Although he appears as the ostensible voice from the right on the PBS News Hour’s Friday evening political discussion, New York Times columnist David Brooks is no one’s idea of a hard-core conservative. He said “I love Joe Biden” before criticizing Biden’s angry speech on Night One of the Democratic National Convention, after previously stating “I do think Donald Trump is actually a threat to democracy.”
Yet Brooks did manage to puncture at least one of the gassy feminist balloons blown up by his colleagues in the booth in Chicago in the 10 pm hour, during the long wait before Joe Biden’s speech.
Anchor Amna Nawaz heralded the puffery to come.
Amna Nawaz: Judy, reflect on that moment when Hillary Clinton came out, because we saw Vice President Harris come out earlier and the room absolutely erupted. It was a sustained standing ovation for Hillary Clinton from everyone in this room.
And there was a clear connective tissue being drawn in her remarks there, which went back even earlier to the legacy of President Biden and what we’re going to hear from him. This went back to her campaign, she went back to Geraldine Ferraro, she went back to Shirley Chisholm. Reflect on those remarks for a moment and how they went over here.
PBS reporter Judy Woodruff: Well, it went over big. I don't know what the gender breakdown here is but everybody in this arena, I think it's fair to say, was cheering the Hillary Clinton message that, yes, women have tried. And they’ve tried, a woman ran in ’72, as you said, Gerry Ferraro was the vice presidential nominee, and Hillary Clinton herself eight years ago. But she said, finally, the future is now. Now it’s time, let's go fight let’s go win this. I think it's fair to say there are still a number of Americans who are conflicted about whether they are gonna vote for a woman in 2024, but if anybody is making the case for it, it is Hillary Clinton and we’re certainly going to hear it tonight from Joe Biden and from Kamala Harris herself in three nights.
In between the you-go-girl feminism, male anchor Geoff Bennett praised left-wing "Squad" member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (who has embarrassed herself on a regular basis during her time in the House), saying “her elevation and evolution I think has been so striking because she has found a way to blend populism and pragmatism and blend protest and power, and she got one of the most raucous receptions when she took the stage tonight.”
Minutes later it was back to pure high-octane feminism, with Woodruff, as if getting something off her chest, waxed indignant about the history of Republican sexism.
Woodruff: The only thing I would add, excellent point is that seeing these women who have been demonized by the Republican Party. Hillary Clinton, an object of more than scorn I mean she was Satan. Nancy Pelosi, we haven’t seen her yet. We will see her later this week. Certainly Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez demonized, and they’re doing it now to Kamala Harris. I mean the language former President Trump is using to describe her, the last few days, it gets darker by the day. So I’m reminded of how women in particular have been frankly characterized in a really ugly way by the other party. I think it’s something to think about. I mean, I think about Republican women who haven’t – I mean, I think of Elizabeth Dole, who ran for president back in the 1990's. I don't remember the opposite thing happening. I stand corrected if one of you can—"
Brooks instantly interjected with the obvious conservative rejoinder:
David Brooks: Sarah Palin.
Judy Woodruff: Thank you. Sarah Palin.
After a few seconds of awkward silence followed by nervous chuckling, anchor Amna Nawaz broke in, sounding mildly exasperated.
Nawaz: ….The question still remains, in 2024, is America ready to elect a woman president?
Indeed, Sarah Palin, plucked from relative obscurity from Alaska’s Republican governorship to be Sen. John McCain’s running mate in 2008, was mauled by the media in sexist and sometimes sexually violent fashion, as Brooks could have gone on to note.
