Palin Coverage Not Sexist, Former McCain VP Hopeful Says

Just hours after aides to John McCain accused the media and Sen. Barack Obama of engaging in sexist and chauvinist treatment of Sarah Palin, another prominent member of McCain's team said the coverage has been neither sexist nor driven by Obama.

Former Rep. Rob Portman, an adviser to the Arizona Republican, argued in a brief interview with the Huffington Post that while the coverage of Palin's family travails has on occasion been out of bounds, there was no inherent gender bias to it. Moreover, Portman lauded the Obama campaign for condemning the personalized scrutiny of the presumptive Republican vice presidential nominee.

"I don't know if [the coverage] would be any worse for her than it would be someone else... Over the line is over the line and both Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden have made statements this week saying that it is over the line, saying that children of candidates really ought to be outside the political fray," said Portman, a former Bush administration official and a one-time potential McCain VP himself. "I think it is absolutely fair to look at someone's record... And it is appropriate for the media to look at that because, in a sense, the media keeps us all honest about what our positions are and if we are consistent. Where it goes over the line is when it becomes about the private life of the family. And to the extent that that does not affect public policy decisions, which in the case of the discussion this week about Gov. Palin's family it does not, I do think it is over the line."

Following days of withering scrutiny of Palin's personal and political record, McCain's campaign has pushed back by accusing the fourth estate of orchestrating an "outrageous smear campaign" to derail her candidacy. Much of it, they have added, was driven by a gender bias. Some, they insinuated, came from the Obama campaign.

"The Republican Party will not stand by while Sarah Palin is subjected to sexist attacks," said aide Carly Fiorina.

Earlier, Fiorina claimed to be "appalled by the Obama campaign's attempts to belittle Governor Sarah Palin's experience." American women, she added, "are more highly tuned than ever to recognize and decry sexism in all its forms. They will not tolerate sexist treatment of Governor Palin."

Also on Wednesday, McCain's national campaign co-chair and former CEO of e-Bay, Meg Whitman told Fox News that the media vetting of Palin had been "completely fair," and refuted the idea that there had been "sexism" in the coverage.

"I actually think it's completely fair for the media to vet Sarah Palin," Whitman said. It is, she added, "the right thing to do" for the media to dig into the background of someone who is "running for the highest office in the land."

Asked if, in the wake of the countless stories and inquiries into Palin's position and life, he felt a sense of relief over not having been tapped as McCain's VP, Portman jokingly replied in the affirmative. The frenzy, he added, "is kind of what I expected."

Comments

[roshni]

I always knew there were decent republicans out there and they must be so alarmed at how their party is getting hijacked recently.

[viewfromuphere]

and if those republicans had any sense they'd be praying for a thumping come election day.

Painful I'm sure but one doesn't get the deadwood and riffraff , etc out of any political party until they have their @sses handed them.

[theneelster]

The real conservatives left the Republican party a long time ago...I should know. There really is no difference between the parties and their policies, Iraq has showed this.

[Ohg]

These Republicans has lost any sense of shame. The entire party has flip flopped on the issue of experience. ..................
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/09/03/republicans-have-no-shame/

[strength]

Mccain didnt really vet her so its our right, since he got to choose her, we get to choose whether or not we want to vote for her, not becuase we should trust the GOP, but because she has the views and policies we like...and sadly she doesnt! OBAMA/BIDEN 08

[zedthewizard]

i think the media and responsible republicans just can't take it. they are putting country first! some are a little ticked at the pick -- for good personal and political reasons.

it seems as if the media tide is starting to turn on the spin in a big way today. mccain ticked of the press, republicans, democrats -- imagine him at the un.

[lis60]

Thanks Rob, You just went up 100 points in my book. Talking about this womans political beliefs, stand on the issues, her history, her background, her qualifications..and asking questions about them is not sexist. Even asking her how she can care for her four month old special needs baby while she is breastfeeding and on the road so much is not sexist. You can't compare a 4 month old special needs baby to BIden or Obama's kids. She is a heartbeat away from the presidency. This isn't just a game. This is real life.
I am really glad a few of you are speaking the truth! Thank you!

[ShamusNYC]

(with the exceptions of Portman and Whitman)

The Republicans have become a party of whiners.

[JackND]

Someday they'll learn that when nine out of ten partisans are saying one thing and the tenth says another, it's the tenth that is more likely to be believed.

Portman would seem to be the tenth this go-around.

[emilyjacobs]

This woman is not qualified and that has nothing to do with gender.

[USALover]

Amen!!

[Teeninchee]

A Conservative Republican AMEN TO THAT

[Kay72403]

And again, I say AMEN. Evangelical Left.

[j0em0mma]

'Amen!' from a Secular Humanist...

[ShamusNYC]

Clearly, Portman understands that if you just run around stating attack lines no matter how ludicrious in the long run people will doubt everything you say.

He probably read a complex book on the subject "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"

[chs1965]

Obviously he is not on the distribution list for campaign talking points. Can a Republican actually being saying such things?

[dadw5boys]

OBAMA CAMPAIGN HAS ONLY SAID KEEP THE FAMILY'S OUT OF IT !!!!!!!!

HOW IS THAT SEXIST?????

TYPICAL REPUBLICANS LIES LIES, AND DAMN LIES !!!!

[USALover]

Anything to make the Obama camp the enemy.

Those comments are really intended for the four PUMA's left who are still undecided.

Just shameful!!

[ewoman]

i'm sorry, but McCain and Palin shoved the abortion issue in our faces. None of us asked for it.

[SailawayJane]

That's their tactics, shove the pro-choice issue front and center and the rethugs don't have to confront the lousy economy.

[redsongia]

All kinds of spokes people came out with a co ordinated cry of sexism the first time any reporter asked for a single detail about Palin. It's embarrisingly transparent and I hope that some republican elected officials think about how it makes them look to the voting public to be part of this fvckery and to be so staunchly defending a woman they never met on the grounds that she has this amazing character.