Katie Couric: Sexist Media Hurt Hillary Clinton's Chances

Adding to her comments last night in Washington — "that Sen. Clinton received some of the most unfair, hostile coverage I've ever seen" — Katie Couric has filmed a Keith Olbermann-style special commentary (called ner "Notebook") slamming the media for its sexist coverage of Hillary Clinton and claiming that the sexist coverage hurt her chances at becoming the Democratic party nominee. The Notebook will air tonight on CBS affiliates and on CBS radio, and will live on CBSNews.com.

"One of the great lessons of [Hillary Clinton's] campaign is the continued and accepted role of sexism in American life, particularly in the media....It isn't just Hillary Clinton who needs to learn a lesson from this primary season — it's all the people who crossed the line, and all the women and men who let them get away with it."

Watch the video below:

Couric's reference in the video to "mainstream pundits saying they instinctively cross their legs at the mention of her name" is specifically about Tucker Carlson, who often made such a claim while still on MSNBC during the campaign.

Last night, without naming names, Couric seemed to excoriate both MSNBC's Chris Matthews — who has come under fire for sexist remarks against Hillary Clinton — and NBC's Lee Cowan — who reportedly said he found it "hard to stay objective" covering Obama — saying, "That's your job...find another line of work." Matthews notoriously announced that he "felt [a] thrill going up [his] leg" while listening to Obama speak, and was forced to apologize for sexist remarks against Clinton in January.

Comments

[Obama08Supporter]

I find Michelle Obama an outstanding woman of intelligence and honesty, a breath of fresh air. I found Hillary Clinton an outstanding woman of intelligence as well. However, Hillary lost not because of sexism, she lost because she put together a terrible divisive team, she put Bill Clinton in the campaign, and she did not have to act as the "macho male fighter," those are the things that cost her the nomination. Initially, her name brand was what they ran on, but did not plan for anything after that, this is the real reason.

Sexism may have played a small portion in this campaign and it was spinned to enlarge what really had no affect at all. However, racism played an even larger role and still is growing daily. This is the America we live in and people are truly mean to each other, but when said by Michelle that is turned into something that is so unreal. Real Americans who are honest know that to be true.

[benne]

Why when so many men are given an analysis of sexism, they can only reject it out of hand? If Obama supporters, who like his guyish ways, claim to be so rational (as they are always doing), then they should be able to look at the evidence. It's much easier, however, to shout people down.

Go Katie Couric!!!

[anarchris]

why when so many women are given an analysis of sexism, they can only reject it out of hand?
ahem (when women are the sexist and men are the victim) if hillary supporters, who like her girlish ways, claim to be so rational(as they are always doing), then they should be able to look at the evidence. It's much easier, however, to shout people(men) down.

[Ndw]

Obama has 'guyish' ways? I thought he was 'elite,' and people were whining that he wasn't 'guyish' enough. He has an incredibly strong, intelligent wife - that would tend to support the notion he's a fairly NON-sexist man himself.

And what analysis of sexism? Some annoying opinion-based journalists said stupid things? Gee, that just never happens... That's what they do! Fox is busily portraying Obama as bin Ladin & Sadam Hussein's love child - that has to be considered worse.

Hillary doesn't represent women - she's too much of her own celebrity, her own niche. I just don't believe how she was represented has anything to do with sexism. It's her husband who goes tart-hunting rather than admiring his own bright, strong wife, after all - maybe people should accuse HIM of sexism - since I think he's the one who most genuinely practices it.

[ckdogs]

I think Katie was projecting.

[vsign]

The hate whitey and women crowd is on the Obama train. The train stopped in my town and wanted off but they were not welcome being known as haters. They were thirsty and hungry and wanted off. We gave them water and food and sent them on their way. I was proud of the men and women in my town who understand that charity begins at home. This is our home and the Obama train hasn't earned the respect needed to be allowed to debark.

[TurnThePageGA]

It's not okay to be sexist/mysogynist but it is okay to be Racist.

[SanityClaus]

Does your town have a sign at the city limits warning Negroes to get out before sundown?

[HopeGirl]

You are one sick twisted hot mess.

[benne]

After reading these comments, I want to clarify. People who are upset about the election do not think the American people are largely sexist. They think that the elite -- both the media elite and the Democratic elite -- is sexist and that this club had it in for Hillary because they just couldn't wrap their minds around a women leader. Why else declare it all over and stop reporting facts, like how many select delegates she had picked up?

[LeftLeaner]

Katie is spot on, no matter what OLDermaniac, (Olbermann) Obama's henchman screams.

I just wish Katie has more cojones to speak out more - it would probably help her humdrum news cast.

[SanityClaus]

Brilliant. Katie needs to borrow some of Hillary's spare testicles. Do you realize how sexist YOU are?

[PatRiley]

Could someone please cite some valid examples of sexism in this campaign (other than a few nutcrackers being sold in novelty shops, or a crazy nut holding up a protest sign at a Clinton rally). I've heard some feminists complain about everyone referring to Clinton only by her first name. This is not sexism. Her own campaign signs, t-shirts, and many of her female staff referred to her as "Hillary". Geraldine Ferraro threw a fit over Obama's "Annie Oakley" line. This isn't sexism either. It's the equivalent of Clinton calling Obama "John Wayne" if he were to go out and aggressively court the gun-lovers' support. And where were all these sexism charges when Hillary was in the lead??

[benne]

Go Katie! This is right on, and given the frenzy in the media now, gutsy (or must I say ballsy?) to mention it.

[HopeGirl]

The women that think they have to be manly to get ahead will always fall back on sexism as the reason they did not succeed.

Its lame and embarrassing. Its 2008 and not 1968. Plenty of women have made their mark. The woman candidate lost this one race. K C was a bad fit for the CBS job. So what.

All this whining and crying about sexism is destructive for any other women current or coming up the ranks.

All it does is highlight the worst stereotypes of women.

H C 's example was humiliating all the way around. I was shocked by her manipulation, mood swings, temper tantrums, manipulation ala 'Not that I know of...', the lies, the Poor Me, feel sorry for me, People are Picking On Me, the I am one of the boys nonsense.

All of it.

Next time we need a non Boomer woman to lead the way. Someone not from that Poor Me generation.

[HopeGirl]

Oh and by the way K C C Matt is a goof with everyone. Why don't you line up the racist comments he made about the other candidate. Using C Matt to make your sexism point is beyond laughable.

[benne]

Your comments "Girl" only prove Katie's point. Just because you cling to sexism, doesn't mean that you should expect sexism from the media.

[HopeGirl]

Life isn't fair is it. Its how you deal with and learn how to succeed in that proves what you are made of. Whining about it is useless.

Oh and BTW, I haven't heard word one for K C or H C for B O'R horrific comments about our soon to be 1st lady...you remember-the threat of death.

Not one word to defend that woman in the public square.

So, yes their is sexism but seems to me their is more hypocrisy.

I prefer the non Boomer woman leaders, not so many excuses and not so much blaming and poor me.

[krifos]

Paul Bagala compared Hillary to Jackie Robinson, Which I thought was an egregious error on his part , considering there was a black man in the room.
Bill and Hillary said"If you can't stand the heat, out of the kitchen"
Mr. Robinson took all the negativity and emerged victorious. Barack Obama did the same.
Hillary Clinton had a speech she gave last Saturday.

[mergina]

Yes, they did, and don't let any member of the 'boys club' tell you otherwise. They were quite the sickening display over the past 16 months. Just imagine if she had won.

[vsign]

Katie Couric - thank you for standing up to the hate whitey, hate women crowd.

NBC has smeared their own brand.

[HopeGirl]

what crowd is that exactly?

[benne]

Please read the comments it is referring to, and it will be clear.

[vsign]

The hate whitey crowd is on the Obama train. The train stopped in my town and wanted off but they were not welcome being known as haters. They were thirsty and hungry and wanted off. We gave them water and food and sent them on their way. I was proud of the men and women in my town who understand that charity begins at home. This is our home and the Obama train hasn't earned the respect needed to be allowed to debark.

[benne]

Unfortunately, some of the hate whitey crowd, as you call them, hate women, or at least hate uppity women. Witness the display at the Trinity Church, where they all laugh, clap, and stand up when they revel in the woman getting her come-uppins.

[AshevilleVoice]

I think that admonishing the press for sexist remarks is valid and necessary. What I don't understand is why the misogynist remarks that came from Hillary's own supporters- such as Carville and Gibson, don't received rebukes, and why Hillary herself never addressed or even mentioned them as sexist.

Both claims- that Clinton had more cajones than Obama, and that she had testicular fortitude- assert that only male genitalia and male hormones can give a person strength, courage, and fortitude. These were more direct, more recognizably sexist, that 99% of the remarks made by the press.

Crying 'foul play' when remarks came from outside her camp while ignoring them from within made Clinton's consciousness raising about sexism seem like self serving whining.

[allonfla]

"What I don't understand is why the misogynist remarks that came from Hillary's own supporters- such as Carville and Gibson, don't received rebukes, and why Hillary herself never addressed or even mentioned them as sexist."

VERY TRUE!

And you who else is sexist? Mark Penn for suggesting/implying to Hillary that she should come off as "tough" because being herself or truly running as a "female" candidate would make her seem weak. If sexism hurt her chances, it came from her advisors and high-profile supporters.

[HopeGirl]

Amen.

Double standards is the dirty little secret of the Boomer feminists, Hill included and those that are throwing their hissing fits about loosing.

Its humiliating. I wish they would stop and realize you win some you loose some, you move on and do better the next time around.

All Hill and her 'women supporters' proved is they are not ready for the Big Leagues because they think they are entitled to win and do not know how to loose.

[benne]

Well, I suppose we can't expect people here to read the original story. What I'd like to know is if they find those comments, detailed by Katie (and other people), acceptable. The comments made elsewhere that equally offensive racist comments would not be allowed but sexist ones are offered in a routine way is important and unacknowledged. By the way, Girl, you seem rather obsessed with sexist stereotypes, but again, what would one expect from someone who wants to be called "Girl" apparently in an unironic way.

[benne]

I am always mystified when people don't get irony. If someone says she has balls, they are saying that balls are not properly something associated with men. If someone says, she doesn't know her place; they're saying that there's a singular place for women. There's a big difference, and you have to look at context to get it.

[HopeGirl]

I would prefer a woman runs as a woman, not as a psuedo man with three balls. That was humiliating, all the drinking and the dirty politics and the annihilation comments to proves she was more man than woman.

To me thats the height of sexism, propagated by HER and HER campaign. Seems a little lame to now complain about sexism after using it for gain.

It was a stupid campaign tactic that she should take responsibility for and not blame others,

[TurnThePageGA]

No what we don't get is that you think you are entitled to have it both ways. When it is played to make Obama as a "Sissy" it is okay. It was okay for Hillary and her supporters to blatantly appeal to women to vote for her because she was a women but Obama had to avoid being black and didn't talk about race until he was made out to be Jeremiah Wright. Everybody who had any reason for not supporting Hillary, women or man, was a sexist or mysogynist. It could not have been things like a vote for the war and refusal to say the vote was a mistake. It could not have been the saying whatever it takes (triangulation) of the Clintons or in some cases outright lying (misspeaking). Most people had legitimate reasons for opposing Hillary as they did opposing Obama. Some of the people that oppose Hillary were sexists as were some of the people opposing Obama were racists. However in both cases they were a minority.

[NotFooledByDistractions]

Katie - stick to reading the news, you're halfway competent at that. Your personal digs are uncalled for and unnecessary - not to mention off base.

[benne]

When did news analysis become a "personal dig"? Why don't you address the specifics she gave -- very convincing to all who don't simply accept sexism as a way of life.

[HopeGirl]

The Iron My Shirt poster was a H C campiagn plant to get the Poor Me vote. It worked. She won NH.

[Burnsey]

If Ms Couric had an issue with the sexism in the race, why oh why didn't she stand up like a woman and be heard when it mattered? Where were her comments on her news program talking about this issue, why didn't she speak up when it could have been helpful to address these issues?

And then again, why when mentioning Cindy McCain did she gush over her eyes and how entrancing and beautiful they were? If there was a concern for issues concerning sexism why did Ms Couric play along and add to the game?

This is the last ditch attempt by a failed Newscaster trying to revive a dead carrer. Mimicking the special comments of Olberman and channeling Geraldine Ferraro, the only "ISM" I see here is Ms Couric's and it's called: OPPORTUNISM.

[benne]

CBS offered perhaps the most fair coverage of the final days of the campaigns. When I would turn to other news sources and be unable even to get basic facts like how many select delegates Hillary had picked up, CBS would report these facts. No one wants to come to terms with the boosterism of the press for Obama because, in several cases, at least, they couldn't stand the idea of having a powerful woman over them (as they saw it). Again, read the comments that Katie discusses. The guys say that.

[freeintucson]

Hooray for Katie and others like her who aren't afraid to tell it as it is, distrubing as that might be.

The good 'ol US of A is, indeed, still a sexist culture -- NOT a popular notion among Keith (most of whose politics I admire) and other male journalists who have never suffered because of this fact.

Racism, yes. Homophobia, yes. Sexism, yes. These are the general givens that continue to plague our nation and I admire brave people like Katie who give voice to that fact.

[benne]

And, this news cycle tells us that we need a more diverse set of pundits and newscasters. Perhaps, Katie can get it because she isn't part of the club of boys they have over at CNBC.