The latest outrage – proudly worn t-shirts at Obama rallies saying “Sarah Palin is a Cunt” and
“progressive” hosts on Air America, including Mike Malloy and Randi Rhodes, regularly
referring to “McCain and his ho” – are not directed at Governor Palin because she is a
Republican. They are attacking her because she is a woman. If Republicans were wearing t-
shirts saying Senator Biden is a “prick” or a “shriveled dick”, we would condemn that as well. It
is not happening. No one attacks politicians because of their male genitalia. But it is acceptable
in our deeply misogynistic culture to attack women politicians on the basis of their gender.

A few other women’s groups, most notably Women Count Pac and The New Agenda, have
issued statements condemning the sexism directed at Governor Palin, but too many groups have
been silent. We call on all women’s organizations, regardless of who they are endorsing in this
campaign, to speak out against this treatment of any woman candidate for office.

We also call on the leaders of the Democratic Party, including Senators Obama, Biden and Reid,
as well as, Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Dean, to demand that their supporters stop sexist,
gender-based attacks on women candidates.

The mainstream media recently had extensive coverage on attacks on Senator Obama shouted out
by certain McCain supporters that were racist, questioning whether or not the McCain campaign
has encouraged racism. We also call on the media to examine the sexist behavior of supporters of
Senator Obama and delve into the issue of whether that campaign has encouraged sexism.

This is not the time for silence about sexism, regardless of the ticket we support for President.

It certainly isn’t their politics. On almost every issue of importance to American voters, Clinton and Palin hold opposing or at least very different positions.

What they do share in common is simply this:

As women who both come from middle class backgrounds, and as women who have had personal family issues as have most women, they believe that they are as capable as any man to run for the highest and second highest offices of our land and to serve the people of our country as well as any man.

That belief appears to an affront to some in the media who, often despite professed liberalism, seem on a fundamental, deep level, not to believe in gender equality. Rather than fairly evaluate these women on their policies and experience, they have used sexist smears – everything from “she-devil” to “bimbo” – and have applied a scrutiny regarding family issues that is not applied to male candidates. The attempts to undermine not just these two women on the basis of their gender but any women candidates or public figures, is not acceptable.

WePAC was formed in June 2008, after Hillary Clinton’s historic campaign for President. Our mission is to bring equality, fairness and justice to all areas of the lives of women and children in this country and globally by obtaining the political and economic power necessary to create those changes.

WePAC’s executive board condemns the sexist and misogynist comments by members of the media or by other politicians directed at women candidates for any office. We invite you to join us in our work. Please visit our website and email us with examples of sexist comments you see in this campaign. We will not be silenced.