# Is this Newsweek cover of Palin sexist? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 17, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941 "2009-11-17T18:59:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/221 "2009-11-18T23:28:52Z")
If she were plain faced, she wouldn’t have been the nominee. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/222 "2009-11-18T23:42:56Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Who wears nylons to go running? Mavericks. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/223 "2009-11-19T00:39:24Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > If she were plain faced, she wouldn’t have been the nominee. Maybe you’re right, but that’s not her fault. She could be wearing burlap frocks and combat boots and her fan-boys will still think she’s teh hotness. A runner’s magazine is not Maxim, and a wink is not a come-on. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/224 "2009-11-19T01:05:10Z")
Seriously, **Dio** , let it go. Lambasting Palin for her image is like making fun of the Browns for having ugly uniforms. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/225 "2009-11-19T01:06:47Z")
I’m trying to imagine NW doing this to a Parallel Universe Democratic Barbie Type Person. And failing … If they wanted to diminish her sexually, they could have found one of context appropriate Cougar Suit Skirt Fetish Type photos. - ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/226 "2009-11-19T01:17:37Z")
Having said all that, it’s unfortunate to go that route, since she’s a buffoon anyway - under-qualified, under-educated, ethically challenged bully, disingenuous, … Which should make the argument by itself… But no, let’s go tacky - use the out-of-context-this-is-not-a-fucking-runner’s-magazine-find-a-picture-of-her-in-a-political-context-wearing-a-freaking-suit picture. Let’s also go with “Sarah” first name condescending, contemptuous mode, and write this like it’s a 10th grade mean girl student council / cheer-leading campaign. So now, at least in the short term Governor Palin can dodge the substantive critiques and bleat on about That Mean Left Wing Media Hypocritical Yada Yada thing. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/227 "2009-11-19T01:30:23Z")
She’s not Governor Palin anymore. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/228 "2009-11-19T01:47:44Z")
:rolleyes: Fine, _former_ Governor Palin. Beyond the titular nitpick, my points stand, as far as I’m concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/229 "2009-11-19T01:56:16Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > A runner’s magazine is not Maxim, and a wink is not a come-on. I recall feeling that it was when we were talking about that ad targeting Harold Ford. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/230 "2009-11-19T01:58:34Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > Let’s also go with “Sarah” first name condescending, contemptuous mode, and write this like it’s a 10th grade mean girl student council / cheer-leading campaign. Heck, the ads are pitching Sarah’s book, referencing her by first name in what I’ll assume is intended as a positive manner. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/231 "2009-11-19T02:15:50Z")
Seriously, the conservative media calls her by her first name all the time. That’s a specious complaint. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/232 "2009-11-19T02:19:51Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Just out of curiousity, how do you think a woman should behave and dress to ensure she isn’t ‘sexualizing her image’? Winking is obviously out. Running attire is as well, so no exercising in public. I suppose it’s out of the question to absently fiddle with her hair, so maybe she should cover it up with something to avoid the temptation… This may come as a shocking surprise, but hot pants are not required for running. If she were _really_ concerned about her image she could have chosen something more modest. If she thinks there’s nothing wrong about posing in hot pants then I can’t see why she complains. If they had used her beauty pageant swimming suit pictures for the cover I would have probably agreed it was inappropriate, but this is Sarah Palin the politician doing this. Fair target. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/233 "2009-11-19T02:19:56Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I recall feeling that it was when we were talking about that ad targeting Harold Ford. Are you serious? Give me a holler when Palin is winking while flirtatiously asking a guy to _call her_. And when you do, you can also tell me how sexually manipulative [Bush](http://thedailytamasha.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/bush-wink.jpg) was [being](http://images.chron.com/blogs/whitehouse/archives/apbushwink.jpg) when he was [doing](http://blogs.amnesty.org.uk/i.aspx?w=400&i=/uploads/blogs/entries/1538.JPG) his [winking](http://girldujour.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/bush-cheney-wink_1016546i1.jpg). He really made me wet, let me tell you. And all I had to do was google “Bush winking” to find all these salacious nuggets of softcore porn. I wish yall would stop making me defend Palin. Really. I’d rather be defending Osama. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/234 "2009-11-19T02:21:21Z")
Incidentally, the phrase, “How do you solve a problem like Sarah” is a reference to a song in _The Sound of Music_. It was play on a song title (“How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?”). That’s why it only used her first name. Some people are working way too hard to find excuses to be offended. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/235 "2009-11-19T03:08:24Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > (I mean really, you think _Newseek_ is run by people with a misogynist agenda? get real) Are you saying one must be a misogynist to be sexist? Or was this just a strawman? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/236 "2009-11-19T03:12:10Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > This may come as a shocking surprise, but hot pants are not required for running. If she were _really_ concerned about her image she could have chosen something more modest. If she thinks there’s nothing wrong about posing in hot pants then I can’t see why she complains. I’m not sure I would quite characterize those as “hot pants.” That’s sensible running gear, in my opinion. That said, she posed in [a number of different](http://www.mofopolitics.com/2009/06/30/images-sarah-palin-runners-world-photos/) outfits during that shoot, obviously because photographically it would be boring to have her wear the same damn thing in every picture. I don’t necessarily think there’s any wrong in her choice of wardrobe for that particular shoot. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/237 "2009-11-19T03:35:57Z")
Well, after checking out that photo spread, Palin is indeed quite fuckable. I just hope she’s not electable. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/238 "2009-11-19T03:42:16Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m not sure I would quite characterize those as “hot pants.” That’s sensible running gear, in my opinion. That said, she posed in a number of different outfits during that shoot, obviously because photographically it would be boring to have her wear the same damn thing in every picture. I don’t necessarily think there’s any wrong in her choice of wardrobe for that particular shoot. This. I’ve seen all of this stuff at running events - it’s standard gear, and I’ve seen it on women much less … svelte than Palin. The clothing is about functionality. The context for these photos is running. The problem with arguments about image is that it distracts from arguments about substance. ---
**Author:** ![Nattering\_Naybob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@Nattering\_Naybob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nattering_Naybob)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/239 "2009-11-19T03:47:39Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > :rolleyes: > > Fine, _former_ Governor Palin. I believe officially speaking it’s Facebook Commenter Palin now. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/240 "2009-11-19T03:53:22Z")
Her mercifully brief Governorship is a matter of record. The fact that she’s vapid as Hell doesn’t alter reality, or the historical record. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941.md?page=13)