December 21, 2007

Feministing's "Sexist Quote of the Year"

And it is our President:
"Q: Tell us about your future son-in-law, Henry Hager. Did he do right and ask for Jenna’s hand?
The President: “He kind of sidled up to me and said, ‘Can I come and see you?’ We were sitting outside the presidential cabin here, and he professed his love for Jenna and said, would I mind if he married her? And I said, ‘Got a deal.’ [Laughter] And I’m of the school, once you make the sale, move on. But he had some other points he wanted [to make]. He wanted to talk about how he would be financially responsible.”"

Because daughters are for sale.

Sigh.

6 comments:

steves said...

I think what he was saying was that he had was already ok with them getting married and that he didn't need any more convincing. Kind of old fashioned, but I don't see any mention of a dowry.

Streak said...

Perhaps. I think his "old fashioned" reflects a pretty shallow mind, however.

I am sure he is a better dad than he seems. Hell, he would have to be.

Bitebark said...

I have to tell you, occasionally he can be unexpectedly poignant, and strangely human. I don't know whether or not this is one of those times, having not seen a clip, but I read it as your basic southern dad joshing in a slightly off-color way with the neighbor men around the bar b cue pit. Here, the neighbors happen to be the White House press corps, but, you know, that's where he pitches just about all of his public discourse.

And I hate to say this, but every once in awhile he comes up with something so genuine and guileless on video that it's just devastating. He really is just a regular guy, not too bright, who has strong but not too sophisticated emotions. He cries at things, and I believe it when he cries, he's doing it completely honestly.

I guess the tragedy of all of this is, he's unremarkable enough, at core, to have driven us into one of the deepest ditches in our country's history. And when I'm not apoplectic about what he's done, I admit I do feel awful for him as a person. He's screwed up in ways and dimensions that other humans never get a chance to screw up -- he's made a hash of things on a truly global scale -- and you can see he knows it.

steves said...

Very true Rob.

I don't know what kind of parent he is. Maybe it is a generational thing, but there are probably some fathers out there that appreciate being 'asked'. Obviously, no consent is required and I can't recall hearing about any saying no.

fightingpreacher said...

Oh my Lord. This is stupid. He wasnt talking about the sale of his daughter. It is an expression. Nothing more nothing less.


I am sure that it was offensive that the young man actually went and ask the father as well right?

Streak said...

Ok. Some of us thought it was a sexist thing to say.

I still do.