Now that the 2016 election season is here with a few prominent female presidential candidates in the mix, we can expect to hear an onslaught of sexist and totally inappropriate comments fired their way. Sadly, it won’t be surprising considering the long history our country has of people in the media and other political figures not respecting female candidates in the same way as their male counterparts. It seems that comments about their family life, bodies, sexuality, hairstyles and marriage are all under scrutiny in a way that a male candidate’s would not be. Let’s take a look at some more egregious examples from the last few years of prominent figures saying sexist things about female political candidates.
Look at that face
“Look at that face!”
“Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?”
And “I mean, she’s a woman, and I’m not s’posedta say bad things, but really, folks, come on. Are we serious?” — Donald Trump, speaking about presidential campaign rival Carly Fiorina.
Like a prostitute
“We’re with a high-class prostitute. That’s what we’re with…. You’re not sittin’ there in a back alley and sayin’, ‘Hey what do you say? Five bucks?’ No, no, no. This comes to your Four Seasons hotel room and does it right. There’s nobody that’s going to look at her and say, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re with a whore…” — Glenn Beck about Sen. Mary Landrieu
Like a lady
“I’m going to treat you like a lady… Now act like one.” — Sen. Arlen Specter when speaking to Rep. Michele Bachmann
The ‘hot’ senator
“Many senators are known for many things …. We in the Senate refer to Sen. Gillibrand as the hottest member.” — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Pig in lipstick
“That’s not change. That’s just calling something the same thing something different. You know you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig…” — Barack Obama speaking about Sarah Palin
Because surely, all women vacuum
“I think I’m going to send Sotomayor, and her club, a bunch of vacuum cleaners to help them clean up after their meetings.” — Rush Limbaugh, speaking about Sonia Sotomayor
If not for her husband
“The reason she’s a U.S. senator, the reason she’s a candidate for president, the reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around.” — Chris Matthews of Hillary Clinton
That hair
“God, what is that hair? So yesterday.” — Carly Fiorina of Sen. Barbara Boxer
Slutty flight attendant
[From his Top Ten List about a trip to New York, Sarah Palin] “Bought makeup from Bloomingdale’s to update her ‘slutty flight attendant’ look.” — David Letterman
She’s kind of cute
“I’ll say something else about Christine O’Donnell. You ready? I’d rather look at her than Mike Castle. I think she’s kind of cute. I think she’s kind of refreshing. She’s a conservative. What’s the problem?” — Rush Limbaugh of conservative activist Christine O’Donnell
Looks like a turkey
“Good heavens! I’m sorry, I just looked up at Madeleine Albright, and she’s… No, normally it burns our eyes out… And look at the neck skin on her… Does she kind of look like a turkey? … Look at her eyes and her nose. She looks like a turkey.” — Glenn Beck of Madeleine Albright
Crossing his legs
“I have often said, when she comes on television, I involuntarily cross my legs.” — Tucker Carlson speaking about Hillary Clinton
A large posterior
“She lectures us on eating right, while she has a large posterior herself.” — Sen. Jim Sensenbrenner, speaking about first lady Michelle Obama and her dietary initiatives
Why we vote
“We want to have her over for dinner. I trust her. I want her watching my kids. I want her laying next to me in bed. That’s the way people vote.” — Donny Deutsch of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin
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