Katie Couric's Notebook: Sexism And Politics

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

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Notebook: Campaign Sexism

Like her or not, one of the great lessons of Hillary Clinton's campaign is the continued—and accepted—sexism in American life...particularly in the media.

For my Notebook on sexism and the Clinton campaign, just click the monitor.

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by person3142 December 4, 2010 9:17 PM EST: The fact that Katie Couric should comment on sexism of any sort after suggestion to a guest she should castrate her boy friend boggles the mind.; Reply to this comment


by rafina-2009 June 15, 2008 12:03 AM EDT: OMG. I don''t know why I''ve been bothering to read CNN or MSNBC blogs. I am a lifetime democrat who is considering voting for John McCain. I totally agree with Ms. Couric''s commentary! Where was the outrage at all the sexism? MSNBC and CNN were extensions of Barak Obama''s campaign. Pundits then commented that they weren''t worried about women leaving the Democratic party because they had nowhere else to go because of the abortion issue. So, that''s what they think of us? Wow, I have been a fool.; Reply to this comment


by mkjs961 June 14, 2008 10:19 PM EDT: I feel the real sexism is our tax system and social security.They punish women for working outside the home what are we going to do about that. Do you know that when spouses die the women can''t draw both checks. Also this happens to the men. This is a form of equal economic sexism. They have to chose based on which one is higher theirs or the spouses. You don''t have a clue that women pay more in taxes then men. I guess N.O.W misse that one for years. Hillary Clinton was about the me generation it was nice to stand up to them for a change. She was losing and tried to plot and steal the election. Mr Obama played by the rules. Why don''t we focus on the real issues like how come the middle class don''t usdestand that rich people have multiple sources of income coming in and that they don''t limit themselves to one source. We should be talking about How middle class people shoud not be made to get by on employment income and just social security. Also we should be talking about how politcal correctness hurts our society and why the Me generation and radicals should do something about it. How about the couple that were being sued by walmart. Notice that the husband had to divorce his wife in order for her to receive more benifits from medicaid and medicare. Doesn''t this cocern you when famlies have to divorce in order to have assistance from the government and our local state agencies.; Reply to this comment


by peacepatti1 June 14, 2008 9:45 PM EDT: We used to watch either cable news or a certain network (not CBS) for the evening news. A few months ago, we stopped watching evening news altogether because we were so digusted with the shallow, unprofessional remarks we heard that were made about Senator Clinton.

"We" includes my husband and I. He is 69 years old and he recognizes sexist remarks. How is it that all of these young male commentators, vps and presidents of media companies don''t get it yet?

Katie, your remarks make so much sense. You have new viewers in our house. Thank you!; Reply to this comment


by rschleif June 14, 2008 9:23 PM EDT: The treatment of women in this country hasn''t improved since the 60''s. If anything, we protect the rights of girls and women more poorly now. The public dialogue has deteriorated and, as you point out, the same comments leveled at minorities of any sort would end with the clucking of tongues usually reserved for a "hate crime". As a female physician raised by a female physician, I have impressed upon my daughter that this is the way things are. We don''t have to accept it, but I''m not so optimistic that we will change it during my lifetime.; Reply to this comment


by jjgt1 June 14, 2008 8:56 PM EDT: This was a great commentary. It was directly on target about the status of women in the USA. I supported Hillary and will support Obama. Maybe if she had said "Not this time" as Obama said with regard to Rev. Wright things may have gone better, but she still has my respect and support. Maybe next time!; Reply to this comment


by alicerea1 June 14, 2008 4:35 PM EDT: continued part 3
Instead of apologizing Obama had regrets about having to distance himself from his church and his low life buddies and mentors, Reverend Wright and Father Pflaeger.

This is the first time in my life, along with my entire community, that I will be voting for a Republican or as an Independent.

Senator Clinton does not need Obama. Obama needs Clinton. I pray that she will not accept a VP role if he offered the position.

Obama is a complete embarrassment to this country as a potential candidate for the President of the United States.

I would hope that the DNC would wake up to the abuse that Senator Clinton endured from the media.

This has been an unfair primary and Clinton supporters and most of Americans are well aware of all of it.; Reply to this comment


by alicerea1 June 14, 2008 4:34 PM EDT: cont page 2
Cafferty files a segment of CNN went so far as to read a belittling question about Senator Clinton and then Jack Cafferty would cherry pick his blogs with vicious answers. This was done twice daily. The questions were sarcastic, rude and nasty most all of the time.

This coverage misrepresented Senator Clinton and undoubtedly swayed the public into a dislike of our former first lady. For CNN to state that they are %u201Cthe best political team on television%u201D only reinforced Mr. Cafferty%u2019s biased views of hatred towards Senator Clinton.

For the first in my life, I am completely embarrassed of our country%u2019s reporting tactics and the unfair judgment of the Democratic Party towards a woman, our First Lady.

I also cannot understand how Obama could not be embarrassed of himself.

How dare Senator Obama not apologize to Senator Clinton for the cruel remarks screamed in pews about whites, Senator Clinton and President Clinton.; Reply to this comment


by alicerea1 June 14, 2008 4:33 PM EDT: I am writing on behalf of my community to inform you of how angry we are about the primary process this year.

As a woman, a Democrat and a firm supporter of Democracy, this has been the worst media coverage of a primary election ever. Senator Clinton was mocked daily and the world watched.

I have never seen such poor and biased reporting by media in my entire life.. 20 million Clinton supporters have had it with the media and injustice of this whole primary nominating system. This was not reporting, it was %u201CClinton%u201D bashing. I felt like I was hearing headlines from the %u201CEnquirer%u201D tabloid newspaper.

Criticism towards Senator Clinton was daily and all day long. ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, MSNBC, Cafferty Files, CNN and slews of others networks followed each other down a lane of inaccurate reporting and vicious attacks against the entire Clinton family.; Reply to this comment


by alicerea1 June 14, 2008 4:24 PM EDT: part 3
Clinton supporters don''t want Obama:

They don%u2019t want a candidate that feels sorry to leave a church that is anti American and that preaches hatred and racial views that are cruel and nasty.

They don''t want a candidate that is inexperienced.

They don%u2019t want a candidate that considers it a loss to not to be able to attend his anti American, racist Church.

They don%u2019t want a candidate that has a Muslim father.

They don%u2019t%u2019 want a candidate that can%u2019t win a debate

They don%u2019t%u2019 want a candidate that misleads the youth with an %u2018Obama girl and her behind in their face%u201D

They don%u2019t want a candidate that says he%u2019s an African American and missed the MLK Remembrance Day and the Louisiana Black Caucus meeting

They don%u2019t want a candidate that has done nothing for humanity except talk about it.

They don%u2019t'' want a candidate named; Barack Hussein Obama

He scares them to death.
He is embarrassing.
He is unelectable.; Reply to this comment

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