Another morning, another opportunity to find grossly racist and sexist rhetoric spewing out of the mouths of white men. This time, Mark Steyn, a contributor and guest host for Fox News, said in an interview Monday night with Tucker Carlson that he thinks Senator Kamala Harris, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, is a “fine-looking woman.”
Because, you know, somewhere in his brain, that was even remotely appropriate. And given that this happened on Fox, the exchange actually gets even more bizarre (and disgusting) as it continues.
His exact words, which have now been transcribed to accompany the video clip on Twitter (see below), were: “Kamala Harris is a fine-looking woman, to go all nonpartisan for a moment.”
In a word: Yikes.
The conversation starts bad and gets worse.
“Mark Steyn was also watching, if not gushing,” says Carlson, referring to a clip of the senator trying on a jacket at a black- and woman-owned small business. “Pounce Mark, if you will!”
Laughing, Steyn says, “Well, OK, I will pounce! Kamala Harris is a fine-looking woman, to go all nonpartisan for a moment. But actually,” he continues, “that isn’t a good jacket on her.”
Pause here: …What? Sexism and misogyny from a Fox favorite? Shocking!
Steyn continues, “It makes her look like a giant Rubik’s Cube.”
Yes, he literally compares a woman of color to a children’s toy.
Another jab of sexism comes next, this time aimed at the dreaded media: “I don’t know why those female reporters would do that to her,” he adds, probably referring to the group of professional women (from CNN, CBS, and the LA Times) who are smiling and laughing with Sen. Harris as she briefly tries on and then removes the colorful jacket.
In the extended clip, posted to his website and YouTube, Steyn continues. “I am sort of amazed by this clip… We all know Democrats have a cozier relationship with the media than the Republicans do.” Then he proceeds to tell a bizarre story in which he recalls Sen. John Kerry choosing a jock strap at a sporting goods store in a similar segment, back in 2004. “The participation of these female reporters,” he continues over Carlson’s cackle, “in Senator Harris’s shopping expedition is taking it to a whole new level.” Imagine: Women journalists!
“It’s a little discrediting, no?” Tucker poses, to which Steyn nods affirmatively. “If your goal is to be taken seriously as a journalist, you probably wouldn’t do this, would you?” Which are strong words for someone who has a show on Fox. “No, I don’t think you would,” agrees Steyn, the man whose work apparently involves critiquing the work of women. “It’s kind of pitiful,” he adds.
Lily Adams, communications director for Sen. Harris, responded to the exchange on Twitter:
Oh, and by the way: This tweet from Harris herself perfectly sums up what she was doing.
The exchange is coded with racism, sexism, and misogyny. In one light, the ridiculousness of their exchange can be considered funny. But it’s also insidious: How many people tune in to Fox and nod their heads in agreement, eager to discredit Harris (or any politician who happens to be a woman) for briefly trying on a jacket to highlight a small business? How many voters can be swayed to agree that a woman of color is, in fact, unqualified, simply because she appears friendly or down-to-earth? Can women smile at other women and be good at their jobs?
It almost goes without saying that literally none of this would be up for discussion if Harris were a white man. When it comes to women, nothing is safe from sexist criticism.