Carly Fiorina Criticizes Tina Fey As "Disrespectful...Sexist"

McCain spokeswoman Carly Fiorina has weighed in on the major issue of today, namely, 30 Rock creator Tina Fey's portrayal of vice presidential contender Sarah Palin from this weekend's Saturday Night Live. Fiorina, astonishingly, termed it "disrespectful." Because that's what SNL does - paint flattering pictures of political figures. You'd think she'd be immune to such concerns, or at least not humorless about it -- after all, the very candidate she supports went on SNL last season and wittily lampooned his own age. But in Fiorina's opinion, Fey was "sexist" and failed to delve into Palin's substance.

Speaking of Palin's substance, today on the stump she loudly declared that she'd end the practice of Wall Street rewarding incompetent CEOs with "golden parachutes." Palin made no note of Fiorina's own $21 million-dollar ripcord, because I guess that would be too substantive.

[WATCH.]

MITCHELL: You are the first person from the McCain campaign I can ask, what did you think of Tina Fey as Sarah Palin?

FIORINA: Well, I think that she looked a bit like her. I think that, of course, the portrait was very dismissive of the substance of Sarah Palin, and so in that sense, they were defining Hillary Clinton as very substantive, and Sarah Palin as totally superficial. I think that continues the line of argument that is disrespectful in the extreme, and yes, I would say, sexist in the sense that just because Sarah Palin has different views than Hillary Clinton does not mean that she lacks substance. She has a lot of substance.

Comments

[MAXIE19]

Good Start. The next SNL skit on Palin should be about how the GOP and its supporters respond to every question or criticism that they do not like by labeling it sexist or disrespectful.

[nikkiscience]

"disrespectful?" Its actually quite embarrassing how McCains camp is overtly fluffing the sexist angle. Feminists are the people being disrespected... by this political rhetoric Hillary would never have contrived and by the insulting comparison of Palin to the equal rights that we fight for all humankind.

[truthpls]

Carly Fiorina almost collapsed HP (and she's advising McCain on economics)JUST LIKE BUSH/CHENEY have almost collapsed the USA !!!But then Bush/Cheney still have a few months to finish it off. Can you believe we are spending 350 million a day on Iraq while once solid American financial institutions are fading away?...
And if Ms Palin cannot take the heat from a satriical TV show then how does anyone have confidence in this woman to lead - If she can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!!!!

[bluesman49]

Carly was removed by the HP board. Sarah could be impeached. It's not sexism. They are just incompetent.

[probert]

We can all agree that Palin has lots of substance - we may disagree as to what that substance is.

[athenasword]

Sawdust

[Nagarjuna]

Moose droppings

[MandieD]

Lipstick?

[lippy33]

They really have nothing, huh? I mean, just nothing at all to recommend them. 'Cause they are really, really getting silly with this sexism stuff. Just throw it out at any time, doing real cases of sexism a injustice. Every heard of the boy who cried wolf? What a joke these people are...

[nanton29]

Carly Fiorina talking about substance is like Guilliani counseling on marriage and family structure. Fiorina drove HP into the ground before she was booted from the company, and still got a golden parachute. Fiorina is despised by women across America because she pushed the glass ceiling up for future women executives by her disastrous performance as a CEO of a major corporation. Her myopia as head of a large technology company helped the exodus of jobs such as tech support, from The United States. Her commentaries on the news shows illustrates just how out of touch she is. The McCain campaign is yet to unveil a comprehensive economic plan in the face of the worst economy in this country. Guess who is chief economic stategist for Mc Shame, yup... you guessed it. Carly Fiorina of course.

[MandieD]

Oh man ... that first line made me laugh so hard!

[JMEB]

Carly was canned about a year and a half at the helm of HP. Her record was one of failure.

She was only brought on to the McCain campaign to pull in Hillary voters. Unfortunately, except for some PUMAs, most are not falling for it.

In fact, Palin enjoys MUCH higher approval ratings among men than women.

If straight white men weren't so insecure, they wouldn't feel that voting Democratic wouldn't feel emasculating to them.

[neocon666]

What is this crap about "respect"? Sarah Palin can't have it both ways: she can't be this corrageous fighting maverick and this flower of feminity on a pedistal at once. And when was the last time the word respect was ever an issue in a political campaign? This isn't high school.

The republicans in the Justice Department have by their own admission been discriminating against democrats or anyone else who isn't republican, so what does that make them?

[auramac]

Tina Fey is a very smart, funny, successful woman.

Fiorina was a disaster at HP, probably blames her demise on sexism. Of course she's a Republican!

[elcojonu]

Hewlett-Packard just announced that they'll be laying off 25,000. They haven't recovered from Hurricane Carly.
Hella of a Job Carly; you and Sarah are exhibit one of what's wrong with your boss' judgement.

[stateMachine]

" I would say, sexist in the sense that just because Sarah Palin has different views than Hillary Clinton does not mean that she lacks substance. She has a lot of substance. "

Discriminating between women on the basis of views would be, oh I dunno, viewist, more than sexist. No?

[hilaritee]

to quote the princess bride: " i am not sure that word means what you think it means"

[thisisbatcountry]

does anybody wanna peanut? haha...

[oregondemgrl]

stop that i mean it! lol

[scottgood1]

In addition to the ads going after lobbyists, they should create a special one for Carly Fiorina.

I don't follow her career, but instantly recognized the name as the person who authorized surveillance of her board members shortly before they booted her from HP. Just another example of how McCain's lowered his standards over the last two years in an 'anything to win' race for a legacy. I'd have voted for him 8 years ago, when he stood for something. Now, not so much.

Meanwhile, Obama's words and character have remained consistent. It makes this an easier choice every day.

[doogiedude]

Not that I'm a fan of Ms. Fiorina, but I do believe it was a subsequent HP CEO who had the surveillance scandal, I think her name is Patricia Dunn.

[LJRettie]

You are correct. Ms. Fiorina's downfall was her lack of consideration or comprehension of the corporate CULTURE that HP had created over time. She simply marauded her way through a competent company with the tactics of a schoolyard bully. She inflated her initial successes by selling off significant assets, while loosing focus on the core business model that had made HP a powerhouse in the industry.

If this is who McCain/Palin consider a top advisor, oy vey.

Please, please, would a great woman rise to the occasion and call these pretenders (particularly Palin) out?! Oh wait, two already did. Fey/Pohler '08!!!

[jackie4444]

What a really, really, really stupid comment by Fiorina. Someone needs to give this poor shill
a dictionary. The sketch was delightful and more than fair.

[DCtrain]

It seems that the GOP are one word politicians:
Person; Everyother word
McCain ------ "POW"
Fiorina ------ "Sexism"
Palin ------ lies
Davis ------- Closet Gay

[MandieD]

~You forgot Giuliani ------ 9/11.

[Audrey704]

Republicans are like bullies on a playground....they don't play fair and when they get caught they spend all their energy pointing fingers at everyone else....making excuses for their behavior.

Palin winks, blows kisses, gives cutesy smiles, postures provocativ­ely...that is fine we all know a lot of professional women who carry on in a similar way and are successful...Is it sexist to use the tools that one possesses? Is it sexist when the handsome fit man uses his charms to further his career? I think people can do what they want they just need to stop whining about when they are called on their behavior....rather they need to own it and stop crying foul.