[Correction: WULFPAC did not sign on to the letter below. We regret the error. 3-3-09]
It turns out we weren't the only ones offended by Tim Russert's recent panel of men ranting about that "bitchy" Hillary Rodham Clinton. Several women's groups fired off a letter to the show's executive producer - who happens to be a woman, for all the good it does. It must be really great working for the Misogyny Channel.
I've pasted the letter below. It's from the National Organization for Women,
I'm still asking: Where is the feminist leadership? But letters are better than nothing.
April 9, 2008
Ms. Barbara Fant
Executive Producer
MSNBC’s Tim Russert Show
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10112
Dear Ms. Fant,
Please explain to the viewers of MSNBC’s Tim Russert’s latest show how using the term “bitchy” to refer to a woman running for president is an example of “writing and thinking and talking with intelligence.” On the April 5 show, guest Christopher Hitchens did indeed use the word to describe Presidential Candidate Senator Hillary Clinton and rather than being taken to task, was actually thanked for his “intelligence” by Mr. Russert. [Media Matters]
NWPC, NOW and WUFPAC are continually frustrated by the tone and rhetoric coming from the media establishment covering the Hillary Clinton campaign. We object to the terminology that the media has used without regard in this race, words and descriptions that are not worthy of debate for a presidential contest. Tim Russert is a well respected member of the main-stream media and we as viewers and voters expect a higher level of discourse on his show. The fact that he did not call out Mr. Hitchens for uttering the term “bitchy” was a tacit consent of its use and we are extremely disappointed that the anchors, especially those of Mr. Russert’s caliber, condone this type of negativism toward women. Calling Christopher Hitchen’s commentary thoughtful and intelligent is not an example of “intelligence” in our book.
We expect that Mr. Russert and MSNBC will rise to a higher level of professionalism for the remainder of the presidential campaign and on into the future. Millions of Americans receive their news coverage and analysis from MSNBC and expect honesty, objectivity, and high standards. Please don’t let them down.
Sincerely,
Lulu Flores, President
National Women’s Political Caucus
Kim Gandy, President
National Organization for Women
Women under Forty PAC
TGW: Russert, Hitchens & Sullivan: Hillary Can't Help Being a Bitch & We Are Not Misogynists! (Video)
Photo of a Chris Matthews Protest outside MSNBC.
Hillary Clinton Media Bias MSNBC Politics Barack Obama Democratic Primary News Gender Sexism Misogyny Tim Russert NBC Male Media Feminist Politics