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The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

Obama accused of being sexist for ‘best-looking’ remark

Earlier this month, President Obama was criticized for calling California’s attorney general, Kamala Harris, the “best-looking attorney general” during a speech at a Democratic National Committee fundraising lunch in California. Obama made a special shout-out to Harris and said, “She’s brilliant and she’s dedicated, she’s tough . . . she also happens to be, by far, the best-looking attorney general.”

Many took offense, especially women, claiming Obama was reinforcing the culture that fosters heavy judgment of women based on their appearance in the workplace and objectifies them. He was called “sexist,” and after much scrutiny he later apologized to Harris.

Women have always been the target of unwanted sexual comments and harassment in the workplace and there’s a constant struggle for them to prove that they are more than just “a pretty face” in many places and situations.

In the aftermath of the luncheon, people suddenly forgot that Obama also described Harris as brilliant, dedicated and tough. As soon as he mentioned that she is good-looking, all the raging feminists emerged and claimed women have again been done wrong.

Since when is it a crime to give compliments?

Obama is a respectful, well- rounded man, a father and a husband. His comment shouldn’t be something to cause anger in people. He had no strings attached to what he said and he is not the type of man to say lewd or degrading comments about women. Obama’s comment was said with respect and praise, yet it’s being compared to situations like a boss telling his female employee not to lift anything heavier than 30 pounds because she’s a woman and she shouldn’t strain herself because she’s too pretty to do such tasks.

A good-looking woman is a good-looking woman, and people can agree that Harris is one. Her looks have nothing to do with her performance as attorney general. Obama said “best-looking,” not sexy, banging, hot, cute or anything of that sort.

Ironically, the same day Obama made his comment, the first lady accidentally referred to herself as a “single mother.” In an interview with a CBS station based in Vermont, Michelle Obama said, “Believe me, as a busy single mother – or I shouldn’t say single – as a busy mother, sometimes when you’ve got a husband who is president it can feel a little single, but he’s there,” the first lady said. “But as a busy working mom, and before coming to the White House, I was in that position as well – working, driving kids to practice, not having enough time to shop or cook, not having the energy.”

Although Michelle Obama is a married woman, it can be safe to say that most married mothers have felt like all the pressure has been put on them,especially those who are stay- at-home moms. Even with their husbands’ help, there has always been greater emphasis on women to cook the meals and maintain the house, take care of the kids throughout the day, do the shopping and cleaning and run all the errands, all while being the best mother and wife they can be. The pressure can be stressful and it can sometimes make them feel that they are alone.

Both the president and the first lady seemed to have had a slip-up in their choice of words that day, but none of them should be taken seriously. The president meant no harm and the first lady just used poor wording.

To those who called Obama sexist, especially the women, this is the man who made it possible to have free preventative services and contraceptives available for women. This is the man who is doing everything within his power to end gender discrimination and unequal pay in the workforce. This is the man who fought for women to serve in combat, and the same man who supports women’s rights and their choice to do what they please with their bodies. With all this said, how is one comment justifiable enough to deem him sexist and turn a blind eye to everything he has done for women?

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    LaurenJun 13, 2019 at 6:04 pm

    Bet you every “progressive” that got up in arms has certainly referred to another person as “good-looking.” And I also bet it was mostly white women.