For some, when U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Bangladesh in early May, the country's human rights record wasn't the top news. Nor was her speech on the recent tensions within the country.
Instead, the Drudge Report splashed a photo of Clinton's makeup-free face, calling her "au natural," as she merely sported black framed glasses and red lipstick.
Now, amidst the mounting rumors that Clinton will run for President in 2016 -- the knives are really coming out.
The latest attack on Clinton's appearance came from Ed Klein, an author who has penned a number of controversial and criticized books, including "The Truth About Hillary", which delves into Clinton's private life.
"At this very moment that we're speaking right now, Brian, [the Clintons] are already thinking seriously about running in 2016," author Ed Klein told Fox News host Brian Kilmeade. "She'll be 69 years old. And as you know -- and I don't want to sound anti-feminist here -- but she's not looking good these days. She's looking overweight, and she's looking very tired."
Klein, a former New York Times magazine editor continued to comment on her appearance.
"I think she's going to take some time off, get back into shape. And if her health holds out-- that's a big if, of course -- if her health holds out, there's no question in my mind she and Bill -- two for the price of one -- will run in 2016."
Hillary isn't the only female politician to have her appearance attract media attention.
Whether it is Sarah Palin's glasses or Nicholas Sarkozy reportedly poking fun at German Chancellor Angela Merkel for taking a second helping of cheese after claiming she was on a diet, our society is seemingly comfortable judging female politicians on issues beyond their policies.
As Jezebel explains, this is the consequence of a society heavily conditioned to airbrushed photos.
It's not enough that Chancellor Merkel has a Ph.D. in Physics and is essentially viewed as the de facto leader of the E.U. Nor is Hillary Clinton's success as a lawyer, senator and secretary of state enough.
And when female politicians don't comply with societal expectations of beauty -- by foregoing makeup or taking an extra helping of cheese -- style and appearance can seem to trump policy, at least in some media reports.
Source.
A.N. Struggled pretty damn hard not to bold the entire last part of this article. Also, I'm bitterly unsurprised that the appearance-related attacks have started so soon. Because we all know that men are allowed to be thin, fat, tall, short, bald, gaunt-faced or not, but if you're a woman and you somehow deviate from the generally accepted standards of beauty, you're fucked.
Instead, the Drudge Report splashed a photo of Clinton's makeup-free face, calling her "au natural," as she merely sported black framed glasses and red lipstick.
Now, amidst the mounting rumors that Clinton will run for President in 2016 -- the knives are really coming out.
The latest attack on Clinton's appearance came from Ed Klein, an author who has penned a number of controversial and criticized books, including "The Truth About Hillary", which delves into Clinton's private life.
"At this very moment that we're speaking right now, Brian, [the Clintons] are already thinking seriously about running in 2016," author Ed Klein told Fox News host Brian Kilmeade. "She'll be 69 years old. And as you know -- and I don't want to sound anti-feminist here -- but she's not looking good these days. She's looking overweight, and she's looking very tired."
Klein, a former New York Times magazine editor continued to comment on her appearance.
"I think she's going to take some time off, get back into shape. And if her health holds out-- that's a big if, of course -- if her health holds out, there's no question in my mind she and Bill -- two for the price of one -- will run in 2016."
Hillary isn't the only female politician to have her appearance attract media attention.
Whether it is Sarah Palin's glasses or Nicholas Sarkozy reportedly poking fun at German Chancellor Angela Merkel for taking a second helping of cheese after claiming she was on a diet, our society is seemingly comfortable judging female politicians on issues beyond their policies.
As Jezebel explains, this is the consequence of a society heavily conditioned to airbrushed photos.
It's not enough that Chancellor Merkel has a Ph.D. in Physics and is essentially viewed as the de facto leader of the E.U. Nor is Hillary Clinton's success as a lawyer, senator and secretary of state enough.
And when female politicians don't comply with societal expectations of beauty -- by foregoing makeup or taking an extra helping of cheese -- style and appearance can seem to trump policy, at least in some media reports.
Source.
A.N. Struggled pretty damn hard not to bold the entire last part of this article. Also, I'm bitterly unsurprised that the appearance-related attacks have started so soon. Because we all know that men are allowed to be thin, fat, tall, short, bald, gaunt-faced or not, but if you're a woman and you somehow deviate from the generally accepted standards of beauty, you're fucked.
A lot of people battle weight issues. This just makes her human, like everyone else.
And. I think people need to keep their noses out of other people's weight issues.
I don't care how much Hilary Clinton weighs. That's her business. Not the publics.
This goes for all celebrities and anyone else we watch for entertainment.
And I like how these conservatives love policing Hillary and Michelle Obama's weight, but they don't say a damn thing about Chris Christie, but then, he's a man and a Republican, so he gets a free pass.
BECAUSE every other president we have ever had has been a SEX GOD!!!!11! And looks = ability to be a good president.
Fuck you Ed Kline.
*hits the buzzer*
The saddest part about all of this is there are plenty of other things you could be doing to further political discourse - the best thing you could think of to criticize Clinton was talk about her appearance? Not only is it sexist, it's just plain lazy. I guess I shouldn't expect much from Fox News, though...
Edited at 2012-06-07 05:08 am (UTC)
Yep, but you know they were saying the same about a local female politician recently in my area, teh same thing 'she looks tired' and I was like yeah, no. Grrr. It's so loaded.
Edited at 2012-06-07 06:20 am (UTC)
Tangentially, I somehow never stopped to think about Hillary's age. It just didn't even occur to me that she's in her 60's. She looks fucking fabulous, IMO.
Edited at 2012-06-07 05:10 am (UTC)
Ugh, Dr Who flashbacks.
also she looks waaaay better the most of the old ugly fat white guys in the senate
Nothing's really changes, really; the GOP has been talking shit about Clinton's looks for 20 years, back when she was First Lady, back when she ran laps around these ugly-as-fuck GOP misogynists in the looks department (and still does, lbr).
And these people talked shit about Chelsea, if you recall. Just like they talk shit about the Obama daughters and Michelle Obama today, like they're not gorgeous. Surprise! Pricks act like dicks when dehumanizing the female body whether it's 14 or 62. Nothing ever changes.
Same with Hillary really. She's 69 fucking years old, she's not going to look like a 25-year-old model. I honestly hope I look that good at her age.
not ok.
(i.e. I'm not racist but... i.e. I have nothing against (those people) but.... i.e. I'm a racist misogynist pig and I'm about to spew some garbage so put on your googles and helmet and start ducking...)
Oh, that's right, they just want to tear down a woman who's politics are to the left of theirs. Especially one they've hated for the past 20 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-IrhRS
It's an interesting watch.
This man is the epitome of gutter journalism. He's written untold books on the Kennedys all of them complete and utter lies. (from memory there was one that dealt with how Jackie Onassis lost her virginity in a elevator in Paris. Source? Who the fuck cares) He's done it with the royals and Hillary before. He's never met a story he can't make up.
(and yes)
who the fuck looks good when you crop out that much of their head to show just their face.
I HATE EVERYTHING AND IT'S ONLY 8:30AM
What the hell does being overweight (if she were) have to do with being the President? Dick Cheney was overweight and he was the vice president. The Reagan that they worship so heavily was fucking 70 when he was elected President, so what does being 69 have to do with anything?
And I've never heard any male politician being talked about as running with his wife, "two for one."
As far as weight, if she looked too good, people would be attacking her for being vain and spending too much time ad the gym and wasting taxpayer money on trainers, etc.
And I've never heard any male politician being talked about as running with his wife, "two for one."
I hate that. I hate that. I hate that soooooooooooooo much. And people will vote for her because they think it's basically like voting for Bill again and he clearly knows what he's doing. And the downside to her being elected president is that even if she were unquestionably the greatest president ever, even some of the people who voted for her will be like "Oh, well, she didn't do it. Her husband just did all the work."