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Two days after decrying "deep sexism that runs through our society," Dick Morris provided more examples

September 05, 2008 5:36 pm ET

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SUMMARY: After Gov. Sarah Palin was announced as Sen. John McCain's running mate, Dick Morris characterized the media's coverage of Palin as the result of "the deep sexism that runs through our society." Two days later, Morris said that "when a woman wants to attack, it's hard because she's seen as strident or shrill," adding: "[Sen.] Hillary [Clinton] has that problem perhaps because she is strident and shrill."

46 Comments

Two days after characterizing the media's coverage of Gov. Sarah Palin as the result of "the deep sexism that runs through our society," Fox News contributor Dick Morris said on the September 4 edition of Neal Boortz's nationally syndicated radio show, following Palin's speech at the Republican National Convention the previous day, that "when a woman wants to attack, it's hard because she's seen as strident or shrill." Morris added: "[Sen.] Hillary [Clinton] has that problem perhaps because she is strident and shrill. But Sarah did it very pleasantly, and it was a wonderful model." Similarly, in his September 4 New York Post column, Morris wrote of Palin's speech: "Many women look bad when they attack their opponents, too often seeming strident and shrill. But Palin was funny and irreverant [sic], with a biting wit and a joy of combat that was exhilarating to watch."

On the September 2 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, Morris stated of the media's coverage of Palin: "A man would never have had to go through this. That his husband -- that her husband with DWI 20 years ago, that her daughter is having a kid, that there's a fight going on between her sister and her husband and the husband tasered the kid." He added: "It would never be asked about a man. It's the deep sexism that runs through our society."

During the September 3 edition of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, after airing a video clip of Morris' comment about "the deep sexism that runs through our society," host Jon Stewart highlighted several previous statements from Morris' appearance on the November 5, 2007, edition of Hannity & Colmes including, "When a woman wants to be president, she shouldn't complain based on gender," and "This is what Hillary Clinton always does -- she retreats behind the apron strings."

From the September 4 edition of Cox Radio Syndication's The Neal Boortz Show:

MORRIS: I think a couple of things happened. First of all, we discovered a superstar last night.

BOORTZ: You really think so?

MORRIS: Oh, absolutely. This woman is incredible. And you know what it is? She brings an English parliamentary political sense to American politics. We're used to the Rocky model.

BOORTZ: Yeah.

MORRIS: Punch them in the ribs and train on cow carcasses. The British don't do it that way. They do it with humor, and ranking people out, and mocking them. And that's what Sarah did. And when a woman wants to attack, it's hard because she's seen as strident or shrill. Hillary has that problem --

BOORTZ: She did it very pleasantly last night.

MORRIS: -- perhaps because she is strident and shrill. But Sarah did it very pleasantly and was really neat. It's a wonderful model.

From Morris' September 4 New York Post column:

With sass and wit, sarcasm and sincerity, courage and strength, Sarah Palin last night showed us a new model of female politician.

Her family stories were genuine and real. Her commitment to special-needs children was moving. Her contempt for special interests was obvious.

And her putdowns of Barack Obama's rhetoric and her praise of John McCain's character and achievements were welcome and well delivered.

Many women look bad when they attack their opponents, too often seeming strident and shrill. But Palin was funny and irreverant, with a biting wit and a joy of combat that was exhilarating to watch.

Sometimes she reminded us of the hockey mom she is. Other times, she was an American Margaret Thatcher - mobilizing humor and biting satire to mock the opposition.

From the September 2 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:

SEAN HANNITY (co-host): Well, I got to tell you, one of the things that has emerged in this campaign, in my view, is -- Sarah Palin has been now in the public spotlight for five days. There have been tougher and harder questions that have been asked relentlessly by a biased news media about her daughter than about Barack Obama, who's been running for 19 months.

MORRIS: A man would never have had to go through this. That his husband -- that her husband with DWI 20 years ago, that her daughter is having a kid, that there's a fight going on between her sister and her husband and the husband tasered the kid.

HANNITY: Right.

MORRIS: It would never be asked about a man. It's the deep sexism that runs through our society.

HANNITY: What is going to be the net result of that?

MORRIS: Well, right now, the whole election hangs in the balance. If McCain has to get rid of Palin, get rid of McCain. He's dead.

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    • Author by DAWUSS (September 05, 2008 5:43 pm ET)
         
      Is it just me, or is the GOP almost ready to make McCain the afterthought and make sidekick Palin the star of the show?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by snoopy (September 06, 2008 2:39 pm ET)
           

        Well, well, well. Palin is a racist too. who'da thunk?

        Alaskans Speak (In A Frightened Whisper): Palin Is “Racist, Sexist, Vindictive, And Mean”

        September 5, 2008

        sarah_palin_2.jpgby Charley James –

        “So Sambo beat the bitch!”

        This is how Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin described Barack Obama’s win over Hillary Clinton to political colleagues in a restaurant a few days after Obama locked up the Democratic Party presidential nomination.

        According to Lucille, the waitress serving her table at the time and who asked that her last name not be used, Gov. Palin was eating lunch with five or six people when the subject of the Democrat’s primary battle came up. The governor, seemingly not caring that people at nearby tables would likely hear her, uttered the slur and then laughed loudly as her meal mates joined in appreciatively.

        “It was kind of disgusting,” Lucille, who is part Aboriginal, said in a phone interview after admitting that she is frightened of being discovered telling folks in the “lower 48” about life near the North Pole.

        Then, almost with a sigh, she added, “But that’s just Alaska.”

        Racial and ethnic slurs may be “just Alaska” and, clearly, they are common, everyday chatter for Palin.

        Besides insulting Obama with a Step-N’-Fetch-It, “darkie musical” swipe, people who know her say she refers regularly to Alaska’s Aboriginal people as “Arctic Arabs” – how efficient, lumping two apparently undesirable groups into one ugly description – as well as the more colourful “mukluks” along with the totally unimaginative “f**king Eskimo’s,” according to a number of Alaskans and Wasillians interviewed for this article.

        But being openly racist is only the tip of the Palin iceberg. According to Alaskans interviewed for this article, she is also vindictive and mean. We’re talking Rove mean and Nixon vindictive.

        No wonder the vast sea of white, cheering faces at the Republican Convention went wild for Sarah: They adore the type, it’s in their genetic code. So much for McCain’s pledge of a “high road” campaign; Palin is incapable of being part of one.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by BillJ-MN (September 06, 2008 5:41 pm ET)
             

          That sure has the ring of truth, but I'd be uncomfortable asserting it as fact with that level of sourcing.  I'd love it if some more substantial evidence of those aspects of her character came up.  At first I thought she was kind of a blank slate non-entity, but the glimpses I've seen of her character have seemed to reveal some real ugliness.

          It would have been nice if you'd listed your source.

          Report Abuse
          • Author by snoopy (September 06, 2008 5:50 pm ET)
               
            Source...
            Report Abuse
            • Author by interestingobserver (September 06, 2008 11:47 pm ET)
                 
              As we all know, hearsay is reliable 100% of the time when it's negative about Republicans, 0% of the time when it's negative about Democrats. 
              Report Abuse
              • Author by snoopy (September 07, 2008 1:54 pm ET)
                   
                My experience has been that republicans will believe anything you tell them - as long as the source is another republican.
                Report Abuse
        • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (September 07, 2008 5:09 am ET)
             

          Snoop, I generally love your posts here, and you're great at finding stories that are buried by the MSM, but I have to agree that these anonymous source type of reports are better left to the rightys.

          As ridiculous as it may seem, considering the BS posted here and on cable tv and am radio by the right wing, we need to hold to higher standards. I hate it that it  can mean losing elections, but if that's the price of having a conscience, well...

          At least , put a big fat disclaimer by the stuff!  ;0)

          Report Abuse
    • Author by ukobserver (September 05, 2008 5:46 pm ET)
         
      Never has a man had a more appropriate first name. If Palin came to England to debate she would be torn to shreads. Maybe some of the conservative posters here can give one good justifyable reason why this woman will not turn up for one interview? I still can't believe this idiot has been allowed on British tv as any kind of authority.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by watershed (September 05, 2008 5:51 pm ET)
           
        Dick Morris is a modern phenomenon, like acid rain. What an absolute and complete ass. A truly contemptible man.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by djasper2761 (September 05, 2008 8:55 pm ET)
             
          He has found a perfect venue for his vile BS, Completely and totally fake news. This phoney "news" channel is pulling out all the stops when praising the repubelicans #1 and #2 choices. It really makes me gag. I must confess however, I am a rubber necker and I love "train wrecks" Watching bill OH really and insHannity gets my motor running and when trickey dickey II is on, I am in stitches. He is toooo weird. Just making crap up is his motis operandi. He sells books though and really, That is the name of the game.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by ultrasanktpauli (September 05, 2008 5:53 pm ET)
           
        Um wow. Really really lame.

        The problem with British journalists is that they ask these questions...and when not satisfied with the answer they continue to hammer. and hammer. and hammer.

        This pitbull of a woman would be reduced to a puddle of shivering pudding.

        The only pitbull remaining about her would be her face. but more lipstick always helps.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by wolf kotenberg (September 05, 2008 6:00 pm ET)
           
        She still mkight be torn to shreds over here also. She is in Alaske right now receiving a crash course on GOP politics. Throws a monkey wrench ( or spanner ) on the argument she is ready to take over at a moments notice.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by worrierking (September 05, 2008 6:05 pm ET)
           
        Not sure if you've heard any of her "sermons" from her church, but they're astonishing.

        We're in danger of having an even more messianic leader than we have now.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by tommy (September 05, 2008 6:34 pm ET)
             
          I love the way some on the right derided it when Obama inspired people and said his appeal was all style and no substance, now it appears that they have found their angelic "messiah" and it's suddenly a wonderful thing.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by ukobserver (September 05, 2008 7:01 pm ET)
               

            In all the years that l ahve been reading and posting on this site that has to be one of the most concise and correct posts l have ever read from you. Have you seen the comments from true christians about Sarah Palin? Some of the most inciteful things l have read these two weeks.

             

            www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/5/24645/29868

            Report Abuse
          • Author by wookie (September 06, 2008 8:57 am ET)
               
            But she's a hockey mom who loves mooseburgers and Jesus! Who needs a legal and political background?
            Report Abuse
        • Author by wolf kotenberg (September 05, 2008 7:14 pm ET)
             
          Where do I find these sermons /
          Report Abuse
          • Author by worrierking (September 05, 2008 9:12 pm ET)
               

            Here's a link to an NPR story about Palin and her faith. There's also audio of her comment about war being "the lords work".'

            http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94332540

            Report Abuse
    • Author by shaggles (September 05, 2008 5:51 pm ET)
         
      Hillarious!  I like Boortz' comment that "She did it very pleasantly..."  WTF?  Did he watch the convention?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by watershed (September 05, 2008 5:53 pm ET)
         

      Calling Palin shrill is sexist, but not Hillary, because she IS shrill. Is that REALLY what he said?

      Something is stirring, like Obama said. It has. Lately its been just flat out anger.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by Dem02020 (September 05, 2008 6:04 pm ET)
         

      We've already been over this material, so it should be quick and easy this time around.

      The single most sure most fool-proof way to make yourself absolutely immune from any charge that you have said something racist, is to just keep your opinions about race to yourself, and never broach the subject... who could ever be accused of saying something racist, when they said absolutley nothing whatsoever about race at all?

      The same is true of sexism (whatever that stupid word is supposed to actually mean): if you just refrain from unnecessarily invoking that this or that person is a woman or a man, then how could you ever be accused of having said anything sexist?

      It's old news... there's no sense in prattling on about it... what, do you think you're telling me something I don't already know? Does dick morris think he's informing us about something?

      There are women and African-Americans and Hispanics and Jews and Asian-Americans in American politics, in Congress, and yes even running for the Presidency and the Vice Presidency... we get it... it's not news, so there is no reason to keep talking about it.

      dick morris should just keep his mouth shut, not only for this particular reason, but also because his breath stinks like an open sewer.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by eweston8542983 (September 05, 2008 6:14 pm ET)
         
      Gum disease?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by DAWUSS (September 05, 2008 6:23 pm ET)
           

        I thought it was "foot in mouth" syndrome.

         

        Numerous politicians and pundits seem to have a habit of doing that...

        Report Abuse
        • Author by SFnomad (September 05, 2008 6:46 pm ET)
             
          In Dick's case, it's more likely just "Toe in mouth."
          Report Abuse
          • Author by DAWUSS (September 05, 2008 9:53 pm ET)
               
            That's weird, I thought he had a big mouth... ;)
            Report Abuse
            • Author by SFnomad (September 06, 2008 12:23 am ET)
                 
              He has that too ... but he also has a preference for "toe-sucking and dominance," when it comes to prostitutes.  It's when that story broke that he resigned from President Clinton's re-election campaign.
              Report Abuse
    • Author by ultrasanktpauli (September 05, 2008 6:45 pm ET)
         
      ooops just read that her 'people' are not going to let her talk to the press. i guess outside of people magazine...

      i wonder how that will fly?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Spartacus (September 05, 2008 7:08 pm ET)
         
      Yes, quite - I remember how Margaret Thatcher used to stun her Labor Party adversaries with devastating anecdotes about the virtues of mooseburgers, stiletto heels, and hollowpoint ammunition.  And then deliver the coup de grace with an elequent "Yup, yup, absolutely".  Brilliant!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (September 05, 2008 7:31 pm ET)
           

        I know this country can survive just about anything, and I'm hoping there can't possibly be enough of the ignorant-Americans to put the Grampy-Palin duo in the White House, but I still am shuddering to think how stinking embarrassing that would be.

        This country's common sense can not have been collectively destroyed to the point that these two bags of nuthin, even with their apostles in the media covering their asses, can be elected, can it?

        Is it getting really hard to believe just a short time ago they were trying to pass off the story about Obama being the Chosen One and media darling?

        Report Abuse
        • Author by worrierking (September 05, 2008 9:46 pm ET)
             

          I'm hoping you're right Colonel. We probably will survive regardless of who wins. I'm not sure what life in America will be like if the "Mavrick" wins.

          I'm just getting around to watching Gramp's speech tonight.

          Did you have the Jingometer going as you watched it? Christ it's scary when they start that USA, USA crap. I'll bet you had to take it into the shop.

          Hunter Thompson was right. These people really are a bunch of flag-suckers. 

          Report Abuse
      • Author by ukobserver (September 05, 2008 7:40 pm ET)
           
        Did you know that Thatcher has dementia? I would like to be kind but l can never forgive what she put our country through. I know of at least ten people who will cheer when she passes. I know that myself and a friend will be wearing tee-shirts with the message "Dibg Dong the witch is dead".
        Report Abuse
      • Author by ukobserver (September 05, 2008 7:41 pm ET)
           

        Sorry that message will read:

         

         "Ding Dong the witch is dead".

        Report Abuse
    • Author by eweston8542983 (September 05, 2008 8:04 pm ET)
         
      Goon Show Line,"He's one of Mrs. Thatcher's incomprehensives."
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Amy321 (September 05, 2008 8:51 pm ET)
         
      I think the whole crying sexism was done purposefully to get the media to back off IN GENERAL, hoping that no one would question her about anything.  Well, I hate to tell 'em, but it's already backfiring.  Her true self is being revealed and we're seeing more and more evidence of her lying, abuse of power, and corruption.   
      Report Abuse
    • Author by bacci40 (September 06, 2008 3:45 am ET)
         

      can the toesucker please explain why palin (who probably couldnt pick out britain on a world map, let alone the british parliamentary system) the new rockstar, is about to be spirited away back to alaska to undergo intensive education sessions on all aspects of the federal government?

      is it sexism to point that out?

      is it really sexism to point out that palin lied to the american people from day one about her entire record?

       and really...a man would be treated like this? had it been obama walking around with a pregnant daughter, you guys wouldnt be all over it

      god...this guy is the ultimate sleaze

      anyone have the tape where thom hartman shuts him up...but good? 

       

      Report Abuse
    • Author by moe (September 06, 2008 9:09 am ET)
         
      There is something else, quite insidious running through our society that no one wants to address.

      I'm talking of course about deep stupidity. And Dick Morris is deeply stupid...with very bizarre mouth/lip movements.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by jmh (September 06, 2008 2:17 pm ET)
         
      This clip could just as well be in the Hannity column.

      His comments are, as usual. incorrect. At this point my assumption

      is that Hannity lies deliberately, addictively. He can remember just fine.

      More blame belongs to Hannity's viewers for his continuance as a broadcaster.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by peebs755 (September 06, 2008 3:16 pm ET)
         
      Repugs lie about Obama (palin's and grampy's speeches), but thats okay. Obama says nothing about her daughter, and addresses the lies, and he's attacking them. That seems to be the repugs mindset.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by interestingobserver (September 06, 2008 8:24 pm ET)
         

      Oh I get it.  Calling Hillary "shrident and shrill" is the same as calling women in general "shrident and shrill." That's why Morris's attack on Hillary is an example of sexism.  Great logic, as usual, from Media Matters. 

      Report Abuse
    • Author by interestingobserver (September 06, 2008 11:24 pm ET)
         

      I meant "strident"

      Report Abuse
    • Author by nananance (September 07, 2008 11:15 am ET)
         
      If you're looking for examples of sexism running through our society, you don't have to lower yourself to watch Fox, just play back Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann on MSNBC during the primary campaign  talking about Hillary Clinton and comparing her to everyone from Madame DeFarge to Glenn Close's character in "Fatal Attraction"
      Report Abuse
    • Author by elaineapeterson7976 (September 07, 2008 9:38 pm ET)
         

      ever since Dick Morris was caught on camera with his pantsa down and with a prostitute, he has been trying to get back at the Democrats. He is bitter and angry and will lie and do anything possible to get back because he was fired. Rengence is mine sayth the Lord.I don't even think John McCain would deny his daughters an abortion if they were raped. Sarah Palin would. Her right wing fanatacism will not sit well with Hillary supports. As one of them, I have jumped onto the Obama train in fear of these Republicans who are hell bent on taking away my rights as a woman. Let'sd not let the pinstrip republicians decide our reproductive rights. Is the American public aware that Sarah belongs to as feminist group that doesn't believe in birthcontrol escept abstinence. Hasn't worked too well even starting in her family 

       

      Report Abuse
    • Author by elaineapeterson7976 (September 07, 2008 9:43 pm ET)
         
      Hannity and company are trying to convince the public it is the democrats who are smearing Sarah Palin. Someone needs to ask them their source. I bet other than the tabloids, no media would ever get involved in sexism. They advance the idea to make it look like it was the Democrats when in reality they keep bringing up the subjuect of her pregnant teenager.While Sarah professes to us that all Special needs children will "Have a friend in the White House", look into her record. It shows she cut the budget in Alasaka for special needs education by 5 millions dollars. The media needs to do their homework and expose her.
      Report Abuse

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