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Obama Dismisses Sexism Complaints From McCain-Palin Campaign as ‘Working the Refs’

September 04, 2008 4:20 PM

At a press availability just now in York, Pa., I had an opportunity to ask Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., about the pushback from Republicans that the way a lot of the media and Democrats –- including some from his campaign -- have reacted to Gov. Sarah Palin’s appointment has been sexist, dismissive of the work she's accomplished, and different than how they would act if she were a male.

"Listen," Obama said, "if they want to work the refs, they are free to do so, and I think the public can make their judgments about this.

"You know, the notion that any questions about her work in Alaska is somehow not relevant to her potentially being vice president of the United States, doesn’t make too much sense to me," he continued. "I think she’s got a compelling story, but I assume that she wants to be treated the same way that guys want to be treated -- which means that their records are under scrutiny."

Obama noted, "I’ve been through this for 19 months. She’s been through it, what, for four days so far?"

-- Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller

September 4, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (73)

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"Ryan C add the media infatuation with Obama to that list,"

You mean the media love that John McCain gets....for 8 years and counting?

The media like both Prez picks.

"making it all the more amazing that Hillar GOT MORE VOTES."

Except she didn't.

Vote totals aren't tabulated for some caucuses (which hurts Obama more than Hillary), MI and Fl do not count.

Obama beat her by 40,000 votes.

And over 100 pledged delegates.

And that was after Obama had begun moving into GE mode. Hillary ran practically unopposed in PR.

Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 4, 2008 5:37:58 PM

Tell Obama to stay home and not to come and visit the Wilkes-barre/scranton area this week. He couldn't give us the time of day during the primary season so why bother now? We don't want him! He can come here as much as he wants but many very wealthy supporters of the Clintons are helping us run commercials so that we can defeat Obama in the fall. He has no clue as to what he is up against and how much he has aggravated people.

Posted by: Mary Anne | Sep 4, 2008 5:37:19 PM

Palin cuts funding for special needs
children in Alaska of 5,109,300 , or 62%. Seems to me she's done a wonderful job


She really cares about Special Needs kids, huh, while exploiting her downs syndrome baby for the world to see how great she is.

What a loser

Posted by: No concern for special education | Sep 4, 2008 5:33:21 PM

What a BABY answer from Barack. You can just tell that this guy is not used to people calling him out on his BS.

Posted by: PhillyPaul | Sep 4, 2008 5:31:48 PM

Ryan C add the media infatuation with Obama to that list, making it all the more amazing that Hillar GOT MORE VOTES.

Posted by: irma | Sep 4, 2008 5:28:15 PM

"How the heck did Obama beat Hillary? Honestly, can someone provide a recap?"

Superior fundraising and ground game operation.

Obama had offices in states Hillary ignored winning them by absurd margins and fought her to a standstill in states that should have been hers.

That and he had miilions of donors and was hauling in $30M to $50M a month.

They did a good job of turning the tables on Hillary on most of her attacks and I thought overall they edged out Hillary in terms of ad aquality/effectiveness.

Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 4, 2008 5:24:13 PM

The cronies are the entire left wing of the Dems who supported Obama in the primary season. Obviously, those cronies did not call Obama aside and tell him to cut it out. They allowed it to go on and on and on, that is what I am talking about. And, I am talking about his cronies, his supporters, who think he is right up there with jesus walking on the water. Many of you were slamming Hillary supporters during the primary season and we have had enough! When I saw the party that I had supported my entire life just stand idly by and allow obama to treat the clintons like that I thought to myself, "Why am I in the democrat party?" They are not protecting my gender but are letting this guy rip it a part? So, i thought, there is no difference now as to what party I vote for because none of them really care about me and my gender. And, the added plus to voting republican was to hopefully stop Obama from getting elected so that next time a woman runs for President the Dems will tell their guy, notice I said guy and not boy because you would say racist, racist, racist, talk about who is oversensitive!, that they better keep their big mouths on the issues and not make sexist comments!!

Posted by: Mary Anne | Sep 4, 2008 5:19:26 PM

mary anne

what were these sexist statments by obama during the primaires?

and bill clinton was seen as saying obama only won that state because he was black and it was no big deal because other black people had wont that state before...

it is dismissive is it not?

if that was obama saying that to hillary flip black or african american for women or female and youd say he was being dismissive

so.... why the double standard?

isnt bill clinton being dismissive?

and it doesnt matter, im all good with bill clinton, im all good with the clintons, i think all democrats are good with the clintons and the obamas and we will win in november...

i was a hillary supporter until she started flinging mud... using republican tactics againts a fellow democrat... then i gave obama some time and actually listened to his message and i really really liked his vision of america

it was what i had been waiting for in politics for a long time...

Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 4, 2008 5:18:29 PM

Bhrandon,

The lawyer is trying to get the investigation shut down and have the thic panel make a quick decision.

Just one problem, the police union just filed regarding improper access to Wooten's file.

Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 4, 2008 5:17:25 PM

mary ann

uhmmm now what are you talking about

what is mccain doing for the economy... i havent heard anything from the gop convention on what they want to do for the american people

i have heard that obama is lame and that we will all die from terrorists if democrats are elected adn that the last 8 years are really all the democrats faults...

i dont know... wheres mccain economic agenda

oh wait he said he doesnt know much about the economy... guess ill wait for phil gramms speach

oh wait he alreayd gave it, i am a whiner... damn it... owned by mccain


obama has stated in his acceptance speech all his plans.. if you want me to email you the transcript i will... we can also go over his economic message if you really want me to

Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 4, 2008 5:14:32 PM

How the heck did Obama beat Hillary? Honestly, can someone provide a recap? The word that came to mind when I read his response is "weak". Obama is weak. He sounds like a weak whiner. Weak, weak, weak. Fight back, Barack! Where's your spine!

Posted by: Woody | Sep 4, 2008 5:13:47 PM

Bhrandon: I am talking about the blatant sexism that existed during the primary season. Obama kept spewing one insulting comment after another towards HIllary Clinton and that was just fine with everyone. But Bill Clinton stated FACTS that black candidate carried many southern states in other elections but they didn't get the nomination and everyone was screaming that he was a racist. What I am saying is if women can be slammed because they are women than those women have the right to slam others if they are a different race, etc. if they want to. That is what I am saying. How long do you think it would go on before they started screaming fowl from Obama's group? If he wants the gloves completely off than let's do it all the way around! I'm all for it!

Posted by: Mary Anne | Sep 4, 2008 5:12:19 PM

Nice job, Obama, wonder why CBS has the race tied right now...

I am so sick of legal sophistry being mistaken for clarity of thought.

Obama, they are talking about attacks on her ability to hold office as a mother, not her resume.

Too clever by half.

Posted by: Wade | Sep 4, 2008 5:11:58 PM

If she wants to be my VP or President (God forbid) she better be able to take anything that comes at her. Empty-Suites, both of them.

Posted by: beck | Sep 4, 2008 5:10:45 PM

lol sexism... its not from obama... just so you know obama doesnt control the media if he does do you think hed have the media airing the rev wright stuff 24/7 for two weeks

Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 4, 2008 5:10:12 PM

bhrandon: And, what is obama's play for the economy? Hmmmmm. I guess the same way it was in chicago when he botched the poor public housing by giving the maintenance contrats to all his thug cronies and they failed to keep them up and they actually had to level them because they were left in such disrepair! Maybe he'll be able to do the same for our ailing economy! You think?

Posted by: Mary Anne | Sep 4, 2008 5:09:30 PM

Word is out that in addition to supporting Bridge to Nowhere, which she lied about in her recital last night (a speech written by Bush puppetmasters) Sarah PTAlin also supports a ROAD TO NOWHERE, a $375 million project being hailed as wasteful spending.

Posted by: Road to Nowhere | Sep 4, 2008 5:08:57 PM

mary ann

what are you talking about?

whos calling sara palin black... they are obviously idiots... lol

and who are these cronies you mention?

Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 4, 2008 5:08:54 PM

Kayb: Funny that, we have been saying the same thing about your man Obama. I think if it is okay to slam a woman than I think it should be just fine for anyone to slam Obama because he is black. Let's equal the playing field here. Obama and his cronies can slam the woman all they want and anyone who wants to can slam the black race. What do you think? I bet he'd crying fowl immediately and you'd see that big blabbermouth sharpton and Jackson carrying on and on about it. But, do it to a woman???? No problem. WE ARE ONLY ONE RUNG UP ABOVE FROM THE HOMELESS IN SOCIETY NOW ANYWAY! Idiots!

Posted by: Mary Anne | Sep 4, 2008 5:07:13 PM

Turning a national election into a pickup game of hoops isn't exactly Presidential, but if we must, this is the Super Bowl. No one is going to play nice.

But the sexism played on Clinton and now being replayed by the MSM isn't going to be a winning play.

Posted by: len | Sep 4, 2008 5:07:02 PM

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