British Columbia premier's cleavage creates stir
Fri. Oct. 7 2011
Considering all the political challenges facing British Columbia, Premier Christy Clark probably was not expecting her cleavage to become the hot topic in the legislature this week.
Former NDP MLA and political blogger David Schreck has been widely criticized after he tweeted, "Is Premier Clark's cleavage revealing attire appropriate for the legislature?" during B.C's question period Wednesday.
Clark was wearing a black V-neck shirt under a beige blazer at the time.
She called the criticism "stupid."
"I don't think we can groom a lot of young female leaders if this is the level of comment we have," she told reporters Friday.
On Thursday, NDP Leader Adrian Dix demanded Schreck, a longtime supporter, apologize for the matter.
"Mr. Schreck's comments were wrong," Dix said. "I know how hard it is to be in politics, and I think it's probably hard for Mrs. Clark as well. There are challenges every day for her and her family."
But Schreck defended his comments, both on his blog and to CTV.
"Charges had been made that I am a prude and a sexist dinosaur," Schreck complained on his blog, saying one journalist called him a "dirty old man."
He said his comments were not sexist, and were only about the strict dress code for MLAs.
"It's none of that," Schreck told CTV British Columbia. "It's a fair statement on what is appropriate attire in the legislature."
"If you come into the legislature as a man without a tie, the Sergeant-at-Arms will approach you and tell you to leave. Certainly if you're representing the province as the premier, you dress for the occasion -- and showing substantial cleavage is not appropriate."
Liberal MLA and cabinet minister Mary Polak was furious, telling a local newspaper that the comment was a sexist attack on the premier, intended to undermine her credibility.
She said it is comments such as Schreck's that keep women out of politics.
"We're working very hard to encourage more and more women to enter politics. It's a difficult thing to convince them of, and comments like this just make it that much harder," she told CTV British Columbia.
Premier Christy Clark says “stupid criticism” from a former NDP MLA about whether she was improperly dressed in the legislature is frustrating because it’s the kind of discussion that deters women from entering politics.
“I don’t think we can groom a lot of young female leaders if this is the level of comment we have,” Ms. Clark told reporters Friday when asked about David Schreck’s suggestion she was showing too much cleavage while in the House.
“I’m used to stupid criticism. I get it,” said a bemused Ms. Clark, offering her first comments on the matter.
“What I wear is really, I don’t think, something people think about a whole lot.”
Mr. Schreck, a former special adviser to NDP premiers who currently offers political commentary on air and through a blog, tweeted at length earlier this week that Ms. Clark was improperly dressed in the legislature.
Mr. Schreck’s comments prompted a whirlwind of social media response as well as outrage from BC Liberal MLAs, who said his comments were inappropriate.
Adrian Dix, leader of the provincial NDP, told Mr. Schreck to apologize, but he has declined to do so.
Ms. Clark, laughing, said she would not change her dress style.
On a more serious note, however, she said the comments reflect the distinct discussions women in public life face as opposed to men.
“We’re still a little bit unusual in politics, and it’s not a profession that a lot of women choose,” she told reporters.
“I think the damage that this kind of discussion has is that it discourages women from getting into politics. We should be concerned about that. Women are half our society and we all want our daughters to be willing to step up and be leaders one day so I think we should be talking about this stuff less and talking about the issues a lot more.
Former NDP MLA and political blogger David Schreck has been widely criticized after he tweeted, "Is Premier Clark's cleavage revealing attire appropriate for the legislature?" during B.C's question period Wednesday.
Clark was wearing a black V-neck shirt under a beige blazer at the time.
She called the criticism "stupid."
"I don't think we can groom a lot of young female leaders if this is the level of comment we have," she told reporters Friday.
On Thursday, NDP Leader Adrian Dix demanded Schreck, a longtime supporter, apologize for the matter.
"Mr. Schreck's comments were wrong," Dix said. "I know how hard it is to be in politics, and I think it's probably hard for Mrs. Clark as well. There are challenges every day for her and her family."
But Schreck defended his comments, both on his blog and to CTV.
"Charges had been made that I am a prude and a sexist dinosaur," Schreck complained on his blog, saying one journalist called him a "dirty old man."
He said his comments were not sexist, and were only about the strict dress code for MLAs.
"It's none of that," Schreck told CTV British Columbia. "It's a fair statement on what is appropriate attire in the legislature."
"If you come into the legislature as a man without a tie, the Sergeant-at-Arms will approach you and tell you to leave. Certainly if you're representing the province as the premier, you dress for the occasion -- and showing substantial cleavage is not appropriate."
Liberal MLA and cabinet minister Mary Polak was furious, telling a local newspaper that the comment was a sexist attack on the premier, intended to undermine her credibility.
She said it is comments such as Schreck's that keep women out of politics.
"We're working very hard to encourage more and more women to enter politics. It's a difficult thing to convince them of, and comments like this just make it that much harder," she told CTV British Columbia.
Premier Christy Clark says “stupid criticism” from a former NDP MLA about whether she was improperly dressed in the legislature is frustrating because it’s the kind of discussion that deters women from entering politics.
“I don’t think we can groom a lot of young female leaders if this is the level of comment we have,” Ms. Clark told reporters Friday when asked about David Schreck’s suggestion she was showing too much cleavage while in the House.
“I’m used to stupid criticism. I get it,” said a bemused Ms. Clark, offering her first comments on the matter.
“What I wear is really, I don’t think, something people think about a whole lot.”
Mr. Schreck, a former special adviser to NDP premiers who currently offers political commentary on air and through a blog, tweeted at length earlier this week that Ms. Clark was improperly dressed in the legislature.
Mr. Schreck’s comments prompted a whirlwind of social media response as well as outrage from BC Liberal MLAs, who said his comments were inappropriate.
Adrian Dix, leader of the provincial NDP, told Mr. Schreck to apologize, but he has declined to do so.
Ms. Clark, laughing, said she would not change her dress style.
On a more serious note, however, she said the comments reflect the distinct discussions women in public life face as opposed to men.
“We’re still a little bit unusual in politics, and it’s not a profession that a lot of women choose,” she told reporters.
“I think the damage that this kind of discussion has is that it discourages women from getting into politics. We should be concerned about that. Women are half our society and we all want our daughters to be willing to step up and be leaders one day so I think we should be talking about this stuff less and talking about the issues a lot more.
Christy Clark's neckline plunges B.C. legislature into Twitterstorm
A former politician caused a minor uproar on Twitter on Wednesday for questioning whether B.C. Premier Christy Clark's cleavage-bearing outfit was appropriate for question period.
That's the debate that erupted in Victoria Wednesday after NDP Internet pitbull David Schreck criticized Premier Christy Clark for flashing too much skin in the house.
"Is Premier Clark's cleavage revealing attire appropriate for the legislature?" Schreck asked on his Twitter account, touching off a Twitterverse storm.
"It's sexist, David, to call out her bust line!" responded Liberal pundit Alise Mills, but the former NDP provincial politician wouldn't back down.
"I beg to differ — she crosses the line and needs to be called on it," tweeted Schreck.
"Why is it sexist to discuss appropriate dress? I wouldn't recommend going to a job interview like that."
The "inappropriate" attire that got Schreck so hot and bothered was a navy-blue knee-length dress with a beige blazer over the top. The premier's dress had a slightly V-shaped neckline.
As the online debate raged, politicians at the legislature started following along on their BlackBerries. Then Liberal cabinet minister Mary Polak blew her stack.
"I can't believe this," Polak told the Vancouver Province. "It's astonishing people would make these comments in this day and age."
Polak said there was nothing wrong with the way Clark was dressed.
"Her attire was quite appropriate. Everybody knows women are more likely than men to be judged on their appearance, so she takes great care about it, and I've heard nothing but compliments about the way she dresses."
Polak said she thinks Schreck's attack is part of a bigger sexist strategy by the NDP to undermine Clark because she's a woman.
"This is all down to Adrian Dix," she fumed, referring to the NDP leader. "He's always mentioning her smile and her appearance, trying to imply she's a ditzy woman who doesn't know what she's doing."
Polak called on Dix to publicly condemn Schreck's Twitter campaign, which included sending out Internet links to racy photos of women showing too much cleavage.
"Adrian Dix should make it very clear he doesn't agree with David Schreck. If he doesn't, what will the women in his own caucus think?"
Dix made no comment Thursday.
Schreck, now a political pundit, was the NDP representative for a Vancouver-area riding from 1991 to 1996.
He also served as special adviser to former B.C. premiers Glen Clark from 1998 to 1999, and Ujjal Dosanjh from 2000 to 2001.
Clark became B.C. premier in March after unpopular Liberal leader Gordon Campbell stepped down. The 45-year-old Clark has a 10-year-old son and is a former broadcaster.
No comments:
Post a Comment