing the Rush Limbaugh/Sandra Fluke controversy:
The wording of the queston is a little strange. Because of the satellite delay Wolf Blitzer had to ask his reporter on the ground to convey his question to Palin in a game of “telephone.” As you can see from the transcript, the relay of Wolf’s question gets a little garbled.
Wolf Blitzer: Quick question for her, I’m curious how she’s been reacting to this whole Rush Limbaugh controversy with this Georgetown University law student because there was some vile words that were uttered by some liberal democrats as far as Sarah Palin was concerned. And I wonder if she wants to weigh in on this controversy?
(delay)
Reporter to Sarah Palin: Wolf wants to know if you want to weigh in on this controversy: he says some vile words were thrown around, some of them directed toward you. After the controversy involving Rush Limbaugh, contraception and the Georgetown student. Your reaction to some of those words that were used?
You can watch the question below, it starts around the 3:00 minute mark.
You’re missing the point, Wolf. The “who was sexist first” distracts from the real pressing issue here, the Why. We all know that sexist and misogynistic comments have been made from both sides in the past. That is not a free pass for people like Rush Limbaugh to call Sandra Fluke a “slut” and “prostitute” or that she should “make a sex tape,” because she was going to testify in front of a Congressional Committee. Wolf we know you didn’t go to the “since they did it, I can do it” six year olds’ logic school of journalism.
Unfortunately misogyny and racism are often not confined to people from one political persuasion. The Name It. Change It. project has gone after commentators like Ed Shultz, Chris Mathews, and Bill Maher and others for slurs against Sarah Palin, Christine O’Donnell, Michele Bachman as well as those that have been hurled against Democratic women.
The Rush Limbaugh controversy is not about Republican or Democrat, it’s not a 1st Amendment issue as Palin said in standing behind Limbaugh’s comments. It’s about changing the landscape where women in government or in any other public sphere can have a say, can have an opinion and not be called a “slut” or “bitch.” When the media talks about politics it must take women seriously. This can only happen when women aren’t put down with dehumanizing, marginalizing terms.
Published by Kate McCarthy on 03/07/2012