why do people persist in describing Michelle Obama in sexual terms?

[grasswire]

It seems that every time I read a post about her, she is termed "hot" or "hawt" or "smokin'."

What's the deal with that? Immaturity? Or what?

She is beautiful. She is accomplished. She is smart.

To think first of her in sexualized terms is to objectify her. She's more than her physical appeal, folks.

[AspenRose]

1. You probably know the answer already.

eom

[SemiCharmedQuark]

2. Well, I described her as lovely once, just as I did Clinton, and they were both in response to OPs

about how shrewish/hideous they were.

[SeattleGirl]

3. Of course she is more than her physical appeal.

She IS smart. She IS accomplished.

And while I don't describe her as "hot" or "hawt" or "smokin'", I think she IS beautiful, too.

[ShortnFiery]

6. If you wish to set the boys a droolin' mention Nora O'Donnell

;) Clearly Nora's a physical beauty but SOME men, IMO, are too much into "the visual." :shrug:

[onehandle]

4. My wife, who has been an Obama girl from the start, says she's "hot."

Who am I to disagree?

[Barack_America]

7. She is hot. She's the complete package...

As is Barack, who I also describe as hot.

Oh to have two brilliant hotties in the White House. Swoon.

[LSparkle]

9. Camelot, part II ... young children and all ...

[4_Legs_Good]

30. I completely agree

They're two really good looking people, with two adorable children.

Their physical appearance is NOT the primary trait of any of them, though! Barack and Michelle are both brilliant, inspiring, accomplished, capable, and so many other things. The kids, I presume (though I don't know them much) are probably nice, polite, smart, etc., all of which would rank above "adorable".

And Barack and Miclle are also hot! Michelle inspires on so many levels. Personally I love her taste in clothes. Does that mean I don't think she's more than a fashion model. Hell no! Barack is a sharp dresser too.

OTOH I don't care much for pant suits and Hillary's color choice leaves something to be desired, IMO, but in her more hippy days, I thought she was very attractive and cooooool.

Just one of the many, many traits that make all 3 of these people "attractive".

David

[Occam Bandage]

5. Why do you only pay attention to posts objectifying women? Those seem to resonate with you.

[closeupready]

8. I don't understand your criticism. We are sexual beings. So, it should come as no surprise that

people think of celebrities/prominent VIP's in sexual terms. Is your argument that MOST people are sexualizing Michelle? Quite honestly, your opening post is the VERY FIRST TIME I've seen anyone make note of how observers are "sexualizing" Michelle Obama.

[Schema Thing]

10. Other than vernacular, how is "beautiful" really much different

from "hot" "hawt" or "smokin"?

[grasswire]

11. extremely different

"Beautiful" has no sexual connotation. It merely means pleasing to the eye. Hot, hawt, and smokin' carry sexual implications and connote a high degree of sexuality.

A rose, a mountain lake, a jewel, a baby -- all of those can be beautiful. None of them would be called hot, hawt, or smokin'.

[Schema Thing]

16. wrong, imo. "beautiful" in context of a woman, does have a degree of sexuality

you just can't get around that, at least for well over half of the population. And so to does "hot" connote a degree of sexuality, but in today's vernacular, no, it is not necessarily a "high degree of sexuality"; it basically means "good looking". More than "beautiful" sure, I'll grant you that, but both comments are objectifying women, which, frankly, is what all humans do when they make any judgment whatsoever of another human's physical appearance.

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. There IS a mountain lake in Chile that's smokin' right now,

but I don't think that's what you mean.

[NewHampshireDem]

12. I invite DU'ers to use teh great gazoogle as to the frequency of such posts

http://www.democraticunderground.com/searchresults.html?q=%2B%22michelle+obama%22+hot+OR+Smoking+OR+smokin+OR+HAWT&sitesearch=democraticunderground.com&sa=Search&domains=democraticunderground.com&client=pub-7805397860504090&forid=1&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&cof=GALT%3A%23008000%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23336699%3BVLC%3A663399%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC%3A336699%3BALC%3A0000FF%3BLC%3A0000FF%3BT%3A000000%3BGFNT%3A0000FF%3BGIMP%3A0000FF%3BFORID%3A11&hl=en

[moez]

13. trust me on this one....

The LAST thing I would ever do is describe Michelle Obama as "hot"....

[sandnsea]

14. Taking political correctness way way way too far

She is hawt and so is he. Get a life.

[Iris]

39. Actually, I don't think describing a Senator's wife as "hot" in mixed company

would have been done BEFORE political correctness.

So, this is not really taking political correctness too far. It's just someone's attempt consider your audience when choosing your vocabulary words.

[TwilightGardener]

15. My husband thinks she's hawt. He thinks of all attractive women in sexual terms first--

that's his boyish charm. :eyes:

[Saturday]

17. I've never heard her referred to in any of those terms.nt

[JuniperLea]

28. Me either...

Maybe this is Lounge speak? I rarely go there.

[polticalpout]

29. Nor have I. /nm

nm

[Youphemism]

18. I Completely Agree

Michelle Obama has a lot more to offer than just her looks.

And I'd like to see her offer it in a bikini.

[NorthernSpy]

19. Great legs.

Well, she does.

[NatBurner]

27. ...

arms too

[RaleighNCDUer]

21. This whole thread on THIS subject

and no pics?

[NewHampshireDem]

23. Here ya go ... perhaps the one that inspired all this, uh, 'concern'

I'm a straight white man, but MY GAWD THEY ARE BOTH HAWT! :P

[RaleighNCDUer]

25. wow. thank you.

T H A N K Y O U !

(I agree.)

[ShortnFiery]

22. OMG! Get a room or take it to The Lounge?!?

TEASE! :hi:

[izzybeans]

24. I didn't find her "Hawt" until I heard her speak.

She reminds me of a Morphine song.

"You have lived
and your intelligence
is sexy"

You Look Like Rain-

[AtomicKitten]

26. Calling her beautiful, smart, and strong isn't objectifying her - it's complimenting her.

Jeez, sometimes a compliment is just a compliment.

[4_Legs_Good]

31. First of all I usually see her before I hear her speak

and almost every single time I see her, I'm absolutely struck by her fashion sense. I'm not saying that's a top priority for a first lady or any woman (or man), I'm just impressed! I like the way she dresses, so that's usually my first impression on any photo or video of her: "Damn! She's a great freaking dresser."

Then I shut up and listen to what she has to say and she wows me all over again.

David

Edit: typo

[DevonRex]

32. I think it's great to note that she's hot or smokin'. She dresses

modestly yet still looks sexy. She's beautiful, smart, accomplished and is STILL sexy. It's about time we defined sexiness in this way - not the scantily clad, bimbo way.

And I think Barack is a hottie. :)

On the other hand, I don't know of a single conservative male that I would consider sexy no matter what he looked like.

[DU GrovelBot]

33. ## DON'T DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

==================
GROVELBOT.EXE v4.1
==================



This week is our second quarter 2008 fund drive. Democratic Underground is
a completely independent website. We depend on donations from our members
to cover our costs. Whatever you do, do not click the link below!

[VotesForWomen]

34. half of them talk about obama that way too. it's embarassing. they sound like 16 year olds.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

35. Does it really matter?

Beautiful is just a more gracious way of saying "hot" anyway.

[Iris]

40. yeah, because "hot mind" is one of those terms you here people use frequently.

:eyes:

[Celeborn Skywalker]

42. I'm just saying

if someone is talking about physical beauty, there is not much difference between the two terms.

[Iris]

43. I'm just sayin'

even my mind's not hot today - I wish I could edit about to "hear"!

[angie_love]

yeah they're both hot, no biggie

[angie_love]

36. yeah they're both hot, no biggie

[angie_love]

37. yeah they're both hot, no biggie

[Danger Mouse]

38. when i think of her i usually think highly intelligent and strong. beautiful comes in there, too.

[JoFerret]

41. There is no sexism

remember?
Get with the program and Michelle should practice her cookie recipes in order to support her man.

[BlooInBloo]

44. True. And she's smokingly hawt to boot!

:hide:

[madrchsod]

45. she`s smart,well spoken,and....

"'her' milkshake brings all the boys to the yard"......:rofl: