Fiorina calls SNL impersonation of Palin 'sexist'

Mon, 09/15/2008 - 5:44PM by dreamsugar 10 Comments - 84 Views

From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

(CNN) — A top aide to John McCain said Monday she thought comedian Tina Fey's impersonation of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin on NBC's Saturday Night Live over the weekend was sexist because it portrayed the Alaska governor as lacking in substance.

The NBC comedy show's season premiere began with a "nonpartisan message" during which Fey's Palin and Amy Poehler's depiction of Hillary Clinton called for an end to sexism in the presidential race.

"The portrait was very dismissive of the substance of Sarah Palin, and so in that sense, they were defining Hillary Clinton as very substantive, and Sarah Palin as totally superficial," Fiorina told MSNBC earlier Monday. "I think that continues the line of argument that is disrespectful in the extreme, and yes, I would say, sexist in the sense that just because Sarah Palin has different views than Hillary Clinton does not mean that she lacks substance."

Watch: 'Palin' makes SNL debut

The former Hewlett-Packard CEO is among McCain's most high profile surrogates and earlier this month was the first member of the Arizona senator's campaign to suggest Democrats were launching sexist attacks at the Republican VP candidate.

"I am appalled by the Obama campaign's attempts to belittle Governor Sarah Palin’s experience,” Fiorina said then. “The facts are that Sarah Palin has made more executive decisions as a Mayor and Governor than Barack Obama has made in his life."

Fiorina, along with other high-profile female backers of McCain, held a press conference at the Republican National Convention criticizing the Obama campaign and the media for what they said were sexist comments about Palin.

"I think one of the things Hillary Clinton's run for the presidency did is attune women's ears to sexist attacks…. Many people have demeaned or belittled [Palin's] experience — and as women, we all know how frequently that happens. This is a well qualified candidate for the vice presidency," she said.

Source: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/15/fiorina-calls-snl-impers...


1

SNL has spoofed every president and vp for years. Get over it. Hillary is smarter and more experienced than Palon IMO. I guess now anytime anyone criticizes Palin they are going to be called sexist.

Mon, 09/15/2008 - 6:11pm

2

That skit was hilarious.

And, as was mentioned in it, just ask Palin "what she thinks about dinosaurs".

That woman is a walking joke. She's lucky SNL only poked fun at what they did -- they certainly could have done much more.

Mon, 09/15/2008 - 6:47pm

3

They're going to keep calling foul, that's why Biden has to be so careful.

Mon, 09/15/2008 - 6:49pm

4

BTW, I don't think it went to far. It was on point and funny.

Mon, 09/15/2008 - 7:00pm

5

I totally agree, SNL told it how it is! It was in no way sexist and Republicans are just in denial of Palin's of credentials. She's an empty vessel, face it, geez.

Mon, 09/15/2008 - 7:32pm

6

Lampooning has always been a mainstay of political life.
To now say that it's sexist to lampoon her is sexism in itself.
She's a woman so therefore her delicate sensibilities will be offended?
This complaint has again reinforced just how much more substance there is to HRC and how Palin is the most token of gestures.

Mon, 09/15/2008 - 9:12pm

7

Personally -- I think anger and outrage (however fake it is) is part of the strat. It's interesting -- because people are eating it up -- getting just as fired up. It's all ridiculous.

Mon, 09/15/2008 - 9:18pm

8

"...sexist because it portrayed the Alaska governor as lacking in substance..."

And this sentence doesn't even make any sense. Women or men can lack the substance required to fulfill the duties of any given position. Its not sexist, its just dead-on comedy.

This is pretty pathetic, and if anything I think its pretty gross how THEY willfully mis-use HER gender as an excuse to avoid any real criticism. THAT..is sexism.

God help the country if the USA ends up putting these two jokers in office. I truly think it will be the worst possible thing America could do for itself - much less the rest of the planet.

Tue, 09/16/2008 - 1:58am

9

I don't understand how it can be considered sexist to portray Sarah Palin as "totally superficial" but portray Hillary Clinton as "very substantive."

Um, hello? They are BOTH women. I think that this is the weakest, most pathetic argument I've ever heard.

And I agree with rabidmoon - the fact that the McCain/Palin camp will cry sexism at any turn is sexist in itself. If the VP candidate was a male and was getting the same reaction from the media and public in terms of his values, beliefs and lack of experience, what would his campaign whine about then?

Tue, 09/16/2008 - 6:14am

10

Carla Fiorina is a very smart woman, but I wonder if she realized how stupid she looked going on air with this message.

Tue, 09/16/2008 - 6:57am


Post A Comment

To post comments, please log in or register.

About Me