Hillary fundraising email: on "cleavage coverage", Edwards for negative comment about coral jacket

[jefferson_dem]

Capitalizing on cleavage
Posted: Friday, July 27, 2007 1:53 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Categories: Democrats, 2008
From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro

The Clinton campaign is circulating a fund-raising e-mail, using the flap over the senator’s “cleavage” as the peg. “Now, I've seen some off-topic press coverage,” writes Senior Advisor Ann Lewis, referring to the Washington Post article and ensuing coverage of the topic, “but talking about body parts? That is grossly inappropriate.”

She goes on to call the coverage “insulting” and urges supporters to “Take a stand against this kind of coarseness and pettiness.” She then takes a veiled shot at Edwards, saying, “Hillary's jacket was the subject of some discussion among the candidates -- because it was coral. Debates should be serious business. We are, after all, picking the next commander in chief.”

Now, give us "your support -- in whatever amount, large or small."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/07/27/294693.aspx

[xultar]

1. Dumb swiping @ Edwards because he was just kidding. This isn't good.

[BeyondGeography]

2. OK, I take it back...there was a JACKET dust-up after all

Ridiculous for Hillary to play a lighthearted joke up for a few bucks.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Waaaaaah... I'm A Victim....

It's worked well for her before - better than the explode-in-her-face naive-bomb she tossed at Obama.

[PurityOfEssence]

42. Funny, I thought her schtick was being tough

Consistency's for wimps, I guess.

[jsamuel]

4. It usually isn't a good thing to take a joke badly. People who saw that

know it was a light moment and a light/stupid question. People like candidates that can take jokes about themselves.

[PurityOfEssence]

43. Besides all that, there's ample evidence she's got a great sense of humor

Hell, this is the person who tweaked Ashcroft for his curtains in front of the bare-breasted statue of Justice by saying: "silly me; I thought Missouri was the 'show me' state..."

Couple this with the parsing of Obama's answer about talking with foreign leaders, and she just comes off as an unscrupulous opportunist. With such a huge lead at the moment, she should stick to the standard playbook and rise above the fray; this kind of stuff just irritates people without gaining her anything.

Does she really think she can sell it to people that John Edwards is a misogynist? Even most hardcore Edwards-haters don't think THAT.

[jillan]

5. Geez - Biden's fundraising emails are about what he is doing to get MRAPs to

our troops.

About how he met with the United Nations to see if they will help in Iraq.

About how he put Crocker on the hot seat to tell the truth about Iraq.

About how he proposed legislation to restore habeaus corpus.

About he has a plan to change the outcome of Iraq.

About his legislation to provide assistance for college.
----------------------------------------------------------------

but I guess, cleavage and pink jackets are more important topics:silly:

[Inuca]

24. Hey, it wans't pink

it was orange!! It makes a HUGE difference :-).

[tblue37]

27. Coral--a sort of pinkish-orange, or orangish-pink. Apparently, though,

on some TVs it looked pink, on others orange.

But if we are going to make fashion the centerpiece of our presidential campaigns, then we need to get the nuances correct. Can you imagine how awful it would be if pundits started confusing, say, SAGE with CELERY or MOSS? Or BONE, PARCHMENT, or SHELL with OYSTER or, God forbid, the very declasse BEIGE?

I mean, seriously!

[Inuca]

33. LOL!!

[TalkingDog]

39. Not to be sexist, but I'll bet you are a female. Males have a hard time

telling charcoal, from grey or ash or heather, silver, pewter....well, you get the drift.

I've had this discussion with male friends before. Dark grey is black. Everything else is just grey....

And Coral, for pete's sake, don't even get me started.

[beaconess]

6. I thought the jacket comment was hilarious

And considering it came in response to the question "name something you don't like about the person to your left" - not "please tell us what you will do to end poverty, raise the minimum wage, rebuild the Gulf Region," etc., I thought it was a perfect response - such a silly, frivolous question did not merit a serious answer.

Good for Edwards.

[Evergreen Emerald]

44. I completely disagree

Women are always reduced and demeaned to be only about their looks. Not their intelligence or ability--but about their looks. And there she was in line to be president, and two of the men in the group commented about her appearance. It was awful and sexist and stupid.

I agree the question was idiotic, but that is CNN for you. But I was horrified when Edwards attempted to put the female in her place.

[rinsd]

7. I think the press is seeking to start another fight between candidates

Here we have a reporters summary of a campaign email where the part of shallow press coverage is skimmed over to make sure equal if not greater time is given to the jacket.

[SaveElmer]

8. I got that email...and it was not an attack on Edwards...

In fact the email was an attack on the MSM...

The full paragraph mentioning the debate...

There will always be people who try to make a campaign about make up, clothes, and now, even cleavage. In fact, if you watched the last debate, you remember that Hillary's jacket was the subject of some discussion among the candidates -- because it was coral.

Debates should be serious business. We are, after all, picking the next commander in chief. You and I know that this campaign is about what's really important.

Personally I thought it was funny, but the point is valid...only women politicians get comments about their clothes, hair and cleavage...

[itsrobert]

9. If a male candidate wore a Coral Jacket

he would be talked about. There's no denying that.

[ellacott]

21. That;s funny

Also, I don't think Edwards mentioned anything about the color of her jacket. He could have been talking about the swirly pattern. That's what bothered me about the jacket. :)

[Debi]

11. Then you must not have seen any of the coverage of Edward's

haircut.

[SaveElmer]

12. That was about the cost...not the style...nt

[Debi]

23. And the Youtube video of Edwards preparing for his TV spot?

Combing through his hair and checking his mirror?

And the media orgy about whether or not Kerry used Botox?

[snowbear]

31. Elmer, why would Hillary care about $400 haircuts, when she spends $1,500 to $3,000 per "do" ?

The NY Post - Jul 24, 2006

HILLARY GATHERS AN ARMY

By IAN BISHOP
NY Post Correspondent

July 24, 2006 -- WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign
army has increased its ranks to 50 staffers and more than 20
consultants, specialists in everything from fund-raising to
speech-writing to hairstyling and makeup.

Clinton, the likely 2008 Democratic White House front-runner, ponied up
nearly $3,000 in campaign cash for her blond tresses to get some
presidential pampering from acclaimed D.C. stylist Isabelle Goetz.

Recently released federal fund-raising records show Clinton shelled out
$1,500 in April for Goetz to carefully craft her coiffure and
another $1,000 for a camera-ready clip in May.

Etc: http://olm.blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/Week-of-Mon-20060724/041576.html

[NYCGirl]

13. Only women politicians? The same author wrote this:

"Bush's decision to wear black socks with his Crocs was ill-considered. The combination makes one think of an old man on his way to the beach. "

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/21/AR2007062102403.html?nav=emailpage

Here's an article from her about Al Sharpton:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/30/AR2006113001599.html?nav=emailpage

And Barack Obama:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/10/AR2006081001857.html?nav=emailpage

And her Pulitzer winner about Cheney:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43247-2005Jan27.html

[BeyondGeography]

15. Gore's weight, Edwards' hair, Richardson's double chin, Obama frolicking in the surf...

Men get the treatment too...that women-only canard needs to be updated.

[KaptBunnyPants]

29. Don't forget Kerry, the botoxed French windsurfer in a bunny suit.

nm

[BeyondGeography]

30. LOL...that about covers it.

[jefferson_dem]

16. So the letter is critical of the MSM coverage of the Edwards comment

rather than critical of the Edwards comment in and of itself? Ok. That theme would have made more sense if they had left out the "some discussion among the candidates" line. They should have just critiqued the MSM focus on her attire at the expense serious issues.

Generally, i agree that women politicians are mostly the ones who get the fashion comments but there are exceptions. Recall the chatter about Obama's open-collar look? I also recall some critiquing of Dean's "rolled up sleaves" look he sported in 2004.

[SaveElmer]

17. No...it was used as an example...

Of what women politicians are subjected to far more then men...

Where in that email was there an attack on Edwards...?


You were so careful to parse Obama's words yesterday...why not today?

[SaveElmer]

20. NYCGirl, BeyondGeography...you're right...shouldn't have said only...

The points you make are true...however, it is true that women far more then men are judged by how they look and how they dress then men are...

That is what the email was addressing...

[orleans]

10. whatever--i thought edwards comment was in bad taste

even though i didn't really like her jacket

he never should have taken a personal appearance hit like that. that was a cheap shot. i found it rather sexist and degrading. can't really explain it but it pissed me off.

and i'm not even a hillary supporter. but i'm a woman.

[Inspired]

34. Lighten up...it was a JOKE. Good Lord. n/t

[orleans]

37. what? i can't have a fucking opinion around you?

i know...
why don't you tell me something that has bothered you and i'll call on the lord and tell you to lighten up
and then you can let me know how okay you are with that.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

14. All the candidates

do that. Like Ann Coulter opened her mouth, now send me money. No big deal.

[BonnieJW]

18. I was talking to my husband last night,

and I told him about how I just could not understand why Rupert Murdock would give so much money to a Dem candidate. But I began to realize why Murdock would do it - he WANTS Clinton to win the primary because she's the ONLY Dem the repubs can beat. I think the repubs who are turning away from their candidates would vote for any of the Dems EXCEPT Clinton. I think that's why she's ahead in the polls, too; repubs select her in all the polls. Repub strategists claim she would be the "best" president, that she's the Dem "frontrunner" whenever they're on any TV show. She is the repub's only hope.

[ellacott]

38. This is defnately their strategy n/t

[calteacherguy]

46. That's right. nt

[Alexander]

19. Ask a silly question, get a silly answer.

Hillary could've easily said "I don't know about that haircut, Senator Edwards" and left it at that.

No point getting all indignant about what was a silly response to a silly question.

[Adelante]

26. Good God, imagine if she'd said that

"I don't know about that haircut, Senator Edwards"

Flame wars for weeks on that one :rofl:

[draft_mario_cuomo]

22. Lame attack from HRC nt

[Penndems]

25. This seems like an overreaction by the HRC campaign

This article was written by Robin Givhan, the Style Editor for The Washington Post. The piece put Senator Clinton in a very flattering light, and was completely devoid of any sexist overtones, IMHO. It depicted her an intelligent, confident woman completely at ease with herself and her fashion choices. No malice nor insults meant on Ms. Givhan's part.

No one is obsessing or outraged because HRC wore a V-shaped top in the well of the Senate chamber (and if they are, they need to get a life). Senator Edwards' comment was not insulting, it was meant to be a stress-alleviator. Much ado about nothing by the Clinton folks.

(Note to Ann Lewis: Mrs. Clinton was a socially-conscience, charming, gifted and involved First Lady with exquisite taste in clothes. You may recall her photo shoot in Vogue Magazine when she wore a very sophisticated Donna Karan gown. Everyone in the country is aware that the Senator is a woman, and that she has cleavage. Lighten up, please! :eyes:)

[July]

40. I read the article, and it was not flattering. Not even close to flattering. nt

[Penndems]

41. What aspect of the piece did you not find complimentary to HRC?

Just curious.

[KaptBunnyPants]

28. Well, she's just the saddest little victim today, isn't she.

First the Hillbots are out in force whining about Obama bringing up Hillary's record, now she's upset about a mild joke about her coat. I thought Hillary was supposed to be some sort of Iron Lady, but I've seen College Republicans tougher than this.

[Colobo]

32. Poor Hillary! All these evil men attacking her! And she can't take it!

[TeamJordan23]

35. At least Edwards said something nice about Hillary, while Hillary snubbed Obama. Classless. nm

[Ethelk2044]

36. She is trying to profit off of the fight.

:puke:

[calteacherguy]

45. This kind of childish nonsense is really turning me off to Clinton and the others. nt