Suskind book: Female advisers in Obama White House sidelined and ignored

[bemildred]

A new book claims that the Obama White House is a boys’ club marred by rampant infighting that has hindered the administration’s economic policy, and left top female advisers feeling excluded from key conversations.

“Confidence Men: Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President,” by journalist Ron Suskind due out next Tuesday, details the rivalries among Obama’s top economic advisors, Larry Summers, former chairman of the National Economic Council, and Treasury secretary, Timothy F. Geithner. It describes constant second-guessing by Summers, now at Harvard, who was seen by others as “imperious and heavy-handed” in his decision-making.

The New York Times and the Associated Press both obtained early copies of the book and accounts of it are based on their reporting.

Based on interviews with more than 200 people inside and outside the White House, Suskind’s book comes as Obama faces the lowest poll numbers of his tenure, and deep discontent over his economic policies.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/suskind-book-fem...

[villager]

1. Women are viewed as just another bunch of "liberals," eh?

n/t

[enough]

2. You have been able to see this clearly in the official "inside" photos that

have been shown throughout the term. Photos of the Obama administration "at work." At first I didn't want to believe it, but then I had to admit to myself that the innermost circles around Obama at any given time are almost exclusively male.

[vaberella]

33. False. So false it makes me want to throw up.

If you are going by pictures...which is weak at best...then you're post is full of crap. Pictures for HRC success, Bin Laden, when the report on citizen revolts and what not came out---there were many women in each picture. Of course the other thing that needs to be kept into consideration is how many women apply for these sort of posts and/or if they have the creds for the higher up positions. When they're qualified Obama has appointed them. Shit it has been Obama to appoint the most women. This sort of hit piece is crap and we have people going by publicity photos as evidence of marginalization. Pure shit.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

3. K&R. nt

[Honeycombe8]

4. The article mentions only two. Dunno about one of 'em (who denies it, BTW), but as for Romer...

I can understand why she'd be passed over for invitation to give her opinion. I cringed every time I saw her on TV as a representative of the administration. She was weak, didn't speak authoritatively, didn't seem overly knowledgeable, not adept at answering questions, and was just overall ineffectual in every way. She also looked dowdy, had a small unconfident voice, and her overall manner was in keeping with that image. Not someone you'd want to go to for answers to serious questions affecting the country. Every time I saw her on TV I wondered why she had been chosen. She's probably a nice person with a lot of knowledge of some things, but she was totally wrong for the position she held. It's best she's gone back to where she came from.

As for women being spoken over, I've read a study or two that shows that men tend to speak over ALL women much more than they interrupt men. So, if you're going to be a top level female at a table with a lot of important, high level, egotistical men, you'd better be prepared to have yourself heard, or you'll get walked all over, I would think. I mean, if you can't get Tim Geithner to stop interrupting you, what are you doing at that table of big whigs?

[Remember Me]

20. You know what? Your post is a textbook case

in discrimination against women in the workforce. It's not totally complete, of course, but it certainly gets off to a good start on the subject:

I can understand why she'd be passed over for invitation to give her opinion. I cringed every time I saw her on TV as a representative of the administration. She was weak, didn't speak authoritatively, didn't seem overly knowledgeable, not adept at answering questions, and was just overall ineffectual in every way. She also looked dowdy, had a small unconfident voice, and her overall manner was in keeping with that image. Not someone you'd want to go to for answers to serious questions affecting the country.

She wasn't, in other words, a man. Didn't act like one either. And the men, of course, being so used to the Old Boys Network they all grew up in, the one that taught them and nurtured them at every step of the way, probably weren't in much of a mood to be inclusive.

Oh, and "dowdy"? Really? Dowdy? WHO CARES! How shabbily would a man have to be dressed for you to have noted and dissed him on it? Pretty damned shabby, I'm betting.

Every time I saw her on TV I wondered why she had been chosen. She's probably a nice person with a lot of knowledge of some things, but she was totally wrong for the position she held. It's best she's gone back to where she came from.

Yeah, back where MAYBE the people she works with, and the people observing her from afar won't be so unforgiving of the fact that she's not, after all, a man, and doesn't act like one.

As for women being spoken over, I've read a study or two that shows that men tend to speak over ALL women much more than they interrupt men.

It's actually much worse than that. They'll talk over you, interrupt you, ignore you, look right straight damn through you, might ask you to get coffee, and not even HEAR when you have a good idea in a meeting, but when some MAN says the same damn thing a few minutes later, THAT gets heard.

So, if you're going to be a top level female at a table with a lot of important, high level, egotistical men, you'd better be prepared to have yourself heard, or you'll get walked all over, I would think.

You'd better be prepared to be like a man? Even that won't help, frankly. THEN you're a shrew, a big mouth, power-hungry, grasping and too ambitious -- all kinds of things MEN can be but women by God better not even try.

I mean, if you can't get Tim Geithner to stop interrupting you, what are you doing at that table of big whigs?

I don't happen to know her relationship to Geithner in the hierarchy in the administration, BUT my reading of him is that he's a pretty strong character, capable of withering sarcasm and downright meanness and wouldn't hesitate for a minute to lay her low IF he thought she was acting "out of place."

Now, this question arises and I hope you'll think about it a bit. You had all sorts of criticisms of HER, where were your criticisms of the men who weren't giving her any respect or space? IOW -- why is it the WOMAN who must change when she's being treated with gender discrimination in the workplace? Why can't it be the MEN who are expected to make accommodations and get over their sexism?

[vaberella]

43. You're totally right.

I ignored most of the posters claims because they were overly full of machismo, that s/he probably never meant to express but did so inadvertently. I secondly believe my interpretation and yours are wholly different. Geithner doesn't look like someone who wastes his time with sarcasm---but is a straight shooter and only speaks when he has something to say.

[Honeycombe8]

45. LOL. I AM a woman....and a feminist since about 1969. Women who...

expect men to be quiet and do the gentlemanly thing and let her speak...that's not the way business is done. If you're a passive man sitting at a table and being talked over, you'd better be prepared to make yourself heard, if you think you have something to contribute.

It's sexist for men to interrupt women, but like it or not, it's what happens. If you expect to be a high powered woman in a position of authority, fighting for causes you care about, you better come up with some way to get yourself heard. That's what you're there for. Can you imagine anyone talking over Hillary Clinton or her not getting her ideas heard at a table of men?

If you're there to do a job, do it. Don't wait for others to politely give you pedestal. Ain't gonna happen. Those men are also not going to step aside and make sure that passive little Herman gets heard, either. Stand on your own soapbox and get your ideas out there. A table of high powered men means a lot of egos and bullying and better-than-thou attitudes. You have to find a way to at least get heard. Maybe it means zeroing in on the biggest bully at the table and politely asking him not to interrupt you, while you finish your sentence/thought.

As for Romer, I'm entitled to my opinion. IMO she was weak, not authoritative, not overly knowledgeable, not confident in her answers, and didn't communicate well. If someone doesn't communicate well, they don't belong on national television as a spokesperson. Regardless of being male or female. Apparently others felt the same way. She's gone. Thank goodness.

[vaberella]

42. Tim Geithner actually seems a bit soft spoken and doesn't look like an interrupter.

I find people like Larry Summers and when Rahm Emmanuel was there to be men who definitely talked over the women. But Geithner not so much. People may not like him because of his relationship to the failure of the economy, but he doesn't seem like much of a bad guy overall---least of all to women.

[Honeycombe8]

46. It's what men do. Like it or not. Whether the men are nice or not. It's just what they do.

As I read in some article long ago, they don't intentionally interrupt women to stop them from speaking. They just sort of tune women out, and the men's thoughts are running around in their heads until their thoughts spill out. They may not even notice they interrupted. But another man speaking is something that catches their attention more. It's something like that.

It's sort of like if you have several kids around you and they're talking about skating or favorite fruit or something...and your mind is on your thoughts about something. Then you tell the kids, "Okay, well, it's getting close to homework time." You may not have even noticed that you interrupted one of the kids in midsentence.

Of course, I guess some men DO interrupt women intentionally.

[CTyankee]

47. Larry Summers is truly a pig. He was on a flight I was on to Madrid and as everyone was

waiting to be called for boarding he came striding in talking loudly on his cell phone about how he was advising Obama on something and had to have a document emailed to him ASAP (this was in October of 2008). I noticed his hair was unkempt and he was wearing his loafers with his heels outside the shoe. He was talking so loud everyone around him could hear the conversation. He then told whoever he was talking to his email address and that's when I knew it was him. At first I had just thought he was a loudmouth who was really a nobody. Now I realize why everyone says he's such a slob...

[dennis4868]

5. here we go....

Obama's closest domestic relations advisor is a woman and the person who runs our foreign policy is a woman, chose 2 woman to the S.CT, etc....this is bullshit...Suskind has to sell books and he knows that many people, including DUers, will buy it bec they just that anti Obama news

[sudopod]

9. "domestic relations advisor is a woman"

:3

[dennis4868]

10. yeah

Valerie Jarrett

They are very close and according to everyone, Obama does not make a WH decision without her

[rury]

19. You have confused some names and titles here

Melody Barnes is the Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.
Valerie Jarrett, a long-time friend of the Obamas, is a Senior Adviser to the president, as well as Director of the Office of Public Engagement.
There is not "domestic relations adviser" on staff.

[stevenleser]

44. It's more than that, Hillary isnt just the person who runs our foreign policy. She is SecState

which is considered the third most powerful job in the executive branch behind the President and Vice President. I think it is actually the second most powerful job given that the VP doesnt really have much power at all.

This entire analysis by Suskind doesnt work.

[cottonseed]

6. Identify audience (disaffected Hillary supporters). Write book. Print money.

[Lord Helmet]

7. That makes zero sense. Just look at all of Os female appointees.

[monmouth]

8. Maybe it's time for Michelle to temporarily step in and do some hiring

and firing. They may not be afraid of him but you bet they'd think twice before giving her any shite..

[Hawkowl]

25. Nonsense

Nobody appears to be the least intimidated by Michelle. She has never been interested in politics and appears apathetic at best. In fact, I would go so far as to say she is emblematic of the marginalization of women's input at the Whitehouse.

[ProSense]

26. Actually,

"Nobody appears to be the least intimidated by Michelle. She has never been interested in politics and appears apathetic at best. In fact, I would go so far as to say she is emblematic of the marginalization of women's input at the Whitehouse."

...that is nonsense. This OP is beyond absurd and anyone trying to justify it should be ashamed.

First lady urges Congress to act on school meals

The First Lady's Trip to Africa

Dr. Jill Biden Arrives in Kenya

[Hawkowl]

27. Thank you for making my case

Those are PR duties, nothing the LEAST bit political. Not saying she isn't a good woman, just that she is apolitical and has little to no influence over policy or political decisions.

[ProSense]

28. Hmmmm?

"Thank you for making my case

Those are PR duties, nothing the LEAST bit political."

Spin much? Did you expect the First Lady to sit in on Congress and vote?

The OP is ludicrous, and it doesn't take the First Lady's role to debunk Suskind's absurd claim.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hawkowl]

30. Hahaha!

[ProSense]

31. .

Wait, why are we laughing?

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[vaberella]

34. What? What does Michelle have to do with anything? n/t

[ProSense]

11. Wow

<...>

In an excerpt obtained by The Post, a female senior aide to President Obama called the White House a hostile environment for women.

“This place would be in court for a hostile workplace,” former White House communications director Anita Dunn is quoted as saying. “Because it actually fit all of the classic legal requirements for a genuinely hostile workplace to women.”

Dunn declined to discuss the specifics of the book. But in an interview Friday she said she told Suskind “point blank” that the White House “was not a hostile environment.”

“The president is someone who when he goes home at night he goes home to house full of very strong women,” Dunn added. “He values having strong women around him.”

<...>

...anything for book sales.

Is Suskind really trying to convince people that the President who appointed women to head the State, Homeland Security and Health departments, who elevated the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to a cabinet-level position and appointed Susan Rice to fill it, who has nominated more women to the courts and who created the Council on Women and Girls has created a "hostile environment for women"?

[FrenchieCat]

12. So much bullshit, so little time.....

To make money from books!

[Blue_Tires]

13. Suskind is correct...Remember when Obama passed over qualified women for SOS and the USSC?

oh, wait....

[Arkana]

22. Seriously, he's the reason the liberal wing of the court is almost all women.

So this means...he hates women?

[Politicalboi]

14. So he lost money over the

Birth certificate non scandal, and now he's moved on to some other bullshit.

[BlueIris]

15. Rarely do I feel compelled to defend Obama, but I doubt this claim is true.

In fact, I know it isn't. I'm looking at you, Ms. J.

[Phx_Dem]

16. Yeah, we all know Obama is a woman hater. Hillary is chained up in the basement

along with poor Valerie Jarrett, Susan Rice and the others.




Some bullshit is just too obvious.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CakeGrrl]

18. Oh Lord...the crap never ends.

[Arkana]

21. Oh, please--this is just more of the same crap we heard during the primaries.

Obama dared to challenge Hillary, ergo he's a woman-hater. Has anyone SEEN Michelle Obama? Do you actually think that even for a minute she'd allow him to be a woman-hater?

[phleshdef]

23. Women are basically running more than half of the national security/foreign pol segment of this WH.

Hello! Hillary Clinton? Susan Rice? Janet Napalitano?

What utter bullshit.

[Number23]

35. Interestingly enough from the same article

"But in an interview Friday she said she told Suskind “point blank” that the White House “was not a hostile environment.”

“The president is someone who when he goes home at night he goes home to house full of very strong women,” Dunn added. “He values having strong women around him.”

Well, how about that...

[vaberella]

41. But it seems Dems and Suskind are claiming Obama is a chauvanist.

I fuckin' hate this site sometimes. Seriously.

[Logical]

24. The advisers Obama has chosen or left in place have been an embarrassment.

[PassingFair]

32. And a HUGE disappointment.

When I heard that Rahm was named as COS,
my heart SANK.

And it was downhill from there.

[whistler162]

37. To you republicans... you are correct!

[vaberella]

40. Of course they're an embarassment. Including the women in post #38.

Your statement is full of crap, because Obama gets advice from all those women and they're also his advisers. By including them in that idea of an "embarassment" you're post is an embarassment as a DU member.

[AtomicKitten]

38. That accusation is particularly ludicrous in light of --

Melody C. Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Regina Benjamin, Surgeon General
Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State
Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Valerie Jarrett, Senior Adviser
Elena Kagan, Supreme Court Justice
Sara Manzano-Diaz, Director of the Women's Bureau, Department of Labor
Karen Gordon Mills, Administor, Small Business Administration
Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security
Susan E. Rice, U.N. Ambassador
Samantha Power, Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs at the National Security Council
Mary L. Schapiro, Chairwomen of the Securities and Exchange Commission
Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services
Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Labor
Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court Justice
Nancy Sutley, Chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

[vaberella]

39. And Obama appointed Judge Susan B. Carbon, Director of the DOJ's

Violence Against Women Office.