News Flash: Compliments Are Not Attacks

Apparently, giving a woman a compliment on her good looks is inherently an insult now, no matter the context, at least if politics and the media are involved in any way. After the 2008 election, full of rightful talk of the sexism pointed at Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin, we seem to be hyper-sensitive to the mere mention of a woman's good looks. The hyper-sensitivity/feminism is being driven of course by the liberal media, who love a good political fight, especially if it means GOP in-fighting. It is also being flamed by opportunistic supporters of politicians, who are jumping at any chance to defend their own choice for new leader of the GOP. 

It's one thing to point out blatant sexism in its true form. It's completely silly on the other hand to misconstrue obvious, harmless compliments as an insult in order to spark a fake verbal spar between two GOP leaders.

When asked his thoughts on Time's "World's Most Influential People" list, Mitt Romney made two accurate points, the first being that it's laughable that the Time's list gate-keepers were only able to find two influential Republicans in the entire world. Meanwhile, musical artist M.I.A. made the list, and I find it hard to believe she holds more than enough influence to possibly move a few toes to a musical beat during some movie. At least fellow "influential person" John Legend has had more than one serious hit song, boring as they may all be to my ears.

Romney made the second, light-hearted point that while the Republican party does have other highly influential leaders than a list that includes only two would have one believe, such a meager showing would have made more sense had the list been People's World's Most Beautiful list. This statement was meant to poke fun at the entire GOP for lacking in beauty queen-esque leaders and to compliment Palin for her good looks. It's clearly understandable that she would be one of only two representatives on such a list, since she is very good looking for a politician, as opposed to a list about worldwide influence that includes more hip hop artists than conservative American leaders or thinkers.

I'm hopeful (if not sure) that Palin's silence on Romney's comment about the "Most Beautiful" list is a result of her ability as a secure woman to understand when someone is complimenting her looks, rather than attacking her abilities. Romney himself was not trying to say Palin is nothing but good-looking, to diminish her political influence. He was disappointed that more Republicans did not make Time's list, and made a self-defacing joke about the good looks in the party being as scant as the leaders represented on the influence list. But look, this is a woman who can take down a moose and run a state, not some ninny politico or hyper-sensitive radical feminist looking to call someone racist and ageist and sexist, oh my. And since I'm sure she knows she's hot, smart, and influential, I think she got the joke about the GOP and the compliment to her good looks. She should be nothing short of flattered, as I certainly would be if Romney threw me the same compliment.

Unfortunately, the media's attempt to ruffle some feathers between conservatives worked quickly, and some groups with the good intentions of supporting Palin and standing against truly ridiculous attacks have bought into this weird idea that this was an intentional slam against Palin. Speaking as a supporter of said organizations, I think they should calm down and ignore this consequence of a slower news day, lest they begin resembling the very people we should all be working together to fight - radical modern feminists, who think that complimenting a woman's looks is necessarily chauvinist and who stand against the conservative principals for which both Palin and Romney stand.

I do take one issue with Mitt's statement though. He said, "We're not real cute." Uh, Mr. Romney, have you seen a mirror lately? As far as political creatures go, you (along with Governor Perry) were totally shafted on this year's Most Beautiful List, especially since it includes the far inferior Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner (wth?). Oh look at me, getting all sexist, talking about these male political leaders in terms of their looks. Can you blame me though? Well, my husband can. And for the record, he is #1 best looking in the world and Republican.

Move over Clooney, the GOP still has plenty of thinkers, influencers and lookers. 

Update -

Mitt Romney explains this himself. (Go to 5:25)