Sexism -- still as cool as it ever was!

Congratulations to the American media for ripping the only two female Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates to shreds: first, Hillary Clinton, and now Sarah Palin!

Apparently, the unbiased, progressive media outlets don't approve of outspoken women from either side of the political spectrum. They ignored the basic facts on Clinton's and Palin's records -- including the fact that both women actually have records, unlike Senator Obama!

Hillary Clinton has been a United States Senator since 2001 and has an extensive record from voting on issues related to campaign finance reform, immigration, labor rights and unions, education, foreign relations, you name it... At least we know where she stands! By contrast, where is Barack Obama's record? Sure, he supports building a fence along the border and introduced USAspending.gov, but what has he really accomplished during his half-term in the U.S. Senate? Maybe that's part of the reason why he's untouchable -- he doesn't have enough of a background for us to be able to find fault.

And then Sarah Palin, whew! Poor thing... An accomplished woman with an executive record, five children, perfect marriage and a pretty face? Look out! A beautiful middle-class woman with brains and a family must seem too perfect to be allowed to stand tall. I know, let's send our "investigative" journalists to Wasilla to dig up some dirt on her!

Hmmm... Except there's not really much dirt to dig up on her... So let's shine the spotlight on "Troopergate" in which she may or may not have had her ex-brother-in-law fired without due cause (she was ultimately cleared of any ethical or legal wrongdoing, for the record). The whole "let's-cut-state-government-spending-and-pass-an-ethics-reform-bill" thing got swept under the rug too.

Oh, and even better, let's report on rumors that the RNC had spent $150,000 on Palin's wardrobe, makeup and hair, given that Palin -- a bona fide middle-class woman -- couldn't afford to pay for the expensive suits that women like Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama wear. (And never mind the fact that Palin refuted the $150,000 bill, and there was no receipt or other tangible evidence upon which the media could base their petty little scoop! The media relied on the most unreliable of sources -- word of mouth.)

Don't get me wrong -- Sarah Palin* and Hillary Clinton are far from perfect, but they were treated unfairly. The media focused on Palin's "inexperience" (never mind Obama's own inexperience contrasted with John McCain's extensive knowledge and wisdom after decades in the U.S. military and in the Senate), appearance and wardrobe, pregnant 17-year-old daughter and firing of her brother-in-law; as far as Hillary Clinton is concerned, the media ultimately wrote her off as a desperate, angry woman trying too hard to get into the Oval Office while also taking on the role of playground bully in criticizing her golden boy rival in the Democratic primaries.

So when, I wonder, will the American media be ready for a female President or Vice President?


* I openly disagree with Governor Palin's stance on aerial hunting and other animal-rights-related issues, for the record.