Newsweek Palin Cover Controversy Continues

Facing a firestorm of criticism over their use of a sexy photo of Sarah Palin on its cover, Newsweek choose to acknowledge the controversy, while making a very disingenuous response. In fact, it went beyond disingenuous to the absurd.

Newsweek editor John Meacham is quoted as saying:

"We chose the most interesting image available to us to illustrate the theme of the cover, which is what we always try to do. We apply the same test to photographs of any public figure, male or female: does the image convey what we are saying? That is a gender-neutral standard."

"Interesting" is certainly one term that could be applied to the cover of a smiling Sarah Palin in running shorts, originally published in Runner's World. Newsweek's critics have called it "sexist" and "demeaning."

Newsweek does give itself an out in the use of the term "public figure." Public figures can include film actors, rock singers, porn stars, and people who are "famous for being famous" like Paris Hilton as well as politicians. Naturally all but the politicians can be photographed and displayed in alluring poses with impunity.

But wonders how many female politicians have been on the cover of Newsweek (or any magazine) in the fashion the Newsweek choose to display Sarah Palin. Not Hillary Clinton, nor Nancy Pelosi, nor any of the female members of the Senate of either party.

The picture of Sarah Palin Newsweek choose for its cover was meant to stroke the caricature of Sarah Palin as bimbo, so effectively done last year by Saturday Night Live's Tina Fey. The two articles that accompanied the cover, one by Evan Thomas, the other by Christopher Hitchens, rammed home the attempt to establish the meme of Palin as too ditzy to be President.

One expects that a liberal news outlet would do a hit job on a conservative politician, particularly one who is both female and photogenic. But one should also expect that the same liberal news outlet should be entirely honest about it.

Mind, to a certain extent, the attempt to make Sarah Palin into a bimbo is not working. Sarah Palin's book is a runaway best seller. People are reportedly lined up around the block, abo9ut 1500 in Grand Rapids alone, at her book signings. However Sarah Palin remains a polarizing figure, with high negatives. It seems that Newsweek, among others, thinks it is in their best interest to keep those negative up.

Sources: The Sarah Palin Newsweek Cover, Mark R. Whittington, Associated Content, November 15th, 2009

Official Statement on Newsweek's Sarah Palin Cover, Katie Connolly, Newsweek, November 17th, 2009