Fareed Zakaria on This Week. He is really high on Larry Summers

[Thrill]

Well the whole round table for that matter. Zakaria was defending his comments about women. Saying he appointed more women at Harvard than anyone.

My only question is. Would he have a hard time getting confirmed. How do the womens groups feel about him?

[mucifer]

1. NOW has come out against Summers.

[KittyWampus]

2. As a woman, I don't really CARE how womens groups feel about him IF he's the right man

for the job.

Who should have that job?

I don't know. Usually I'm a know it all, but on this I have no input. Just put someone who is competent... and understands the need for regulation in the markets

[MNDemNY]

3. Summers is toxic, bad,bad, move.

[spooky3]

4. If a potential candidate had made comparable racist comments, would s/he even be in the running?

Anyone who has read ALL the evidence about how Summers behaved at Harvard would not defend him, unless s/he were also a sexist and/or sees nothing wrong with a head of a major research university who ignores extant research in order to make offensive comments. It's also not the only bad behavior that has been documented about Summers. The evidence is out there on the web for all to read. The "saying he appointed more women" is like saying, "some of my best friends are black." Harvard has never had a high proportion of women on the faculty; many that Summers appointed were appointed AFTER the scandal, in response to the concerns raised; and people can still be sexist and create a hostile climate, particularly for more senior women, while being comfortable appointing women to lower level, powerless positions.

It is just as offensive to have a man like Zakaria pronounce something as acceptable as it is for a white person like me to feel I am more competent than people of color to judge how racist a pattern of behavior is.

There are plenty of excellent economists to choose from; Obama doesn't have to settle for someone like this. It would be a slap in the face to many who voted for Obama, if he were to act as if Summers' comments were an insignificant matter.

[always_saturday]

5. Exactly.

[riderinthestorm]

6. I can't see "no drama Obama" picking Summers. Why should he?

There are a lot of other qualified candidates and I just can't see the Obama team making this selection. It would be inflammatory. Why go there? Especially when there are others who can do it. It's not as though Summers would never be called to consult - I'm sure Obama won't cut him off. He'll be involved but I don't see him selected as the front man.

Summers' comments were pretty bad. I really hope he's passed over.