President Barack Obama has created a minor controversy within progressive media circles by complimenting the looks of California Attorney General Kamala Harris.
Obama praised Harris Thursday as “brilliant,” “dedicated,” and “tough.” He then capped off the compliment, “She also happens to be, by far, the best-looking attorney general.”
The remark drew criticism from some progressive authors as sexist. Jonathan Chait of New York magazine said Obama set a “disgraceful” example for “gender equality in the workforce.”
Politico’s Dylan Byers wondered aloud if the heated reaction to Obama’s compliment was a sign of a larger problem of political correctness. “How did it become so difficult to call a woman good looking in public?” he tweeted.
Pundit Zerlina Maxwell responded, “when we became full humans and not objects.”
The exchange became more contentious from there.
sigh RT @dylanbyers: So it is no longer acceptable, under any terms, to publicly compliment a person for their looks in public?
— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) April 4, 2013
@zerlinamaxwell it’s an honest question
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) April 4, 2013
I don’t doubt ur honesty but street harassment is a real thing.Complimenting a woman on the street isn’t just harmless flattery @dylanbyers
— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) April 4, 2013
@zerlinamaxwell So was Obama street harassing the Attorney General?
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) April 4, 2013
It would be awesome if men would comment on someone’s skill instead of their looks. @dylanbyers
— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) April 4, 2013
Byers asked his followers if anyone was offended when First Lady Michelle Obama called a 2010 male Senate candidate “handsome.”
Critics have previously accused President Obama of sexism for his use of the word “sweetie” to address women.
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