Did Rush Limbaugh Really Say This About Hillary Clinton?
In Hillary’s Gender Double Standards (Ridgecrest Daily Independent, 1/11/08), feminist writer Laura Dobbins details the sexism she alleges Hillary Clinton is facing and will continue to face in her run for the White House.
I generally don’t buy her argument, but there was one part of the article which stood out. According to Dobbins, Rush Limbaugh recently asked his listeners, “Will this country want to actually watch a woman get older before their eyes on a daily basis?”
Limbaugh has long been obsessed and a little loony about the Clintons, but this statement really seems like a low blow, on numerous levels. If Limbaugh said this, he owes Clinton an apology.
Dobbins full article is here. Thanks to Ambros, a reader, for sending it to me.
[Late note: In response to this blog post, Jerry, a reader, sent me a transcript of Limbaugh's actual comments. They can be seen at Does Our Looks-Obsessed Culture Want to Stare at an Aging Woman?.
In reading it, I believe that Laura Dobbins took Limbaugh's comments out of context, and that the comments actually are not sexist or mean-spirited. I withdraw my criticism of Limbaugh, with apologies.--GS]
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Stumble It!
January 13th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Glenn, you retraction stating that Ms. Dobbins took Mr. Limbaugh’s statement out of context is disingenuous. Here’s the context:
“But men aging makes them look more authoritative, accomplished, distinguished. Sadly, it’s not that way for women, and they will tell you. (interruption) Well, Snerdley, you’re just sitting there thinking I’m on the precipice of the cliff here without a bungee cord. I’m not. I am trying to be… Look, if I’m on the edge of the bungee cord, then I’ll take the leap. The bungee cord will save me. I’m just giving an honest assessment here of American culture. Look at all of the evidence. I mean, I’ve just barely scratched the surface with some of the evidence, and so: Will Americans want to watch a woman get older before their eyes on a daily basis? And that woman, by the way, is not going to want to look like she’s getting older, because it will impact poll numbers. It will impact perceptions.”
You mean it’s not really Limbaugh saying it, it’s American culture? Give me a break. This is clearly his way of demeaning and diminishing Ms. Clinton. It has nothing to do with her experience (or lack thereof), her character, or her policies.
I might also add that his statement is also insulting to the American people by stating that they are incapable of judging a president on his/her performance in office if the president happens to be a woman.
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January 14th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Are you kidding Glenn?? I don’t even want to look at her -now-, let alone for the next 4 years!
And that cackle… OMG, if I have to listen to that God awful screech again – shoot me, please! Good grief, she makes the Wicked Witch of the West sound like an opera singer!!
But that’s just my opinion, she’ll just have to learn to live with it.