With a pageant pose and her legs exposed, Newsweek took a picture of Sarah Palin out of context and turned it into a major controversy. In case you haven’t heard, there is a major uproar over Newsweek’s cover. It’s being called sexist. It’s been called desperate. Whatever your opinion, everyone is calling it something.
I’m calling Newsweek out. Not for being sexist, but for being pathetic and low. When the editors took this photo, which was originally shot for a spread in Runner’s World, and slapped it on the cover of their magazine, they reduced their image to that of a tabloid. Nothing more than trash, with absolutely no news value whatsoever. They used the picture not to make a statement, but to demean. This choice was nothing more than a very cheap trick. And, if sexism is defined as by the devaluation of a person based on his or her gender, than I’d say this is a prime example.
The cover makes a mockery, not of Palin, but of Newsweek itself. And only deepens the leftist criticism of the news media in general. Palin was part of the reason I voted for Obama and against McCain. And I’m a conservative, but I am in no way a Palin supporter. So if this cover was aimed at anyone, I was probably included in that group.
This photo had it’s place and it was in Runner’s World, alongside an article about Sarah Palin and running. How on earth does this photo end up next to the headline, “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sarah?” Unless the answer is, “by running,” there is no way in hell this picture should have ever been considered for the cover. What a sad day for legitimate journalism. Not even Runner’s World wants to be associated with this tasteless guffaw.
Comments
MJ
November 18th, 2009 - 5:52:15 AM
Dont forget the other one they ran over the summer, with a closeup of Palin, not even retouched
MIchael
November 18th, 2009 - 8:31:21 AM
More whining from the right. I have a basic truth for you, don't pose for the picture if you don't want it in print! PS - If this was Michelle Obama in the picture you righties would be howling that she was desecrating the flag.
Amanda Pendolino
November 18th, 2009 - 9:32:15 AM
I don't like Sarah Palin, but I do kind of agree with her that this is sexist. It's not like they'd ever put Obama on there shirtless, you know? And if it's a left-right thing, they'd never put some hot Republican man on there shirtless either I bet. But I also think it's indicative that a lot of us just don't take Sarah Palin seriously.