Yesterday's debate - Edwards on Hillary's coat: That was really cringe-worthy

[rhombus]

QUESTION: I would like for each of you to look at the candidate to your left and tell the audience one thing you like and one thing you dislike about that particular candidate. And remember, be honest.

EDWARDS: I admire what Senator Clinton has done for America, what her husband did for America. I'm not sure about that coat.

CLINTON: We are ready to lead the change that America so desperately needs.

COOPER: All right. I'll take that as you're not going to answer. Senator Obama?

OBAMA: I actually like Hillary's jacket. I don't know what's wrong with it. And I like the fact that Bill Richardson has devoted his life to public service, because that, I think, is the highest of callings.

(APPLAUSE)

I don't like the fact that he either likes the Yankees or the Red Sox, but doesn't apparently like the White Sox. And we're having a tough time this year.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/23/debate.transcript/index.html



Edwards didn't have to stoop so low on the dress comment. I thought it was tasteless and quite sexist.



UPDATED: Politico's Roger Simon on Edwards' dress comment:

We were forced to deduct 3.5 points, however, for his dumb attack on Hillary Clinton’s suit jacket. We like her suit jacket -- we thought it was a vision in coral -- but that is not why it was a stupid attack. Write this down, guys: Attack her policies, attack her past votes, attack her personality if you want to, but don’t attack what she is wearing. It looks sexist and cheap.

http://www.politico.com/rogersimon

[babylonsister]

1. I think they were trying to use humor to get out of complimenting their

competition; I wasn't cringing.

[rhombus]

6. I don't think you'd ever see a female candidate critiquing a man's suit

That's the difference. Hillary would never talk about Edwards suit or jacket. So why did Edwards do that? I'm sorry but it came across as a classless comment from Edwards. Just my two cents.

[AndyTiedye]

14. But they Will Sure Ream a Guy About His Haircut

[Nite Owl]

2. They seemed to think it was pretty

funny. The way that Hillary reacted to it it was like it was a joke.

[Ninga]

5. It was tonuge in cheek.....his posture and expression said it all.

[PresidentObama]

3. It's called a joke. Grow up.

Keep digging. You haven't found anything here.

Oh and explain to me how it's sexist? That's a lame analysis of what he said.

[IndyOp]

4. Sexist - I don't agree. He could've said the same about any other

candidate on the stage - without regard to the actual coat. It is easier and funnier to poke fun at someone's coat when it is a nice coat than when it is a not-nice coat. Right?

[RubyDuby in GA]

7. Actually, I thought it was a bad color for her. Glad he pointed it out.

[TwilightGardener]

9. I thought it WAS her color--she looked great. Vey flattering to her

skin tone and hair. She's a Spring! However, Edwards was just making a harmless joke. Didn't think it was sexist.

[RubyDuby in GA]

10. I agree that it was a joke. People need to calm down.

Maybe the color was off on my tv. :shrug:

[MaineDem]

12. I thought she looked terrific!

The color of her jacket was perfect.

I agree that Edwards was making a joke.


Edited for spelling.

[Alamom]

17. Yes, she looked great and it was a cute joke......

[Flarney]

8. It was just a bad joke...

...I'm quite certain he didn't actually have a problem with the coat. If a man had been to his left he probably would have said the same about the tie. Calling it "sexist" is "quite" a stretch, imho.

I thought Joe Biden's answer was hysterical (his favorite thing about Kucinich was "his wife")...though that actually was kind of sexist. Oops.

I agree though, the "jacket" answer did fall flat.

[yardwork]

11. We're cringing over mild jokes while the nation goes up in flames.

This is idiocy.

[jsamuel]

13. It was funny.

He was forced to say something bad about her, so he made a joke. Hillary was laughing too. He was making a joke on something superficial to emphasize that it is stupid to attack someone on superficial grounds.

[usregimechange]

15. It was a joke, no story here.

[Alamom]

16. It was a cute joke & Hillary laughed, (a real laugh). Obama joined in and they all laughed

edlt

[zulchzulu]

18. Hah! I done thought it wuz so funny!

NOT!

Edwards continues to underimpress me... you'd think they were buddies since he was whispering in her ear about "smaller-sized" debates with just them and Kootch.

[Eurobabe]

19. what a stupid fucking question,

and I thought she looked smashing, FWIW.

[More Than A Feeling]

20. People actually thought it was a "serious" attack?

Wow.

John Edwards knows what its like be attacked for superficial things. We all know what that looks like. His comment on her jacket does not qualify.

Move along, nothing to see here.

[RedEarth]

21. It was a fr.... joke........... don't we have more important things to be concerned about

...maybe like Iraq, healthcare, the economy....etc, etc, etc, etc.........