Obama acknowledges some sexist media coverage in the campaign.

[pnwmom]

"Sen. Barack Obama said today that he agrees with Sen. Hillary Clinton that she has faced some sexism in the media coverage of her campaign.

'No doubt there are certain burdens for Sen. Clinton running as a formidable but first-time front-runner as a woman in the same way I've got to deal with some issues as an African-American,' Obama told ABC's Jake Tapper.

'There is no doubt that there have been occasions where Sen. Clinton has had to overcome particular hurdles, and that is part of the groundbreaking nature of her campaign,'he said."

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4895145&page=1

On edit:

Here is the transcript of the full interview:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/05/interview-with.html

SNIP

TAPPER: Do you agree with Sen. Clinton's complaint that she has been the victim of a sexist media in this campaign?

OBAMA: No doubt there are certain burdens for Sen. Clinton running as a formidable but first time frontrunner as a woman in the same way I've got to deal with some issues as an African American. Ultimately, I think the American people are fair minded and for those who would not vote either for myself or Sen. Clinton because of gender or race there are those who are excited about the prospects of the first woman or African American (nominee). There is no doubt there have been occassions where Sen. Clinton has had to overcome particular hurdles and that is part of the groundbreaking nature of her campaign.

SNIP

[sfaprog]

1. Well, he spoke up for her... That's what was demanded of him...

I suppose we won't see another thread conspicuously linking Obama and sexism at DU now... :eyes:

[Texas Hill Country]

2. seems like the candidate is better than many of the followers.

[skipos]

4. Maybe. Personally, I think Hillary is worse than many of her followers.

Which isn't saying much.

[anonymous171]

40. oh ouch.

zing.

[PBS Poll-435]

5. ...................

:popcorn:

[pnwmom]

8. I agree with that. n/t

[Cali_Democrat]

10. I am a supporter, not a follower

Followers will blindly support someone even when they say the most absurd things like talking about the obliteration of Iran. They will also follow their candidate even when they talk about how they have the support of white people and their opponent doesn't.

Supporters like me are reasonable and we can disagree with our candidate. I disagree with Obama on various issues like gun control. I don't follow him on every issue. Hillary folks are the real followers.

[virtualobserver]

3. he said "certain burdens"............not sexist media coverage

you are putting words in his mouth

[BlooInBloo]

6. ROFLMAO!!!

[pnwmom]

9. The words came from the article, not from me.

And I don't know if the writer was paraphrasing or where the sentence came from exactly.

[virtualobserver]

17. the author interpreted his words , but the quote from Obama doesn't refer to media coverage

I'm not trying to be unpleasant....

I do believe that the media coverage has been appalling but I don't believe that it is generally sexist or racist, just pathetic.

[pnwmom]

18. The context is unclear. I googled for more, but couldn't find out what

question the reporter had asked. It's certainly possible that the reporter asked about sexism in the media coverage, and that's why s/he paraphrased Obama in that way. But I don't know.

[virtualobserver]

23. I think that the reason that I am sensitive to the quote vs. description differences...

has to do with a couple of posts that I made early on about Hillary Clinton in which I reacted to the content of an article and found later that her actual quote was nothing like the article and I embarrassed myself at least twice. If I turn out to be wrong on this, I do apologize in advance.

[pnwmom]

25. Here is the question and answer from the transcript.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/05/interview-with.html

TAPPER: Do you agree with Sen. Clinton's complaint that she has been the victim of a sexist media in this campaign?

OBAMA: No doubt there are certain burdens for Sen. Clinton running as a formidable but first time frontrunner as a woman in the same way I've got to deal with some issues as an African American. Ultimately, I think the American people are fair minded and for those who would not vote either for myself or Sen. Clinton because of gender or race there are those who are excited about the prospects of the first woman or African American (nominee). There is no doubt there have been occassions where Sen. Clinton has had to overcome particular hurdles and that is part of the groundbreaking nature of her campaign.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pnwmom]

20. Aren't you a barrel of laughs?

Not.

[dave29]

7. "groundbreaking nature"

a clear reference to her weight. Will his sexism ever end?

:sarcasm:

[pnwmom]

11. Apparently the sexism of his followers won't. n/t

[yourguide]

12. And apparently the racism of her followers won't either...check yourself.

[pnwmom]

14. What did I say to make you think I was racist and in the HRC camp?

Neither statement is true.

Are you assuming that because I agree that there was sexist media coverage, I must be a Hillary supporter? Well, that's not true, I've never been a Clinton partisan.

Are you also assuming that all Hillary supporters must be racist?

Supporters like you aren't doing Obama a bit of good.

[yourguide]

19. and what makes you think I was sexist and in the obama camp?

There was sexist media coverage but it's a mighty reach to suggest that all obama supporters are sexist.

My point was exactly that...that neither statement is true...perhaps you forgot to include the nice sarcasm icon with your post?

[pnwmom]

22. Because of your scornful dismissal of the idea that

HRC has been mocked in sexist ways -- her thick ankles, her "shrill" voice, her hips, her pantsuits. Or calling her a B, a C, or a whore.

I don't think that all Obama supporters are sexist. Just the ones who either make blatant sexist comments or deny that they ever occur, or deny that it matters.

[yourguide]

26. You might want to check my posts...

I have never touched upon her "her thick ankles, her "shrill" voice, her hips, her pantsuits. Or calling her a B, a C, or a whore."

Never, not once on this board.


Again, check yourself. You are out of line.


No one here is denying the media hasnt been sexist, but you cant pin that on the Obama campaign. However I can cite multiple examples where the Clintons have been racist.

[pnwmom]

31. No, you only brought up her weight.

Despite the fact that she doesn't have a weight problem, just the usual female pear-shaped body.

[yourguide]

32. CHECK MY POSTS THEN FRIGGIN APOLOGIZE

I didnt write the post about her weight.

[pnwmom]

34. You're right. I'm sorry that

you broke into this thread, accusing me of being racist, and I didn't notice that you weren't the same person I had just responded to.

Now why don't you explain why you thought I was racist because I objected to the comment about HRC's weight and pointed out the sexism involved?

[yourguide]

37. Because you made an obnoxious blanket statement.

This is a message board by the way, not your personal message board...so no one broke into this thread.

[goldcanyonaz]

15. Thanks for the update, Sweetie!

[pnwmom]

16. Yeah, yeah, well, no one's perfect.

I can forgive him that slip.

If he weren't married to a strong woman like Michelle, I might be more worried though.

[EFerrari]

21. Oh, for Christsake.

Of course the media is sexist and racist and looks down on poor people. The media reflects the worst in this culture.

What does that have to do with Obama -- except as someone who has had to deal with that all his life?

[pnwmom]

24. What does it have to do with Obama? The fact that he's acknowledging it.

That's a good thing.

The first step toward solving a problem is acknowledging its existence.

If he's aware of the problem, he's much more likely to be a leader in helping to improve the situation in the future.

[EFerrari]

27. Do you actually need a politician running for office to tell you these things?

:shrug:

And, when was the last time a problem like that was handled from the top down? Never.

I'd much rather hear what he has to say about formulating a Middle East policy or how to reign in the criminal contractors working for State or what he intends to do about our dysfunctional health system because then, I might learn something new.

[pnwmom]

30. Don't you expect that he could help bridge some of the racial divisions

in our country -- even from the top down?

Why couldn't he help to bridge other divisions, too?

[EFerrari]

33. Cultural conflicts are rarely or never solved by decree.

It's a nice thought but, really, it doesn't happen that way. We change by interacting with our families and our neighbors and, a little at a time, at that.

[pnwmom]

35. Not by decree, but by example. n/t

[EFerrari]

36. If that example is too far removed from the real lives of real people

it has no effect on everyday life.

[pnwmom]

38. That example will have a "bully pulpit" that he will be using

not to bully people, but to encourage them.

I think he does have a great opportunity to offer leadership in bridging the differences among us.

Just yesterday, he was inducted as an honorary member of the Crow nation. I think that is a harbinger of things to come.

[ecstatic]

28. Obama is not responsible for the media's coverage of Clinton

Why are some Hillary supporters trying to blame Obama for the media's actions? And where was Clinton's concern about the media when they were running the Rev W. clips every 2 minutes?

[pnwmom]

29. Who said he was? Not me.

I'm just glad he is acknowledging it.

I've never been a HRC partisan, and I'm not sure who the Hillary supporters are that you're referring to.

[LeFleur1]

39. Here's the Thing

Many women who heard disgusting sexual references about Hillary instead of reasoned disagreement with her policies thought that Obama, or someone in his campaign, as well as at least a couple of Democratic leaders should have called it out.

Something like..."We certainly want discussion of disagreements concerning policies of the candidates, but name calling and insults of a sexist or racist nature are 'low class'. I would not expect it to continue."

That's an action that wasn't taken when those bozos in the media were doing it. Just an acknowledgement that it was going on, they were aware, and it wasn't right.
I don't believe Hillary is behind because of it (although it was so disrespectful that I can't imagine it wouldn't have an effect with some people). It seems to me that type of crap should be called out anytime it appears.

I just don't understand why so many people on DU disagree.

[Beacool]

41. After which he said: Hillary, don't take it so hard sweetie.

:eyes:

[anonymous171]

42. Yes. He's a misogynist. How he can live with his wife and two daughters is beyond me.

:eyes: