June 11, 2001 — Have you noticed? The blatant, rampant MSM misogyny that characterized their coverage of Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Primary Campaign has suddenly disappeared? After praise of her exit speech, followed by a few days of hand-wringing, commentary, and respectful interviews with “Hillary Democrats” about what can be done to woo them, all the nastiness that was slung interminably has gone and dried up. It’s as if none of it ever happened.
Don’t worry. We won’t forget.
Sunday, May 25, 2008, when people were away, boozin’ n barbequin’ and generally having a good time over Memorial Day weekend, Howard Kurtz was on the job. On his show, Reliable Sources, Kurtz hosted a panel of three women who discussed The Media and Misogyny. The panelists, who were not all Hillary supporters, came to her defense as a woman candidate, and a First Lady, who deserves and has earned respect. The panelists were CNN Correspondent Carol Costello, radio talk show host and Republican Blanquita Cullum, and Washington Post syndicated columnist Marie Coco. They spoke about the sexism that women and women pundits also buy into, which goes largely uncovered by the MSM.
Women voicing for women in concert. Go ladies!
Statement from the Women’s Media Center:
On May 23, The Women’s Media Center, along with our partners at Media Matters, launched, “Sexism Sells, But We’re Not Buying It,” a new video and online petition campaign illustrating the pervasive nature of sexism in the media’s coverage. While Hillary Clinton’s campaign has cast a spotlight on the issue of sexism, this isn’t a partisan issue: it’s about making sure that women’s voices are present and powerful in our national dialogue.
Let’s send a message to the media:
Sexism Might Sell, But We’re Not Buying It!
Click here to join the WMC petition campaign (scroll down page to sign up).
From WMC president Carol Jenkins:
Women are a driving force in the U.S. economy with a purchasing power of more than $7 trillion a year, and purchase fully 82 percent of all products and services in the U.S. Earlier this year, The Women’s Media Center joined NOW, the Feminist Majority, and the National Women’s Political Caucus to speak out against the particularly egregious remarks Chris Matthews made about Hillary Clinton’s campaign, when he said that “the reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around” (MSNBC’s Morning Joe, January 9, 2008). Speaking for more than 15 million women across the United States, the coalition secured an on-air apology from Matthews, and assurances from NBC executives that steps were being taken to address the situation. Yet the situation persists, which is why The Women’s Media Center is taking this next step, releasing a video and launching an online petition campaign to allow women to speak out against this continuing sexism.
Read Carol Jenkins’ entire statement about the video campaign.
The Women’s Media Center strives to make women visible and powerful in the media. From our founding in 2004 by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem to our advocacy and media relations work today, we are part of a strong feminist tradition that seeks to hold the media accountable for presenting the world as we know it.
Friendly nod to Cooney for posting the petition campaign at Hillary Clinton Forum.
Lady Boomer NYC 