In an Oct. 28 NewsBusters post, Matthew Balan wrote: “CNN anchor Campbell Brown criticized the sexism of the ‘diva’ comment about Sarah Palin from a supposed anonymous McCain campaign adviser on Monday’s Election Center program, despite how it was her own network that highlighted this remark.” He continued:
At the end of her commentary, which led the Election Center program, the CNN anchor attacked the supposed hypocrisy of the McCain campaign and criticized the unnamed McCain campaign official for using the “diva” term: “So, now, for the McCain campaign to be attacking its own candidate in the most overtly sexist way, calling her a ‘diva,’ — it is beyond ridiculous. Whoever this anonymous adviser is should be ashamed, or, at the very least, have the courage to say it on the record.” Since Brown didn’t say anything critical about how her network ran with the comment during her commentary, despite its anonymous nature, one would guess that she isn’t ashamed of CNN’s action in this matter. Isn’t that a bit hypocritical?
Is Balan really arguing that CNN should not have reported what that McCain campaign official said about Palin — even though it’s eminently newsworthy — just because it could be considered sexist?
Would Balan raise the same “sexist” argument if, say, an “unnamed Obama campaign official” called Hillary Clinton a “diva”? We suspect not.