Controversy: Michelle Bachmann and the Sexism Factor
By Michael Crowley | @crowleytime | July 7, 2011 | + Tweet
After senior advisor Vin Weber's apology for referencing Michele Bachmann's "sex appeal," Tim Pawlenty's team will learn the hard way that campaigns against a woman require a particularly cunning approach. The accusation of sexism often looms just around the corner. It is frequently justified, given that politics and media remain predominantly male-dominated arenas, but sometimes it isn't. Barack Obama was, somewhat unjustly, called sexist during the 2008 Democratic primaries and then again during the general election (remember the big "lipstick on a pig" debate?). Bachmann's prominent role in the GOP race seems to bring out the familiar combination of foolish remarks from men—"Is she a flake?"—as well as overreaching defenses from the candidate herself, which can come across as cynical. In this case, Weber’s words likely fall into the first category. Each Republican candidate should be aware of this dynamic, both for reasons of propriety and practicality.
Although now posing the greatest risk for Pawlenty, who more than anyone else must sideline Bachmann before she suffocates his candidacy in the cornfields of Iowa.
P.S. Here's a photo I stumbled upon in January of Bachmann and Weber, who appear to be friends, chatting casually.
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