I’m not even going to comment on their story as they certainly have a right to their opinion (it certainly isn’t news), as misguided as it is. The Newsweek cover is over the top though. They couldn’t find any other picture to use? For Runner’s World it’s appropriate, for Newsweek it’s not. It is beyond ridiculous, and should draw ire from women on the left. But will it? I’m not going to hold my breath.
Governor Palin’s response to the cover is listed at Memeorandum, I’ve never seen Facebook posts there before, but I digress. She said last night:
The choice of photo for the cover of this week’s Newsweek is unfortunate. When it comes to Sarah Palin, this "news" magazine has relished focusing on the irrelevant rather than the relevant. The Runner’s World magazine one-page profile for which this photo was taken was all about health and fitness – a subject to which I am devoted and which is critically important to this nation. The out-of-context Newsweek approach is sexist and oh-so-expected by now. If anyone can learn anything from it: it shows why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, gender, or color of skin. The media will do anything to draw attention – even if out of context.
David Brody at CBN was a little more blunt in his criticism:
You’ve got to hand it to the folks at Newsweek. They have accomplished being biased and sexist at the same time. Quite a feat. This cover has got to be a new low right? They don’t use a photo of Palin on the campaign trail. No instead they take the sexy Runners World photo. Yes she posed for it but don’t tell me they didn’t purposely use that photo to make a point? I predict this cover will become a bigger story over the next 24-48 hours and let’s face it. This isn’t JUST about media bias. This cover should be insulting to women politicians. Where’s the sexy photo of Mitt Romney? Why not a picture of Tim Pawlenty with an unbuttoned shirt relaxing on a couch in the Twin Cities?
Well if they were doing this as a publicity stunt they got some attention. I would suspect they’ll lose some more readers from their already dwindling circulation. Just another example of the left going berserk.
Update: Governor Palin was asked about the cover of Newsweek by Barbara Walters in the second segment of the interview shown on Good Morning America this morning. You can watch the first segment here.
Update 2: Since Roy at Village Voice is unsure why the Newsweek cover is sexist let me lay it out plainly so he can understand. It really isn’t complicated.
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If Newsweek was doing an article on running or fitness and wanted to highlight the Governor fine.
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Since Newsweek wasn’t profiling running or fitness it is inappropriate, and since the title (given on the cover) is “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sarah?” It was an attempt at mockery. I know, it’s complicated. Would Newsweek put a picture of Mitt Romney jogging if they were doing an article on his policies? Likely not. How about Barack Obama? Well, they would probably use this or this picture and describe his pectoral muscles since they are in love with him so much.
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The outfit she’s wearing is suited for running, not running for office, it would have been better to use one of the gazillion pictures taken during the campaign.
Update 3: McCain’s advice (that is Stacy McCain, not John McCain) to Governor Palin is to lean into the curve and not assume a feminist victimhood posture. He makes a pretty reasonable argument, but I think it is easier to say that if you’ve never been subject to it. It is still an argument worth considering. He said a better response for her would be:
"Yes, I am a woman. Yes, I have legs. And, yes, I’ve been told they’re very nice legs. Exactly why the editors of Newsweek decided that showing me in shorts was appropriate for the cover of their magazine is for them to explain — and good luck with that. I guess I’m trying to figure out what side of the double-standard applies here. Levi can get naked for Playgirl and still be taken seriously, but Newsweek thinks it’s something scandalous to show me in running shorts? Just wait until I grant my first in-depth foreign-policy interview to Maxim!"
Which I hope she doesn’t do, interview with Maxim that is. I think saying something very loosely along those lines (like not bringing up Levi, Maxim, Playgirl or naked) would have been a good response. Stacy, though, do you really think Todd is "a certified USDA prime slice of hunkalicious beef”? Does your wife know about this? 🙂