Comments on: Who Defended Michele Bachmann?

By: The Deafening Silence of Feminists on Nikki Haley | Cosmopolitan Conservative

Thu, 27 May 2010 19:09:08 +0000

[...] in politics and pop culture, unless it involves conservative women. Remember when Arlen Specter was disrespectful to Michele Bachmann, or the countless crass sexual innuendos aimed at Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter, [...]

By: restaurant refugee

restaurant refugee — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:03:12 +0000

Not for nothing, but I’ve been casually reading your site for a while now… I even featured it in the DC Blogs round-up, so I am fairly sure that I can be reasonably insulated from charges of being a knee-jerk reactionary liberal. That being said, I think that you are taking too much umbrage with the media here. While I agree that the comparison between “act like a lady” and “act like a gentleman” is a false one because of the historical connotations, I also think that this was a relatively minor dust-up because the players are relatively minor, and the historical nature of the offense so common.

Rep. Bachmann is a second term representative whose primary national recognition is through her inflammatory statements. Sen. Spector, while being admittedly boorish, is not exactly a darling of the media. I think that the principle of Occam’s Razor would apply here. The reason for the progressive media sources you identified as ignoring this story is most likely that they never heard of it. Especially when you consider that most people live in a media echo chamber, doesn’t it seem even more likely that they didn’t hear about it?

P.S. I thought the swipe at Amanda Hess was particularly gratuitous as political coverage isn’t really her thing.

By: Warren Rucker

Warren Rucker — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:00:25 +0000

In addition to the demeaning words, the tone was demeaning. Last summer (I think it was), Specter was on Laura Ingram’s radio program and, in a haughty tone…almost a shout, called her “Young Lady” as he lectured her.

By: Adrienne

Adrienne — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:14:06 +0000

Heather,

To tell a woman to “act like a lady” is traditionally a term of derision. Telling a man to act like a gentleman does not have the historical connotation that the female version does. Sorry, but this comment was not made to reference polite society. Specter was being rude and trying to put Bachmann in her place.

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:59:33 +0000

If any gendered person asks a man to “act like a gentleman” would it be considered rude? No. We are referred to as ladies and gentlemen in polite society. Why is this a shameful crime?