McCain Campaign: SNL Portrayal of Palin Was Sexist

Most people have seen the opening sketch of the most recent episode of Saturday Night Live — the one featuring Tina Fey's dead-on impersonation of Sarah Palin. (Video here.)

Now, Fey's Palin is a bit empty-headed. She's portrayed as a superficial and illegitimate usurper of the role Hillary Clinton (played by Amy Poehler in the sketch) ought to rightfully play.

It would be pretty hard to label a sketch as sexist if it portrays one woman as intelligent and capable and another as shallow and untested. In fact, comparing two people on their merits, with no regard to their sex, would appear to be the opposite of sexism. Right?

Not during an election year. Everything is a potential talking point. Here is John McCain's favorite CEO and sexism-crier-in-chief, Carly Fiorina, trying her best to attack the sketch on MSNBC:

"I think that [the sketch] continues the line of argument [against Palin] 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. She has a lot of substance."

WTF does that even mean? Criticizing a woman for having less substance than another woman is sexist? Criticizing a woman for having different views than another woman is sexist? Disagreeing with a woman's views and thus portraying her as having less substance as another woman is sexist?

Or is the correct answer that anything that attacks Sarah Palin effectively is sexist?

Comments

I think it's ANYTHING that attacks or dares to question Sarah Palin is sexist, at least according to the McCain people. I'm in complete shock to see whats happening in this election. Are we Americans really that shallow?

Posted by: Steph on 09/15/08 at 11:43 AM Respond

Sexist? In what respect Charlie? ............
His world view?

Posted by: Bert Berat on 09/15/08 at 11:52 AM Respond

I really can't stop laughing at the idea that the right is so concerned about sexism. Yes, because they are such bastions of equality and all that.

There was nothing sexist about it, in my staunch feminist view. It's SNL, FFS - they were doing what they do to everyone, male or female. Way to reinforce the idea that Republicans have no sense of humor, McCain...

Posted by: Lea on 09/15/08 at 12:07 PM Respond

Well, any criticism of Obama makes you a racist.

Posted by: Rad on 09/15/08 at 12:44 PM Respond

Hey People,

what do you think the reaction would have been if they had a SNL character who did a step an fetch-it routine about obama..?

How about a black face skit with a community organizer..?

It works both ways.. huh?

Bill

Posted by: Bill NIgh on 09/15/08 at 1:00 PM Respond

um, yeah.. maybe they skipped you on the press memo... but anything at all that doesn't embrace Palin as though she was a litter of kittens or a gumdrop is indeed "sexist".
And yes Webster's will be updating the official definition to include questioning any female republican nomine.
Where was the McCain camp- I mean the sexist watchdog group united- when they were trying to critique Sen. Clinton’s ankles, or the barrage of negativity towards Ms. Michelle Obama at the beginning of this year. What did Fox call her “Obama’s baby mama”?- disgusting.. they should be sent to their rooms....and fined.

Posted by: Nikki S. on 09/15/08 at 1:01 PM Respond

I was just really happy to see this line:

"WTF does that even mean?"

Awesome! MJ has finally submitted to the grammar of hoi poloi. Welcome to our world.

Oh, and Carly Fiorina: stfu.

Posted by: Bryson on 09/15/08 at 1:03 PM Respond

Before McCain picked a running mate, I thought," I hope he picks someone who could take his place, as he is quite old." I mention his age not because of age prejudice but because being president is a high stress job, it takes youthful vitality and energy to do it.
I wanted to see a solid,youthful, experienced person behind him, not a media hype, focus group tested inexperienced newcomer. Why? Because I want what is best for the country, not because I am being sexist.
The republicans are protecting Palin because she does not have the well rounded background it takes to be involved in in depth interviews.
As we speak here she is getting a crash course in foreign policy.
As a woman myself, I do not believe I am being sexist when I say her background is not comprehensive enough to be my president. If she were a man or woman, I would say the same thing about her.
Obama is totally different, he has done hundreds of interviews and been affirmed or chosen by going through the electoral process...and voted in by the entire party.
I have the RIGHT to say Palin's entrance onto the polical stage makes me feel UNCOMFORTABLE. Call it anything you want, it is DANGEROUS that she who has has so little public scrutiny or experience could be our next president.

Posted by: Julie on 09/15/08 at 2:18 PM Respond

The Republican Party is such a joke right now. They have nothing praiseworthy to run on, have presided over a tanking economy, and have led us into a war without end. Their yelps of "sexism" at any criticism of Palin, whether legitimate criticism or not, shows that they think the American people are stupid.

Posted by: H.E. Whitney on 09/16/08 at 7:09 AM Respond

Bill, time to stop drinking the koolaide before you keel over.

Posted by: Paolo on 09/16/08 at 10:12 AM Respond