Brown Denounces McCain Camp for 'Sexist Treatment' of Palin

CNN anchor Campbell Brown, famous for her repeated clashes with the McCain-Palin campaign, went off on a "short rant" last night against GOP staffers for putting "chauvinistic chains" around vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

Brown's lecture during the first minutes of her "Election Center" show came on the heels of extended complaints from American news media about how the McCain camp is acting wrongly by not allowing reporters to be present during a series of meetings Palin is having with European leaders.

Excluding the media is not only wrong, Brown argued, it is further proof that the McCain campaign is treating Palin like a "delicate flower that will wilt at any moment."

That's not necessary since Palin can handle the pressure, Brown argued, despite the fact that the CNN anchor has repeated questioned Palin's qualifications.

"By treating Sarah Palin different from the other candidates in this race, you're not showing her the respect she deserves," Brown said. "Free Sarah Palin. Free her from the chauvinistic chains you're binding her with. Sexism in this campaign must come to an end."

Full transcript of Brown's remarks is below. Watch the video above.

In just a moment, we're going to have the very latest on the negotiations and how they will affect you.

But, first, bear with me for a short rant on another subject, because, frankly, I have had it. And I know a lot of other women out there are with me on this. I have had enough of the sexist treatment of Sarah Palin. It has to end.

She was here in New York City today meeting with world leaders at the U.N. And what did the McCain campaign do? They tried to ban reporters from covering those meetings. And they did ban reporters from asking Governor Palin any questions.

Tonight, I call on the McCain campaign to stop treating Sarah Palin like she is a delicate flower that will wilt at any moment. This woman is from Alaska, for crying out loud. She is strong. She is tough. She is confident. And you claim she's ready to be one heartbeat away from the presidency.

If that is the case, then end this chauvinistic treatment of her now. Allow her to show her stuff. Allow her to face down those pesky reporters, just like Barack Obama did today, just like John McCain did today, just like Joe Biden has done on numerous occasions. Let her have a real news conference with real questions.

By treating Sarah Palin different from the other candidates in this race, you're not showing her the respect she deserves. Free Sarah Palin. Free her from the chauvinistic chains you're binding her with. Sexism in this campaign must come to an end.

Sarah Palin has just as much a right to be a real candidate in this race as the men do. So, let her act like one.

We're going to have more on Palin's cloistered day coming up in just a moment.