Obama’s Angels

Both Spencer Ackerman and  Matthew Yglesias, males both, are highly offended by the cover of the current The National Interest depicting the foreign policy triumvirate of Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice, and Janet Napolitano as “Obama’s Angels,” claiming the implication that these accomplished women are somehow analogous to sexy female crimefighters is insulting to women.

In my New Atlanticist look at the  Obama’s Angels Cover Controversy, I defend TNI for the choice, pointing out the irony of the controversy.

In an OTB exclusive, I would add my conjecture that few women are offended at being compared to Farrah Fawcett, Jacklyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, or Cameron Diaz.

FILED UNDER: Gender Issues, Media, , , , ,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Michael says:

    In an OTB exclusive, I would add my conjecture that few women are offended at being compared to Farrah Fawcett, Jacklyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, or Cameron Diaz.

    Any woman compared to them is not likely to be offended. However, the women who are not compared to them will find it offensive, because it highlights what they do no have as being a positive trait.

    Not that I think TNI is making the comparison based on looks, but rather on the organizational chart, so nobody should find it offensive.

  2. rodney dill says:

    I think the comparison is insulting to sexy female crimefighters.

  3. Franklin says:

    I’m thinking that Hillary would just laugh (or cackle); IIRC, she’s been called worst.

  4. just me says:

    This is much ado about nothing. All three of these ladies in addition to Obama have now stepped front and center into the world of politics where political satire and cartoons are the name of the game.

    Give them all some time to put a few mistakes under their belt and they will wish for the days when they were compared to three sexy women from a 70’s TV show.

  5. G.A.Phillips says:

    I think the comparison is insulting to sexy female crimefighters.

    lol, the fist group yes the second group not so much.

  6. markm says:

    claiming the implication that these accomplished women are somehow analogous to sexy female crimefighters

    ..yoiks….that needs to get shot down on the quick…sheesh.

  7. Eneils Bailey says:

    “Obama’s Angels,” claiming the implication that these accomplished women are somehow analogous to sexy female crimefighters is insulting to women.

    El wrongo there, Mr. Joyner; it’s a simply an insult to human intelligence.

  8. Jay C. says:

    claiming the implication that these accomplished women are somehow analogous to sexy female crimefighters is insulting to women

    James, this kind of attitude no longer surprises me. What is it with Liberals “these days,” anyway? They’re always looking to get a leg up on someone by finding some kind of victimhood to which they can appeal. Can’t they just be honest about being addicted to control?

  9. Outrage is the coin of the realm, and inflation is on the horizon.

  10. Jay C. says:

    Charles! I like that quip a lot. Like my friend’s email signature used to say: “Death takes its toll. Prepare exact change.”

  11. Josh says:

    I defend TNI for the choice, pointing out the irony of the controversy.

    It’s only ironic if you assume that women can’t or don’t buy into the same sexist stereotypes men do. That would not seem to be a safe assumption to me.

  12. Floyd says:

    “”somehow …. is insulting to women.””
    “”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    Should read “…insulting to feminists”
    [quite a different category altogether]