Sexist? Not So Fast

Sexism: (noun) discrimination, chauvinism, gender prejudice, gender bias. (i.e. "Your hiring practices have generated numerous complaints about sexism.")

The Republican party handed out buttons at their convention that said "Hottest Governor from the Coolest State." On almost every TV courtroom drama ever made there's a moment when a lawyer utters the phrase, "The witness opened the door, Your Honor."

I wrote something that a few people call offensive in a post of mine today. Granted, it's pretty offensive. But if you think I'm going to apologize for it, you're out of your mind. In case you missed it, the offending line is, "I want to have sex with her [Palin] on my Barack Obama sheets while my wife reads aloud from the Constitution." In my business there's an old expression, "Never cut funny." And, excuse me, but that one's kinda funny. The debate over whether I'm sexist is somewhat more serious.

"Sexism" is discrimination or unfairly diminishing someone based on gender. I haven't discriminated against Sarah Palin based on her gender and I haven't diminished her based on it. She's diminished based on her intellect and experience and hubris and because they're using her gender in such a crass and cynical manner. I'm discriminating against her based on that fact and that she has as much business on the national political stage as Alice from the Brady Bunch.

I don't give a damn whether Palin has a penis or a vagina. When I wrote about Hillary Clinton during the primary I didn't comment on her gender. I don't care about her gender. Let me point out that I wrote an entire movie about sexual harassment (North Country -- click on the link over there on the right side of your screen). Don't you get it? I'm not insulting Sarah Palin, SHE IS INSULTING ME.

In the first part of her debut interview, she has let us in to a very small, ignorant and reckless mind. If she is going to tell me that the reason she's qualified to follow up on her threats of war with Russia and its thousands of nuclear warheads (that's n-u-c-l-e-a-r, by the way), is because on a clear day she can actually see Russia from her igloo window, then we have every right to take her on in both a serious manner and in the form of boundless ridicule. And, yes, even commenting on her appearance. Frankly, it's all she offers.

Imagine for a moment that McCain had picked the latest winner of The Bachelor as his running mate. Would we be sexist if we commented on her looks? Of course not. Sorry if you don't like it, but in my mind, there's not much that separates Sarah Palin from the attractive yet vapid winner of a reality show. As far as I'm concerned, she IS the attractive yet vapid winner of a reality show.

I'm not required to take her seriously simply because she's a woman and I might offend some people by tearing her down with irony and satire. I'm not required to take her seriously simply because this crotchety old man has insulted all of us, women and men, by smugly assuring us that he is the arbiter of experience and readiness. I'm not required to take her seriously when she actually was chosen, not because of her experience, but because of her appearance.

This is a woman chosen because of her attractiveness, both physically and ideologically, to a particular type of person. That person is not looking for depth. Not remotely. That person is looking for things that are just plain wrong. Not different, wrong. And one of those things is a padlock on your uterus. Now let's talk about sexism.

Comments

[poeticsinger]

Bravo!!! Enough said

[aramos]

Michael you are protesting way to much. In this PC world, anything you say can be construed as sexist, racist, anti-semitic, homophobic etc. It doesn't have to be true, but the door has been swung wide open to suggestion.

[RadicalConservative]

Liberals just don't get it. McCain didn't pick Palin to appease Democrats/Liberals or to woo their vote. He picked Palin to pick up more Independents and undecided Republicans. By the way, I have news for you libbies --- as a governor, Palin has more governing experience than Obama, Biden and McCain combined, nad you can throw Hillary into the mix too. If being a governor for two years is not sufficient experience, what was Obama thinking when he was considering picking Tim Kaine, the two -year governor from Virginia to be his running mate?

[mahaganapati]

you do realize that there is a difference between considering and choosing yes?

[GallopingCat]

But you're forgetting something: she's a huge liar. A fib teller. She's dishonest. Pinocchioette. She has a fact problem. A fabricator. She can't tell the truth.

Sarah Palin needs to take care of her kids and run the easiest state in the union--the one with the tax rebate for everyone every year.

[benevolent rapscallion]

The neocons are well known for their dishonesty. Sarah Palin blends in rather well don't you think?

[Counterglow]

No, you're wrong. McCain picked Palin in order to suck up to the hard-core right wing of the Republican party. He understands perfectly well that no matter how many of his old principles he throws out the window to espouse new, far-right ones, the perpetually-suspicious fundamentalist core still doesn't trust him. He needed "street cred" with the anti-abortion, anti-science, anti-intellectual base.

Now he has it.

[crutnacker]

Can someone tell me how being the Governor of Alaska somehow is "more governing experience" than Obama, Biden and McCain?

I have one letter for you.... W. Sarah Palin is W. She's a bully to those who don't play along. She doesn't appear to be a deep thinker. She is someone people "want to have a beer with", but doesn't appear capable of leading ducks across a street.

She's frightening.

[camb94]

This argument is tired and worn. Being the Governor of Alaska is like being the President of 25 person corporation. Say it is a computer corporation. You do a good job. You still aren't qualified to be the President of Microsoft. Governing experience is useful, but scale is important too. And regarding your Tim Kaine comment: 1. Obama didn't pick him!!!! 2. While considering him the Republicans made a BIG argument that he was unqualified because his experience was based on being Mayor of Richmond (much, much larger than Palin's hometown) and being Governor of such a small state. 3. Not only does Palin have very little experience, she has also demonstrated a lack of education and a glorification of ignorance.

[IndependentLass]

Excellent!
My problem with Palin isn't about her gender. In fact, her gender is about the only thing in her favor, in my opinion. I'm happy that women are FINALLY getting to this level of government. But not THIS woman!
Someday, maybe. But, she's not anywhere NEAR experienced or worldly enough to handle the SERIOUS issues and problems that this country faces. She can compare her experience to Obama's as much as she wants to, but the fact of the matter is, is that she has been focused on local and state issues during her short career and he has had his eye on the big picture the whole time.
This isn't Training Camp - and we can't afford to "pay" for her education.

[freddynono]

she isn't running for president. Obama is. And what you are saying about 'training camp" is exactly what Biden said about Obama. lol.

[IndependentLass]

"She isn't running for president."?
That's all you've got?
I expected better.

[nomobull]

then stop comparing her to the guy she is running against. and second in a way she is running for president in that she becomes president if something happens to mccain . hes 72 and has had more than one bout with cancer. now think about that.

[Pupadup4oBama]

And THEN Biden said that Obama has earned the spot...so there goes your idiotic point - right out the window...

BUH BYE!

[FogBelter]

Sexism ... hmm.

My wife is from the Philippines. When she was in college she applied for a job at a department store. There were 300 applicants. Before they were given an application to fill out they lined up in groups of five and were checked for weight and height ... too tall, too skinny, too fat ... bye bye, The girls that passed the first cut would then have one on ones with the hiring manager. Who would check their teeth, their complexion, their figure, and determine their personality. If the applicant passed all that, they were allowed to fill out an application.

There are some corporate customer service jobs in the Philippines where once a woman reaches a certain age (early 20's), if she can't transition to a back office position she's released.

I met another American in a hotel bar who was assigned to Manila by his corporation in a management position. At a point in our conversation he smiled, leaned over to me and said "You know what I love about this place? No such thing as sexual harassment."

I know things aren't perfect in the US in terms of sexism, but I have observed woman in a far worse situation to be sure.

[brianna4obama]

bravo.
i think i am addicted.

[hellodollygoodluck]

THAT WOMAN IS A BRIDGE TO NOWHERE! I loved North Country.

[bodo]

As a man I should probably stay out of this discussion. But the women I know who were Hillary voters in the primaries seem to consider Palin an insult to womanhood and all that feminism stands for. They wouldn't dream of voting for a Republican -- just think of the Supreme Court !

[Pupadup4oBama]

She IS an insult to intelligent women around this country (and world).
She is letting the "old boy network" dictate to her what she can and can not say and do. That doesn't sound like progressive feminism to me.

[benevolent rapscallion]

No you should not stay out of this discussion simply because you a man. Men can be feminists too and thankfully a lot of them are.

[Nightbender]

Brilliant synopsis Mr. Seitzman!
I have been making much of the same battle cry of "ridicule and reason". We must use both. Either separately does not accomplish the task. Ridicule makes people take second notice, and once they laugh at a person or preposterous notion, they can re-evaluate their perceptions. THEN, reason works on them. Reason with people that believe unsupportable lies only makes the believers adhere more adamantly to their prejudices.

Ridicule and reason!

[gianardil]

I have to ask this question. How much longer are the women of America going to go to pieces when a woman who has been asked very serious questions, simply cannot answer. Then the media, and the people who post here and on all the other sites, fall completely apart when a woman is called on the carpet for her failure to answer questions she should know. Simply as an informed citizen of the United States, but as a mayor, a governor, and now a potential VP candidate. That ticket scares me to death. At this point, I could care less how many women are angry, and making something sexism when it is not. I did not hear this kind of out cry when Nancy Pelosi was excoriated for her do nothing leadership. Where were the females who were not screaming then, now? Ms. Palin put herself in this position by accepting the nomination. As Michelle Obama said in an interview "why would you want to run? These people (Republican hate machine) are mean." There has never been a better question asked by anyone. If there is this kind of out pouring over Palin, where are the women who did not come to Michelle's defense, when she was portrayed as never having been proud of her country, and all the names she has been called, and still called. As a woman, all of this pick and choose who to defend makes my skin crawl.

[1grape]

Fairy Tales.....

The McCain ad comparing Obama campaign to a wolf pack circling to attack Palin is clearly sexist. This ad would never work at any level if Palin were a man. First, Palin was portrayed as a victim of the media and Obama's campaign attacks. Since that idea was accepted by so many, this ad was written to speak to the subconcious/culturally learned desire to protect a damsel in distress (or Little Red Riding Hood). This ad would have never been written if Palin was a man.

On the Palin phenomenon in general, I feel like I'm watching a video of "The Emperor's New Clothes". Millions of people annointed her perfect for the job immediately after watching her give one speech. I know that people said the same thing about Obama, but he has since given many, many speeches and MORE IMPORTANTLY appeared independently and answered questions from respected interviewers on many occasions. Palin is not allowed to speak and I guess that doesn't matter. (ABC's Gibson had to agree to too many terms to interview her for me to believe that the final cut was a real interview. Sorry. One fluffed up interview is not enough for me.) Enough people like the package and the story being told by McCain's campaign that she has instant "street cred" without having to go through any real interview. This is what really disturbs me. I am waiting for an innocent child to say "the Empress has no clothes!"

[Pupadup4oBama]

Obama had me at hello because he's speech was so compelling, it was beautifully written and worded. It spoke to the heart as well as the mind. He articulated what many people haven't been able to articulate these many many long years. After that initial infatuation yes, i had my doubts...but like any good relationship it takes time to build..especially after being abused by the current administration - it takes time to build that trust.
Ms. Moosechips is that one nite stand that you think might be able to work out because she's cute and perky and seems to have it all....but when you dig a little deeper - there's not much there.

[ElizabethMN]

I read those lines and gasped! But I'm hard to offend and laughed inside wondering how much wrath you were going to get for those lines.

If your lines are "offensive" then McCain's campaign claims of sexism of Obama against Palin are well beyond offensive... to ME, a woman, who sees through McCain's pathetic, *actual* sexist campaign.

[Pupadup4oBama]

You said it! McCain is the sexist one here...

[MedMunky]

Absolutely brilliant piece. I'm a new fan.

[ali-remixamerica]

If that is considered sexism, then count me in. As your wife is so understanding, I am sure she wouldn't mind an extra viewer (or is that voyeur?). I'll bring the popcorn.

[mercury613]

Seitzman's comment about wanting to have sex with Palin has to do with the fact that he finds her "kinda hot." It has nothing to do with her qualifications as a VP candidate. Yet many Republican men will vote for her *simply* because they think she's a hot piece of ass, regardless of her qualifications. THAT is sexist; Seitzman's comment is not.

The witness did, indeed, open the door. If McCain and Palin can't take it, then they need to stop dishing it out.

(Thank you for not apologizing, Mr. Seitzman. Your comment about having sex with Palin was hilarious, especially the part about her tranny makeup.)