Adding Women Changes Everything at Meet The Press

As I watched Meet The Press this Sunday, I noticed something unusual. And it wasn't the interview with "presidential candidate" Stephen Colbert. It was the roundtable discussion that followed his interview that caught my attention.

This political discussion panel, which is usually comprised of almost entirely of men, instead featured historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, journalists Kate O'Beirne and Judy Woodruff and author Sally Bedell Smith.

A few years ago, my organization, The White House Project, published a report called "Who's Talking," which highlighted the lack of women guests on the Sunday morning talk show circuit. Our research found that women comprise only 14 percent of guest appearances on these shows. Since that time, Meet the Press and other major talk shows have taken strides to rectify the situation and include more women opinion makers, journalists and experts. Sunday's show demonstrated what happens when you add women to the conversation: the discussion becomes anything but standard conventional wisdom-speak.

While the four women spent time addressing Sen. Clinton's campaign, one of the most important observations made during this discussion was about the enormous changes her candidacy has brought to the political dialogue. As pointed out by the panel, overnight male presidential candidates have started talking about women's issues.

During the last two presidential campaigns, women have struggled to get any attention for the issues that differentially affect them. There was almost a fear of the "W word" even when women ran the campaigns of the candidates.

Now every male presidential candidate's campaign website is talking about and talking to women. This shift in dialogue cannot be understated. There are many, many ways in which having a woman as a frontrunner is lifting the issue of women's leadership to the forefront, inspiring girls and educating boys about what girls can be and what boys can respect.

The currency we now have with men actually seeking our vote and talking about our visions is fabulous. Women need to take that to the bank.

Comments

[ThreeCentsWorth]

Yes!

[ms.understood]

That show is so boring, and I agree that they need a new host. Someone of color would be nice!

[larry278]

Having women on the pannel of MEET THE PRESS improves the pannel but Tim Russert has to go. Tim is almost as stupid as I am. Tell me that he's auditioning for Mr Ailes. Mr Russert is the prototype of a FAUX NOISE or FAUX [none of your] BUSINESS. Please, Roger, hire Tim. Mr Murdoch will give you his office if you hire Tim; that beats having you office next to Mr Murdoch's office.

[prochange]

You forgot to mention that all the other political talk shows regularly invite women, only Russert was nearly always all male. This is why I stopped watching Meet the Press.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

That show needs to be all-panel all-the-time.

Tim Potatohead Russert ain't cuttin it with his shallow one-trick game of quote-tag-gotcha.

[WHS]

I watched this panel twice thinking I must have missed out on the intelligent discussion you found "refreshing." What I saw and heard were the same unchallenged nonsense that comes out of the "stuffed shirted ego centric" men who generally bore up the place. In telling us that these fine journalists better inform the audience you blightely pass by the comments made about Mrs. Clinton. Ms. O'Bierne is regularly on such shows and she never misses a chance to point out that eventually such ugly incidents as "White Water, Monroe Guaranty, Travel Gate" etc. will come up and halt voters against voting for her. And as always the astute "well informed" women of the panel acted appropriately and didn't bother to point out that those "scandals" had all long ago been found to be baseless and manufactured. No, the female bobbleheads just as the ego driven men know it is not appropriate cohort behavior to challenge Ms. Bierne to substantiate her silly claims. No, these brave ladies sat still and nodded with approval at Ms. Bierne's perspicacity just as they do when Chris Matthews does his panty sniffing routine.
Apparently, these better informed women still don't know that these scandals were just made up and were so baseless that even the Clinton loving Mr. Starr could find no evidence of wrong doing. No, MTP, is the same silly place full of phony plutocratic journalists be it women or men.

WHS

[Alice A.N.]

"NOW - how's about a COMPLETE WOMAN ROUNDTABLE on a REGULAR BASIS."

On a constant basis - that would be as off putting to me as the usual all male panels. Usually I am interested in the POV not the gender of the speaker and the novelty of this particular panel was just that - they had something different to say.

I agree with the panel's analysis of the impact of a female candidate. Hillary's candidacy and Barack's have changed the tone of the election and will accomplish a lot simple by their participation in the process.

[xrayman]

It was nice not having Hillary criticized specifically for obvious chauvinistic reasons, i.e. hair, cleavage, cackle, voice, pants suits, etc.
Sure, go after her on issues, votes (Iran), etc., but men always are annoyed by her power, leadership, strength as a woman. On the Chris Matthews show even the woman journalists go after for superficial reasons.

[RealBlackGirl]

I watched that show as well. I wonder if the communities of color will get the same attention or will white women continue to be the major winners of Civil Rights struggle.

[Tiger]

Yet another panel of elite white women. Am I supposed to get excited about that? How damn hard is it to find just one accomplished woman of color? Just one. It's not, especially with the resources of "Meet The Press". At least bring a little diversity of background and opinion to the table. Women of color vote too, big time.

[boohall]

Take it to the bank? No dear, take it to the polls and make HER the next President!

[mommadona]

The fact that Tim Russert mentioned the fact that it was "all women" shouts out the "DUH" factor.

It was one of the most vigorous and INTELLIGENT roundtables I've seen in quite awhile.

The LACK OF THE MALE EGO-RUB needs was refreshing.
Women get down to the nitty gritty.
Men dance the 'light fantastic'.

NOW - how's about a COMPLETE WOMAN ROUNDTABLE on a REGULAR BASIS.

The world will be better informed all the way around.

Oh, did I mention it was refreshing not to have a bunch of stuft-shirted men sitting around contemplating their own egos?

[WRPrintz]

Know what is just as offensive as someone saying that men are better than women?

Re-read your comments, and you will.