Is there anything stranger than a liberal reporter being upset that a semi-nude picture from 1982 didn’t sink a political candidate? Washington Post reporter Monica Hesse stamped on the sour grapes on Wednesday with a temper tantrum of an article on the front page of the Style section headlined "It’s okay. Scott Brown was just being a man. Ah, gender equity. That Cosmo spread might have sunk a woman".
What a snide, opinionated headline! Hesse began by suggesting nude pics had surfaced of Martha Coakley, and then, surprise, it was the other way around. Hesse’s topic sentence: "The morning after the election, a student of gender politics might ask: How different would the story have looked if the shoe -- Lack of shoes? Lack of clothes? -- actually had been on the female body?"
She found an expert to endorse and repeat the complaint:
"Men who are naughty are [viewed as] just dudes being dudes," says Eric Dezenhall, a crisis management specialist in Washington. "Women who are naughty are unstable and must be stopped."
She briefly entertained the notion that nude pictures of Sarah Palin might have been trouble in 2008, just to shred it:
"No. No. No. No. No," says Sue Tolleson-Rinehart, editor of the compendium "Gender and American Politics." "A female candidate for whom such photographs were uncovered would have a very difficult time living it down." With men, it's different. It's even, plausibly, laudable. "You might argue that he's projecting a kind of virility that we associate with strength and leadership."
When is the last time you heard someone look at a picture of a naked woman and comment on her leadership skills? Remember Hillary Clinton's cleavage, and what stir that inch of skin caused after one 2007 debate?
No one argued then that men -- aroused by some primordial mammary fixation -- might feel compelled to vote for Clinton, though such an argument might have been based on research. In 2008, researchers at Northwestern University found that male voters were swayed by sexuality, predominantly declaring that the more "competent" female candidates were the more attractive ones.
Hesse's one of those feminists who can't even seem to arrive at the concept that there are only two genders. Notice this from a chat transcript on Wednesday discussing her whiny article:
Monica Hesse: I kinda doubt we're moving toward a place where baring some flesh is seen as increasingly more taboo -- for any gender.
"Any gender"? Wouldn't the proper English be "either"?
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
Obama doing drugs in
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 00:06 ET by toneyukiObama doing drugs in highschool didn't sink his campaign either.
I left the Republican party because the Republic party went to the LEFT of me.
Who's the pre-teen in the
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 00:09 ET by BKeyserWho's the pre-teen in the picture for this thread?
As for the spread- if cocaine use and elbow-rubbing domestic terrorists didn't hurt Barry, why should a picture that revealed as much as any life guard hurt Brown?
I think it's Hesse
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 00:16 ET by goodone91I think it's Hesse
well if it is, she needs to
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 00:20 ET by BKeyserwell if it is, she needs to get back to her homework and stop moonlighting for WaPo.
Typical
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 00:10 ET by EddieWalkerHow many pictures did we have to see of Obama running around on the beach? Did that get him votes or lose him votes? I wonder if she has a great big, giant poster of Obama without any clothes on in her house?
I'm sure
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 00:12 ET by VonuHe lost a fair share of the prudish vote. Coulda won by 16 pts. had it not be for em pix/
Freedom is a vital component of human effectiveness and fulfillment.
Odd
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 00:16 ET by BondPlainBondNo one had a problem with these almost-nude pics of Obama.
Maybe it's the name of the publication with which the liberal contingent is having difficulty. It's not TIME or Newsweek in which Scott Brown appeared sans shirt.
Men are shirtless all the time. We see shirtless men all the time. It's a normal and natural way for men to participate in sports.
Women? Not so much. Unless you're this woman.
This is a silly, silly point of contention.
BPB-
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 00:49 ET by BKeyserThat woman seems to be less, um, endowed than that one. So, in a way, I actually do have a problem with the almost-nude pics of the boy wonder. Or maybe the pics aren't really the issue...
BKeyser
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 01:05 ET by BondPlainBondThis is going to be a polarizing topic, isn't it? *G*
BKeyser
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 01:05 ET by BondPlainBondThis is going to be a polarizing topic, isn't it? *G*
A question re. "Pretty Boy" Brown.
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 00:45 ET by JerNot that I'm particulary interested in the modeling career of Scott "Pretty Boy" Brown, but, just out of curiousity, what exactly is a "semi-nude pic" of a male? A photo from the waist up? Totally naked except for a fig leaf? A shot of his a$$?
Any experts out there?
Jer
I'm no expert . . .
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 13:28 ET by GalvanicBut perhaps semi-nude means exposing one's 'semi.'
"...nude pics...of Martha Coakley..."
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 01:36 ET by wnaegeleShudder!
Double shudder: "Hillary cleavage"
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 09:38 ET by SickofLibsWon over millions of primordial male voters
can you say barney frank and gay prositution ring???
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 01:58 ET by chisanaFunny it seems like allowing a gay prostitution ring in your basement run by your gay lover would have gotten Barney Frank kicked out of office but apparently NOT! Killing an innocent girl when you drive the car off the bridge while driving drunk, as with Teddy Kennedy didn't hurt his career either so WHY on EARTH would a mere SEMI-nude photo make a dent unless us Republicans and independents are a bunch of homophobic prudes like the dems seem to think we are? But I thought we were, so surely we didn't vote for Brown? Something is wrong with this 'logic'. You must be an intellectual reporter! Ha. Palin wouldn't make this mistake!
Someone on another blog
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 12:18 ET by Mica the MagnificentSomeone on another blog wrote concerning Barney Frank's speech pattern:
Did the marbles in his head fall down into his mouth?
Too funny!
No amount of mammary
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 07:23 ET by ampul manNo amount of mammary fixation would ever compel me to vote for her.
CNN, the Clinton News Network---Bill decides; Hill reports
Man-made global warming is real: man made it by cooking the books
Yeah, only Obama is allowed
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 08:49 ET by wiwfYeah, only Obama is allowed to be a beefcake!
/sarcasm
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
Chappa-Dabba-Dooo!
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 09:38 ET by CrashBut ... a women drowning in your care is totally acceptable!
Please don't post Barack topless
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 11:03 ET byPlease don't post pics of Barack Topless the make me want to toss my soup. If I had to pick a picture to look at all day or die. It would be Scott. At least he has a shape. I'm sorry But BO does not look good with his shirt off. Keep it on and add more cloths and please dear god never show Michelle in a bikini. I would have to use eye bleach to get rid of that image.
It seems like she was saying
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 11:36 ET by sherylsimsthat the cleavage GOT votes for Hillary... So how is it sexism if some naughty pics didn't take away all the votes for Scott Brown? Evidently Americans like to see what they are getting when they vote. They should just strip them all nude on election day and... never mind.
By the way, I don't remember Hillary showing cleavage, but ~shudder~
Exercising his rights
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 11:35 ET by ICONIC FREEDOMBrown was exercising his rights toward self-reliance by posing for a magazine which paid him money for which he could live his life.
If some people want to "judge" his decision, fine, no problem. I have no such issue, it's not my business.
In upholding free markets, he made a choice, the magazine made a choice, they both engaged thru mutual consent; their choices did not infringe on the freedoms of others to choose or not choose to live their lives in freedom. So what's the big deal?
Yes, in the mid 1980's, religious people made a huge stink about Vanessa Williams, to the extent that it ended her reign as Miss America. Republicans ought to be more outraged that Brown wants to serve public office, which is far more impacting than Vanessa's role as Miss America.
However - times have changed, and as is the strength of Republicans, they have self-evaluated and self-corrected such ridiculous notions that a person need be "perfect" in order to serve in office and serve the people.
There is no human being who is practically perfect in every way.
It is more important that we seek people who have integrity and character over time, most especially those who assimilate individual freedom and who can represent the people in that pursuit.
Why Aren't You Offended, Dammit?
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 12:10 ET by slickwillie2001Yes, it's funny to watch the liberals thrash about, frustrated because they can't find our "I'm-offended" button. Expressed another way:
"What these stories instead go to prove is that liberals are attempting to market to a caricature of conservatives and independents, and that the oppressive 'Christian Taliban' strawman they've created only exists in their insular community-based realities. It's a flawed assumption, and an example of the kind of groupthink that may cost Democrats even more seats in the 2010 midterms." (http://confederateyankee.mu.nu)
We can only hope...
skin + career
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 13:02 ET by tonesIs the point that a woman showing some skin is a career killer in politics? I've seen pictures of Sarah Palin showing a bit of skin (and how good she looks in it), and yet she became governor and vice-presidential candidate.
Oh, and please do not use the phrase "Hillary Clinton's cleavage" without some type of warning flasher ahead of it.
she has a point
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 13:26 ET by michiganruthI think the writer's point was that male beefcake is not a "show-stopper" in a campaign, whereas female nudity might be. and that we judge men and women differently when it comes to showing some flesh.
and in that, I agree with her.
it's too bad she's trying to diss Scott Brown by saying all this, but in point of face I think she's right. if a woman candidate had posed "semi-nude" in Playboy I think that would hurt her in an election.
agree with the other posters, tho: please do not make me have to think about Michelle O in a bikini, or Coakley laying naked on a couch...I don't want to throw up so early in the day...
Oh. really?
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 16:27 ET by CobraManOh, really? So, the liberal offensive against Sarah Palin was due to the fact that she was once Ms. Alaska and posed in a bikini on national television? Who Knew?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Thank God we have such
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 13:27 ET by antThank God we have such intelligent journalist out there to tell us what we are supposed to think. It's a shame most of us are just laughing at them. Like it's been said, I guess all us red-neck,Bible-clenching voters are expected to run screaming at the mere thought of the human body.
Irony
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 13:40 ET by GalvanicBrown posed in Cosmopolitan, the prominent feminist magazine of its day. It preached a philosophy of sexual liberation (even promiscuity) to millions of women. The Cosmo pin-ups were both a sales gimmick and a gender-equity statement countering the cheesecake pin-ups in Playboy, Penthouse, and other male-oriented magazines. Back then, the men who posed for Cosmo were celebrated as feminist heroes for having the courage to bear themselves.
Ms. Hesse is obviously too young to remember that.
You mean like Sarah?
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 13:44 ET by CobraManHay, Hesse, you mean like how the liberals photoshopped nude pics of Sarah Palin and then tried to use them to discredit her? Or is that type of blatant sexism only reserved for liberals
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Please....
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 15:42 ET by Big MommaRefresh my memory, Ms. Hesse. I don't remember you and your professional counterparts expressing their righteous indignation when Teddy sunk Mary Jo.
Puleeze
Sun, 01/24/2010 - 19:21 ET by sevenDo not show Michelle O and her battle with orange peel.