Time Magazine reports about the Fox / Washington Examiner panel on the GOP debate last night (see below) and omits the woman on the panel. There were 4 on the panel (if you count moderator Bret Baier.) There was a woman.
Note to Time Magazine: the woman the magazine ignored is Susan Ferrechio. She is not only the Chief Congressional Correspondent for the Washington Examiner, but (I looked it up for Time Magazine since the author was too lazy or doesn’t care) she has worked for Congressional Quarterly, Miami Herald and the Washington Times. In other words, she didn’t just show up and her name get picked out of hat. She earned it. This is a big deal to be part of a panel for a televised presidential candidate debate.
Here is the passage (note the omission) lifted from Time Magazine:
“… If anyone suspected that the conservative-friendly network would spend the evening lobbing up softballs to the home team, they were mistaken; the panel of Bret Baier, Chris Wallace and guest Byron York spent two hours asking pointed questions, keeping a tight watch on the clock and occasionally getting under the candidates’ skin….” CLICK HERE
You may think this is a small point. I don’t. It is not the worst, but it is what I call quiet sexism. The kind that sneaks up on everybody and thus becomes acceptable. Of course no one died and it is not a life or death matter, but over time, this quiet sexism builds up. I don’t know Susan Ferrechio but this is the kind of slip which speaks volumes.
My guess is that some at Time are tone deaf and didn’t even notice the omission. Those who did notice it, probably didn’t want to speak up and be perceived petty even though it does matter that women get treated equally. And now, having had it brought to Time’s attention my guess is that they will attempt to minimize it as oversight.
Bottom line: either the Time Magazine reporter was not paying attention to the debate (lazy), or did not know her name and did not try and find out (again, lazy) or felt her presence inconsequential (sexist.) Take your pick – lazy or sexist….or maybe both?
Just last week Newsweek showed its colors with the crazy eyes picture of Representative Michele Bachmann…and now Time gets caught.
[By the way, the author of the article is Time's Media Critic....for some reason, that seems relevant.]
PS – here is the proof: (I lifted the picture from www.tvnewser.com)
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