Liddy Worried About Sotomayor Judging While Menstruating
Offender: G. Gordon Liddy on The G. Gordon Liddy Show
Media Outlet: Aired on radio stations nationwide 5/28/09 - syndicated by Radio America, a division of The American Studies Center
The Offense: Speaking about President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor, radio host G. Gordon Liddy had this to say: "Let's hope that the key conferences aren't when she's menstruating or something, or just before she's going to menstruate. That would really be bad. Lord knows what we would get then."
NOW's Analysis: What can we say that Liddy's words don't already say for themselves? Liddy starts out the segment by accusing Judge Sotomayor with making racist comments and criticizing her membership in the group National Council of La Raza, which he says means "the race" in "illegal alien". Yes, that's right -- Liddy referred to the Spanish language as "illegal alien." (By the way: the organization says a closer translation of La Raza would be "the people" or "the Hispanic people of the New World.")
When Liddy's guest suggests that Sotomayor will be making decisions based on her "personal intuition" and "emotion," Liddy can't help but go there. You know where, that place where women can't make decisions when they're on their period. Ages ago, people were encouraged to think that women couldn't serve in important, high-pressure, high-stakes jobs because they get so crazy and emotional when they're menstruating. This sexist attitude, for the most part, has long since been retired. But Liddy didn't get the memo, or he just doesn't care. Right-wing talking heads are using everything in their arsenal to demonize Sotomayor, and Liddy is on the front lines with his bag full of this dusty old muskets.
Take Action: Tell Liddy's syndicator, Radio America, what you think of his racist, sexist comments.
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Glenn Beck Objects to Nomination of "Hispanic Chick Lady"
Offender: Glenn Beck on The Glenn Beck Program
Media Outlet: Aired on radio stations nationwide 5/26/09 - syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications
The Offense: Radio host Glenn Beck mockingly explained how he thought President Obama chose Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court: "They're just like: 'Hey, Hispanic chick lady! You're empathetic!' She says 'Yep!' They say: 'You're in.' That's the way it really works. . . . The reason to be pissed off is she's not transgendered and she's not handicapped, she's not blind, she's not in a wheelchair. I don't know if she has any kind of chemical imbalance."
NOW's Analysis: Like many a right-wing radio blowhard, Glenn Beck is not afraid of offending anyone. On this day, he was railing against President Obama for proudly nominating Judge Sonia Sotomayor, a Latina, to the Supreme Court. As Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic and only the third woman justice on the high court, these newsworthy facts were noted by Obama and much of the media.
But Beck took it a step further by putting words in the mouths of Obama and his vetting team, having them refer to Sotomayor as "Hispanic chick lady" and implying that her identity and possible empathy were the only factors that secured her the nomination -- not her experience or the content of her legal opinions. Beck's implied that Sotomayor got the job solely based on her gender and ethnicity, because that's the only way she could have, right?
Beck goes on to insult a few other groups of people just for good measure -- again speaking for Obama and anyone who might be pleased with Sotomayor's nomination, saying that the only reason these folks might be mad is because the nominee does not have a physical or mental disability as well or isn't transgendered. In less than 60 seconds, Beck manages to demean an extremely qualified and accomplished woman nominee to the Supreme Court, while insulting all women, Hispanics, people with disabilities, and the LGBT community. His employers must be so proud.
Take Action: Tell Kraig T. Kitchin, President and Chief Operating Officer of Premiere Radio Networks, what you think about Glenn Beck's sexist, racist comments.
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Burger King's "Square Butts" Ad Uses Exploitation to Promote Kids' Products
Offender: Burger King, "Square Butts" commercial
Media Outlet: Airing on various TV stations, starting in April 2009
The Offense: Burger King (BK) promotes its 99 cents kids meal through a tie-in with Nickelodeon character SpongeBob SquarePants and a take-off of the song "Baby Got Back" In the original song, Sir Mix-a-Lot rapped about liking women's "big butts" -- this time the King (BK's mascot) admires "square butts" on women.
NOW's Analysis: Who in the world decides to combine a song about women's "big butts" with a beloved children's cartoon character? Have the executives at Burger King lost their minds? What about the executives at Nickelodeon who approved the use of SpongeBob SquarePants in this offensive ad?
Just like the original video for "Baby Got Back" (and countless other music videos, we should add), the women in this commercial are sexualized and valued solely for their body parts. The King measures one woman's bottom with a tape measure, and Sir Mix-a-Lot himself appears at the end to declare "booty is booty."
This ad would seem crass if it were aimed only at adults, but it's wildly inappropriate for kids. It proudly sends the message to young girls and boys that women are objects to be leered at by men, and it uses a cartoon character known for his innocent optimism to do so. Shame on BK and Nickelodeon.
Take Action: Tell Burger King what you think of their commercial!
And tell Viacom, the parent company of cable network Nickelodeon, what you think about them selling out SpongeBob for this ad (make sure to click on Compose Message and then select Compose Your Own Letter and click Next Step)|
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