Well, not so much for Condoleezza Rice. The headline to this article — and I shit you not — is Condoleezza Rice’s anti-Russian stance based on sexual problems. And we aren’t talking Bob Dole-style sexual problems; no, apparently Condi hates Russia “because she is a single woman who has no children. She loses her reason because of her late single status. Nature takes it all.”
Says who? Some right-wing Russian rag? No, that quote is more properly attributed to the leader of the Liberal and Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
“Such women are very rough. They are all workaholics, public workaholics. They can be happy only when they are talked and written about everywhere: “Oh, Condoleezza, what a remarkable woman, what a charming Afro-American lady! How well she can play the piano and speak Russian! What a courageous, tough and strong female she is!
…
“Complex-prone women are especially dangerous. They are like malicious mothers-in-law, women that evoke hatred and irritation with everyone. Everybody tries to part with such women as soon as possible. A mother-in-law is better than a single and childless political persona, though.
“This is really scary. Ms. Rice’s personal complexes affect the entire field of international politics. This is an irritating factor for everyone, especially for the East and the Islamic world. When they look at her, they go mad.
“Condoleezza Rice needs a company of soldiers. She needs to be taken to barracks where she would be satisfied. On the other hand, she can hardly be satisfied because of her age. This is a complex. She needs to return to her university and teach students there. She could also deal with psychological analysis.
“The true reason of Ms. Rice’s attack against Russia is very simple. Condoleezza Rice is a very cruel, offended woman who lacks men’s attention. Releasing such stupid remarks gives her the feeling of being fulfilled. This is the only way for her to attract men’s attention,” Vladimir Zhirinovsky said.
And yet that empty-wombed bitch still manages to surprise the world with her slim figure.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said once that he was unable to conduct negotiations about the regulation of the Middle East conflict in Ms. Rice’s presence. The elderly Israeli premier gets confused when his eyes stop on Ms. Rice’s slim legs!
…
Condoleezza Rice is a very feminine woman in spite of the fact that many people call her “a man in a skirt.” Her assistants say that she always wants to look immaculate. She likes expensive designer clothes by Armani and Oscar de la Renta; there are legends going about her impressive collection of shoes. Everyone in the USA knows that Condoleezza Rice uses Yves Saint Laurent lipstick, likes high heels shoes and Led Zeppelin’s music.
Ms. Rice posed for Vogue magazine during George W. Bush’s latest election campaign and answered readers’ questions for Glamour magazine. White House spokespeople explained that the sessions were meant to attract the votes of glamorous ladies, but Ms. Rice obviously had her own reasons to pose for Vogue. Being in her fifties, Condoleezza Rice can boast of her slim figure and almost the absolute absence of wrinkles.
I can’t wait for the day when someone writes an article about the slim legs or childless lives of male politicians.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 27 comments }
What’s annoying is that I hate Condoleeza Rice, but these guys make me want to defend her. Damn you Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Ariel Sharon!!!!
Dick Cheney has very slim legs, I hear. Between that and his fruitless womb, it’s no wonder he’s a vampire who eats babies for breakfast.
don’t let the name fool you. the LDPR is an ultra-nationalist right-wing political party. Vlad himself is an open anti-semite & wannabe fascist.
also, he would like to invade & conquer Alaska.
no, really.
Don’t make me defend Condi.
Amanda, the way you describe him, Cheney sounds like my kind of guy.
Out of curiosity, is it the slim legs, fruitless womb, vampirism, or the eating babies that is your type of guy?
I bet it is the babies thing….
I wonder if I am a horrible person for laughing because they said “the white Republican party”.
He wants her! She said no! He’s mad!
Heh, I had to stop and think about this one for a second. Condi’s problem is that she, like George Bush, holds horrific and disgusting sociopolitical views. Not because she is driven by some sort of unresolved single-woman-complex.
I’m no Condi fan either, but it has to be said that the woman is incredibly intelligent and accomplished, even if she does hold views that I disagree with. I posted this because it’s a really great example of the unbridled sexism directed at sucessful women and women who are childless by choice, not because I love Condoleezza Rice. We have to stand up against sexism even when it’s directed at people we deeply dislike, right?
Didn’t the Boondocks run a series two years ago on how Condi just needed to find a boyfriend? Where was the outrage then?
Yes.
She can be slammed on her merits without getting into her private life.
Scarily enough, though, I don’t think this even ranks as one of Zhirinovsky’s Greatest Hits. He’s pretty vile.
Hi,
I don’t usually comment on your entries but I wanted to make something clear. Vladimir Zhirinovsky is an idiot. He is a right – wing nut case and he says a lot of things just for shock value. Most people in Russia do not take him seriously. His party has been loosing seats in the parliament for three consecutive elections and he is getting desperate.
Most of us are pretty sane people.
Come to think of it, I should send this link to my brother, who’s living in Moscow. I’m sure he’s heard about it.
I’m completely with you on this one, Jill, but I do wonder — isn’t it likely that there have been articles written about the good looks (if not slim legs) of male politicians? I’m thinking of Jack Kennedy (before my time, but wasn’t he swooned after?) or more recently, John Edwards. I’m fairly sure I remember hearing from the right-wing blogosphere complaints such as “Edwards’s hair is too pretty for him to be smart enough to be President!”
Good-looking male politicians occasionally have that referenced or discussed; ugly ones usually get a pass, other than in the ideological citizen’s media (IE, “that Hillary is an ugly fat cow” / “Cheney is a bald vampire”).
If I remember correctly, there was outrage. I wasn’t blogging two years ago, but I do remember a lot of people taking offense to that suggestion. Of course, the Boondocks generally thrive on offending people, so it’s not as surprising as when it comes from a political figure.
Elena, I don’t doubt it. Hopefully the post didn’t come across as suggesting that all Russians feel this way. Obviously I’m not very familiar with Russian politics, as people have pointed out that Zhirinovsky isn’t exactly a mainstream political figure. I was using this as an extreme example of the kind of comments we often see directed at successful women, in the U.S. and elsewhere. Thanks for the clarification!
You’re right that male politicians too have been evaluated on their looks, but not nearly to the extent that female politicians are. During the Clinton administration, it was headline news when Hillary got a new haircut. When Condi wore Ferragamo knee-high boots, it was in the New York Times. Granted, it was also in the New York Times when Dick Cheney wore a ski coat to a Holocaust rememberance event, but the article was focused on the innappropriateness of his attire, not on his role as some sort of fashion icon. There’s a big difference there. And we often see women’s looks being used against them, as a reason for why she’s bitter, or why she never married, or why she’s so angry. Men are allowed to be pissed off without it being blamed on their being ugly.
This is even more true when it comes to having kids. Successful women who don’t have kids are portrayed the way that Condi is here — both selfish and lacking. Do we even know the parental status of most male politicians? Do we care? Have you ever heard it suggested that perhaps a male politician is somehow inadequate because he’s never been married or never had a child?
I’m completely with you on this one, Jill, but I do wonder — isn’t it likely that there have been articles written about the good looks (if not slim legs) of male politicians?
I once read a sex-fantasy article about Ralph Nader. I’m not kidding, it was on Salon.com back in 2000. Some journalist shared her fantasies about what she and 67-year-old Ralph could do with seat belts. It was pretty funny.
Sure, if the implication is that he’s gay.
Yeah, looks like this has already been covered, but Zhirinovsky is a drooling maniac. Like, say, the Fred Phelps of Russia. An absurdity.
I was thinking Lyndon LaRouche, but yeah. This is a guy who once threatened to set up giant fans along the borders of the Baltic states, to blow radioactive fallout across them. But then again, Pat Robertson was once a Republican presidential primary candidate, so it’s not like we don’t have our own influential nutjobs.
Oh, and Pravda? Like the Weekly World News without the self-awareness.
Dick Cheney has very slim legs, I hear.
They just LOOK slim, thanks to that third leg dwarfing them. ;-D
Most people in Russia do not take him seriously.
I thought that was the case, Elena. Still. What a dickhead! Sounds like he needs to keep his fantasies to himself.
I’m no Condi fan either, but it has to be said that the woman is incredibly intelligent and accomplished, even if she does hold views that I disagree with.
Thank you, Jill. I practically worship Condi. I’m the same way as you are about Condi regarding Madeline Albright, though; I totally disagree with her politics, but I’m in awe of her life and accomplishments. Both women deserve nothing less than that kind of respect.
but not nearly to the extent that female politicians are
That is absolutely the truth. It’s the exception for male politicians’ appearance to be commented upon, but not so for women in politics or industry or anything else. Who cares when a male pol gets a haircut or wears an expensive suit? When do journalists ever even mention what a male pol is wearing, like they do with women? We ALWAYS hear what female pols are wearing, at the very least–and sometimes what color lipstick and other (irrelevant) details. It drives me up the wall when I read about someone like Condi and what she’s wearing is even mentioned. How on earth does that have anything to do with her position, her job?
When the pol is Bill Clinton, a lot of spittle-flecked right-wingers do. They’re *still* talking about the haircut that allegedly tied up air traffic 12 years on.
Which, of course, amounts to a national tragedy!
Well, Russia is facing something of a crisis of demographic decline, but I gather that’s more to do with rates of disease, alcoholism and other addictions combined with adverse economic conditions making it difficult to support families. None of those things being easily solvable by polygamy as far as I know…
Eleanor –
The main cause cited in the article is war, but of course you’re right – whether it’s war, disease, or addiction, treating women like chattel doesn’t solve the underlying problem(s).
Besides, what’s so wrong with being unmarried? Look at how well Condi did for her pretty little self ;)
Comments on this entry are closed.