I’m thinking of printing a new T-shirt—Free Arianna—to go on the rack next to the Martha Stewart version. That society sets a double standard for power and gender is nothing new, but recently I’ve experienced it up close and personal and it’s pretty disturbing. As a journalist, I’ve worked with Arianna Huffington, the candidate for California governor, who withdrew from the… return to article
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Reader Comments (25)Page 1 of 1 pagesI have nothing against Ariana being a woman. Who-specifically in the media- does? On the last debate she got far more good media attention than she deserved.
I wouldn’t vote for because I don’t trust her. She spins her views around so much I have no idea where she stands. It has nothing to do with her sex.
Posted by Jordan on Oct 3, 2003 at 10:34 PM Isn’t this the woman that rallied for Warren Beatty’s presidential run?!
Brentwood millionaires supporting Brentwood millionaires- There’s a winning recipe for the downtrodden, the uninsured, and the average american!
Posted by Ty on Oct 3, 2003 at 10:41 PM Arianna’s and independent and critical thinker who cares about social issues having to do with the disenfranchized who has the courage to use whatever celebrity she has toward championing those causes. And, in doing so gives voice to those of us with the same socially responsible inclinations.
In totay’s political climate, her refreshing views and the promulgation of those views to a larger audience than many of we in agreement, is a public service to all.
Posted by malcolm thoms on Oct 4, 2003 at 12:51 AM I admire her brains and her willingness to wake up and smell the coffee! She had every selfish reason to stay a Republican but her conscience wouldn’t allow her to. She has become an eloquent and powerful advocate of the environment and of the common people, turning on the “pigs at the trough” (Big Business) who are jgetting a free tax ride on the backs of working people. Arianna is one smart cookie. Too bad there are so many know-nothings out there who don’t recognize that she’s working for THEM.
Posted by Sinead Westlough on Oct 4, 2003 at 1:03 AM I cannot overstate the preponderence of stupidity, ignorance and gullibility of the electorate. Especially in this ever-darkening age of a bald-faced lying and plundering, murderous and vindictive leadership which spreads like a nuclear winter over the general global spirit of the times. If another dim-witted actor, (who appeals to the most adolescent yearnings of those who can’t distinguish between the crapulous content of fantasy-action cinema and the reality of the deteriorating world around them), becomes a real-life actor a.k.a. politician…gets elected who is to blame? The press, the money, the influence, the glamor are no excuses for those who feel they need to vote for a vacuous Nazi lover rather than a woman whose grasp of the issues and superior intelligence would have probably endowed them with a creative and innovative problem-solving, attentive, and responsive stateswoman…then California deservers the fate that’s in store for them, God help us all. It’s not that the electorate has merely become a sound-bite knee-jerk irresponsible horde of idiots but that they consciously choose to be thus and believe they’re just incredibly clever for being that way. We are our own worst enemy. Every won election of the worst element that runs for office only concretizes the manipulators’ justified evaluation of our superficial proclivities and adds fuel to their argument that democracy is but a euphemism for misrule by popular default.
Posted by Dom Mastroserio on Oct 4, 2003 at 3:48 AM Ariana Huffington was willing to publicly go up against the Big Boys (of all ilks), and outspokenly offer one alternate viewpoint to their usual meaningless drivel. The use of the word “shrill” to describe her articulate stating of a point of view, when no such adjectives were used to refer to any of the men, is a classic example of sexism in language. Back in the 1970’s, we feminists thought we had eliminated such blatant linguistic oppression from the society’s usage. Too bad we were wrong. I don’t know enough to know if I agree with all that Ms. Huffington has to say (probably not), but I certainly admire a wealthy, comfortable, competent woman who is willing to stick her neck way out and go to bat for everyone, most especially those far less fortunate and well-connected than she.
Posted by Anne Niles Davenport on Oct 4, 2003 at 3:55 AM Greetings,
The condescenton with with Arianna was met with such viciousness is nothing new to true _humane_-resistors. Once the hypermedia sets out to distroy someone’s character they use the same time-worn words, which are just too bloody revealing when aimed at womyn. As soon as THE MACHINE says such things, its time to pay attention.
The only sad bit is that A. got drawn into a shouting match with Shwarzzneggler, which is exactly what his “team” wanted. She’s light years _brighter_ than the incumbent or any of the pretenders. That’s why she’s so dangerous. The “Nascar Dads” and their submissive families would shut off the races and foolsball games if she gained any wide public attention.
I am pleased to live in a state where at least one such person has managed to develop a social/cultural/eco
conscience over the years. Beyond that: I still believe, “Don’t Californicate the World!”
Daigu
Posted by ryokan on Oct 4, 2003 at 7:06 AM I very proud of Arrianna for standing up for what she believes in. We need more people like her. I hate what they’ve done to her and admire her willingness to continue fighting for what’s right.
Posted by Carol Lowe on Oct 4, 2003 at 5:07 PM Quit making excuses. Arianna should be judged with the same self-righteousness by which she judges others. She is just another opportunist.
Posted by Pat on Oct 4, 2003 at 6:35 PM Sres.:
Por favor, dejense de Arnolds y otros payasos o hijos de tal o cual presidente, los cuales est·n hundiendo a AmÈrica en el barro m·s ignominioso y execrable.
AmÈrica, ante su propio pueblo y ante el mundo est· necesitada de un poco de dignidad.
°Voten a un candidato digno, preparado y maduro!
America ante el mundo ha perdido respeto y credibilidad y el pueblo americano tiene derecho, como cualquier otro pueblo del mundo a que se le respete.
Medio mundo os desprecia y el otro medio os hace el rendib? por miedo.
Ahora, en las prÛximas elecciones teneis la oportunidad de recuperar el respeto del mundo, pero, por favor! dejad a los Arnolds y a los payasos de turno.
En el paÌs m·s poderoso del mundo tiene que haber mentes inteligentes y dignas que lo conduzcan a una era de dignidad, cultura, educaciÛn, eliminaciÛn total de la violÈncia como instituciÛn y poco a poco, recuperaciÛn de la prosperidad econÛmica.
Todo llegar·, pero, lo primero: el respeto.
Saludos.
Posted by AMALIA ALTUNA on Oct 4, 2003 at 7:31 PM I agree with almost everything written here, including an admiration for Huffington as a personality and potential political leader. But speaking of double standards, I’m a hard-core liberal and I know that when I hear that she paid only 771 dollars in taxes my skin crawls, and to bring out the property tax and charitible donations to cover that fact makes that statement sound as if it were straight out of the weekly standard, defending some billionare CEO that also paid near nothing of thier fair share. But I don’t have any of the number or facts, its just a thought.
Posted by Carey on Oct 5, 2003 at 4:30 PM Right on. It started out that Arnold was low in the polls. Yet, everyday it was his face, his activities, his agenda plastered all over the print media. Even Oprah and her sponsors had him on the show. Now shouldn’t her sponsors have to give equal time to the other candidates?
Posted by Dorothy Latour on Oct 5, 2003 at 7:06 PM arianna hufffington represents a small percentage of people in Cali. Besides she has been on bill maher’s show many, many times. She was also featured in the debate that included the top candidates, arnold, bustamante, mcclintock… She dropped out because she realized that she was not going to win and people who voted for the recall were not going to vote for her.
Posted by brad on Oct 5, 2003 at 8:13 PM There is much research you have
not done on Ms. Huffington.
Posted by gertrude stein on Oct 7, 2003 at 1:26 PM I hate how people blame others for their own failures, shortcomings, or lack of action using oppression, sexism, racism and other dirty words. Women’s equality is a finished fight.
Posted by Sam Lidester on Oct 7, 2003 at 9:57 PM If by “finished fight” you mean that women’s equality lost, then I agree with you wholeheartedly, Sam…
Posted by Aaron on Oct 8, 2003 at 8:52 PM I don’t know if women are 100% equal in today’s society, but the number one democrat in this country is a women (Hillary) and the president’s top advisor is a women (Condi Rice) as well.
Arianna Huffington only would have gotten 2-4% of the vote because she is representative of 2-4 percent of californians not because she is a woman.
Posted by brad on Oct 8, 2003 at 9:35 PM “Free Ariana”. What the hell does that mean? “Free” from what?
Oh, and it’s great to know that it is “growth” to change what you believe in. She could get elected governor and “grow” into a Republican again to kiss George’s butt and gain advantage for herself.
Maybe she’ll grow into a Maoist or a neoconservative!
Posted by Nat G. on Oct 9, 2003 at 4:20 PM I’m always impressed with women who marry rich republicans to get to the top. Oh wait, I’m not. And neither is anybody else - especially evident in California.
Posted by Mana on Oct 10, 2003 at 9:10 PM Gracias, Amalia.
He vivido en su hermoso pais y quierlo decirle que estoy de acuerdo con lo que dice sobre la falta de respeto de los EEUU. Estamos empezando a despertar…ojala’ no tarde mucho en mejorar la situacion. Bush & sus “papas”...los tenemos que echar!!!
Saludos a Ud.!
Posted by Amolibri on Oct 10, 2003 at 10:29 PM The California Recall Election was a total freak show—so it’s little wonder that the freaks garnered so many votes. When Gary Coleman and a hooker named Carey draw more votes than you…it’s obvious you are running for office in the wrong place. Arianna is brilliant, compassionate, funny, and—most refreshingly—avoids “bumper sticker” politics and BS.
When it comes to her taxes, I wonder if anyone considered that she doesn’t live lavishly, spent an enormous amount of her own money up front for business purposes—a legal tax write off—and has paid this large sum of property and payroll taxes. Maybe she’s being scorned because she’s a woman, maybe not. Or perhaps it’s because she doesn’t cater to any party line, speaks her mind, and calls others on the carpet for simply saying, “Trust me on this. We’ll open the books.” Or, just maybe, it’s because she doesn’t have any of her own blockbuster movies to quote insipid lines out of for cheap applause.
I remain a huge fan.
Posted by Matt on Oct 11, 2003 at 8:38 AM Indeed. I first became aware of Mrs. Huffinton on the daily how with jon stewart. After hearing her endearing accent i rushed out and bought “Pigs at the Trough” and read it in about 3 days. She is both incredibly witty and intelligent with amazingly pogressive plans. I just wish she would run for gvernor of Ky.
Posted by Dan on Oct 12, 2003 at 6:04 AM Matt, Dan, L.-
“In These Times” needs to track IP sent protocols. “Neil from Boise” and “Stan from New York” are already proven to be the same person. 5 bucks they track you’re the same.
Posted by Jordan on Oct 13, 2003 at 2:07 AM Dan- You bought a book based on the author’s “endearing accent”?!
Congratulations on finishing it in only 3 days! The WHOLE THING?! You’re like a totally astute citizen who really, really cares. Awesome dude. Arianna totally rocks and I’m going to try to read her entire book in 3 days too!
Posted by Fishman on Oct 13, 2003 at 2:58 PM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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