Why Is Hillary Clinton Derided For Being "Testy" With Media But Chris Christie Isn't?

Alan: The fact that Hillary is derided for being testy is a pathognomic mark of sexism 

just as "Obama hatred" is a sure sign of racism.

In neither case will the offending parties admit to their moral degradation.

***

For those looking for double standards in media treatment of potential 2016 presidential candidates, Eric Boehlert, Senior Fellow of Media Matters for America, has the article for you in Why Isn't Chris Christie Derided for Being "Testy?" Boehlert's excellent essay documents many cases of unequal treatment by the media, saying "(t)he gaffe police were on vigilant patrol last week, keenly monitoring Hillary Clinton's book release media tour and pronouncing much of it to be a failure."

Pundits excoriated Hillary Clinton for being "emotional", "testy", having gaffes, being "rattled," and "snapping" at reporters for reactions that pale in comparison to Governor Chris Christie shouting down a Navy Seal, and librarian, and his repeated open derision of reporters. Hillary's reactions, that when examined closely, seem well handled, if not adroit to me.

Taking examples from Clinton's book tour last week, where Clinton answered hours of questions on every topic one can imagine, Boehlert finds the two reactions responsible for her "rough week" of "stumbles," were her accurate descriptions of her and Bill's financial situation in 2001, and her push back against National Public Radio's Terry Gross' repeated attempts to "pigeonhole Clinton on the sensitive ... issue of gay marriage," which earned her the characterization of being "testy."

 

Those were the "gaffes" that earned her a mostly thumbs down review from the theater critics who pass as Beltway political pundits and who declared her performance was "rusty"; that Clinton had become "rattled" and emotional, according to Maureen Dowd. (Texas Governor Rick Perry last week likening homosexuality to alcoholism? That wasn't really treated as a major political gaffe for a possible 2016 candidate.)

Eric Boehlert notes that The Times reported the Clinton's net worth to be negative $4 million in 2001, while the New Yorker estimated their legal bills to be be $11 or $12 million against assets of only a million, so Hillary was telling the truth.

Boehlert complains that Clinton's interview with NPR's Terry Gross has been portrayed to create a "false impression than Clinton had stonewalled and dodged over the issue of marriage equality." When Gross tried to imply Clinton had devious motivations for changing her position Hillary responded "I think you're reading it very wrong. ... That's just flat wrong."

And for that, reporters described Clinton as "combative and unnerved."

Instapundit called her "testy," as did MSNBC, and New York Magazine does, too, also writing that "Hillary won't say she evolved on gay marriage." The Wall Street Journal also picks up the "testy" line, while the New York Daily News prefers "lashes out" in a "tense" interview. Mediaite says she "snaps" at NPR's interviewer. Oh, and Politico prefers "testy."

Bloelert points out that Governor Chris Christie is far more combative with reporters.
.

Prior to the eruption of his lane-closing controversy in January, the Republican governor of New Jersey and presidential hopeful had spent four years basking in the Beltway media glow specifically because of his eagerness to unleash combative, insulting bromides, including some against the press. It showed he was authentic!

Here is a video of Chri Christie deriding a reporter who dared to ask an "off topic" question at a press conference for being "stupid" and an "idiot."

 Chris Christie Calls Reporter "Idiot", asks, ''Are You Stupid?" 06-01-12

And here's Christie belittling a media questioner as "the thinnest-skinned guy in America."

Frances Martel describes Christie deriding a reporter in NJ Governor Confronts Reporter Over His ‘Confrontational Tone.’

At a press conference yesterday, the Star-Ledger‘s Tom Moran questioned Governor Chris Christie about his whether his “confrontational tone” was healthy for the legislative process, to which the governor replied “You must be the thinnest-skinned guy in America” and warned, “you should really see me when I’m pissed. That’s not confrontational,

Boehlert continues to build his case that journalists seek out "bad-news narratives" for Hillary Clinton quoting Milbank who noted, "The press will savage [Clinton] no matter what."

Boehlert also describes press coverage of Hillary Clinton as unfair, "trivial, catty, devoid of substance and infatuated with gotchas."

I recommend you read this well-written and documented media analysis and believe Boehlert proves his case.