This story still has legs, as they say, hahaha. But then, it's a really slow news week.
Thousands and thousands of taxpayer funds are going into special media handlers for our illustrious leader & BC government media spies (yes, I see you) and this is the best we get. Really?
Women who make the decision to go into politics are a tough bunch. And yes, women face double standards in virtually every setting still. It's what makes women the stronger sex by a long shot, because they have to fight harder to achieve anything.
What is missing in the critiques are a Premier who simply comes
across in a really stupid, self-serving way much of the time she's in
front of a microphone, or camera. As the audio clip demonstrated, her vanity got the better of her, but she did display a sense of humour. And if people don't think male politicians get ambushed sometimes, they haven't listened to other radio shows, like 99.3 CFOX's Jeff O'Neill show, which routinely takes the piss with people from all walks of life. Check out audio clip of her stint on O'Neill & gang's show here.
I'll actually give Premier Clark a thumbs up on this one. She rolled with the joke and moved on and didn't get all self-righteous about it. Let's face it - she was right. It is better to be a MILF than a cougar! Am I right, ladies? hahahaha
by
Miranda Nelson on
Dec 28, 2012, Georgia Straight.
In an interview with
98.9 JetFM in Courtenay, B.C., morning host Drex asked the premier "what it’s like being a MILF?", ostensibly on behalf of a caller.
However, instead of getting offended at the incredibly sexist question, Ms. Clark just laughed. And then answered the question.
"
You know, I take that as a compliment … you know, it’s one of
those things. Better a MILF than a cougar … so tell [the caller] I said
thank you."
Really, Premier Clark? I know you're not a great advocate for
families or children or, well, anything else, but can't you at least
advocate for yourself? The only acceptable answer to a question like
that is, "That's inappropriate" or "You got the premier of the province
on your radio show and all you can do is reduce her to a sexual object?"
*********************************
MILF or cougar: A premier shouldn’t have to choose, so why did she do so publicly on the radio?
By Cassidy Olivier, The Province,
December 28, 2012.
According to blogger
Alex Tsakumis’s website, Clark said the following when host “Drex” asked, on behalf of a listener, what it is like to be a MILF.
“You
know, I take that as a compliment … you know, it’s one of those
things,” she said. “Better a MILF than a cougar … so tell him I said
thank-you.”
Clark’s spokespman, Mike Morton, told The Province
that the Premier was shocked by the question and answered it as best she
could in an effort to move on.
“She was surprised by it,” he said. “She responded accordingly and simply wanted to move on.”
Critics,
however, said the premier could have offered a more appropriate answer
befitting her office and the message of gender equality, especially in
politics, she has promoted in the past.
In June, Clark publicly lambasted British billionaire and Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson
after he posted on his blog a sexually suggestive invitation to her to
go kitesurfing naked. The invite was accompanied with a picture of a
nude woman clinging to his back.
At the time, Clark described Branson’s comments as disrespectful towards her and all women in politics.
Laila Yuile,
a blogger and political pundit who has been following the recent story,
said Clark could easily have offered a more appropriate response such
as: “Next question” or “That’s not appropriate for the viewers.”
“There
is a variety of responses that could have come up instantly,” she said.
“And I think to any woman or girl listening that might be considering
going into politics … I mean, it just sets a standard that is kind of
ridiculous.”
Communications expert Lesli Boldt, president of Boldt
Communications, agreed that the premier could have deflected the
question instead of answering it. But she said Clark did the best she
could given the situation she was put in.
Boldt said some
criticism should be directed toward the radio host as she doubts a male
premier would ever have been put in a similar position.
“I think
it was disrespectful and inappropriate for him to ask it in the first
place,” said Boldt. “She was backed into a corner and she had to think
fast. I think the criticism should be levelled more at the journalist
for creating a situation that she then had to deal with.”
Drex, aka Justin Wilcomes, said he was “not able to comment” when asked by The Province about the interview.
Clark is away on holiday until January, Morton said.
colivier@theprovince.com
twitter.com/cassidyolivier
Listen to the clip here.
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