OK, so when I was a kid, Highlights magazine was my favorite reading material and they always had a Hidden Pictures feature: you were given x number of random items to look for in a huge illustration, which kills oodles of free time when you're six. However, this "Hidden Pictures" misogyny I found in the latest CNN commentary of Michelle Obama wasn't that hard to spot. See if you can find it with me!
From CNN's Report Card for Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention:
So, let's break this down, commentator by commentator.
Bill Schneider: OMG, expresses a, dare I say, FEMINIST statement by noting that Michelle Obama is indeed an autonomous person with independent interests and objectives?! Excellent! My score: A
Hillary Rosen: Notes patriotic sentiment in the face of Fox News blowhards that have been attacking her for months with that one small remark about our country. My score: A
David Gergen: Admires Michelle's oratory, which is rare when you hear much more about Barack's noteworthy speeches. My score: A
Gloria Borger: A little slippery by characterizing her as a "character witness", to me this sounds just a tad bit subservient. Still overall positive, though. My score: B
Leslie Sanchez: ...REALLY? I'd expect this from some snarky E! News commentary, from a Fox News anchor, or from MSNBC's Chris Matthews, but SERIOUSLY? Even though we've just witnessed a female politician's first realistic bid for the Presidency of the United States, does it matter more that you weren't enamored by Michelle Obama's attire than the fact that she "hit all the milestones" in what was considered by many to be a powerful and noteworthy speech?
This remark simply reiterates the prevailing reality that patriarchal society (and in this case, another woman!) places more worth on a powerful woman's appearance than her words and actions. I can absolutely guarantee that you will never hear a commentator on any news channel working for any organization quip that "Barack's speech was moving, but we really weren't that impressed with his suit tonight!" These are the same biting attacks that Hillary Clinton faced throughout the entirety of her presidential campaign, and apparently Michelle Obama is not immune to a continuing barrage of criticism.
So needless to say, this ugly hidden picture wasn't that hard for me to spot...but never in a million years would I dream that I'd spot it on CNN.
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I kind of thought you were referring to the fact that they're all white...