He may have thought it a throwaway remark, but President Barack Obama’s decision to call California’s top law enforcement officer \u201cthe best-looking attorney-general in the country\u201d has instead proved to be the political equivalent of a boomerang.<\/p>\n
His comments about Kamala Harris last week refuse to go away \u2013 on Friday he was forced to apologise following allegations of sexism, and over the weekend the story was in the news again, only this time thanks to supporters claiming the furore was overblown. The President will surely be keen to get back to his desk this morning in a bid to move the debate on to something else.<\/p>\n
Mr Obama made the comment at a Democratic fundraising lunch in Atherton, California, where he described Ms Harris as brilliant, dedicated and tough before drawing attention to her appearance.<\/p>\n
White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters that the following day Mr Obama had phoned Ms Harris, who campaigned on his behalf in 2008 and 2012, \u201cto apologise for the distraction created by his comments\u201d. The President \u201cdid not want in any way to diminish the attorney general’s professional accomplishments and her capabilities. He fully recognises the challenges women continue to face in the workplace and that they should not be judged based on appearance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Much of the subsequent criticism came from Mr Obama’s side of the aisle. MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski, a staunch supporter of the President, said the remark was \u201ca mistake\u201d. Joan Walsh, a liberal columnist for Salon, said her \u201cstomach turned\u201d at the comments. \u201cI assume he thought he was just paying someone he admires a compliment,\u201d Walsh wrote. \u201cBut most women in public life have a complex relationship with their appearance, whether they’re as attractive as Harris or not.\u201d By contrast, Fox News found itself in the rare position of defending the President. Gretchen Carlson, host of Fox and Friends, dismissed the furore, saying: \u201cI wish that we wouldn’t be so completely PC on this issue because it’s true, she’s attractive, so what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Bill Richardson, a Democrat and former Governor of New Mexico, said: \u201cMaybe I’m a Neanderthal, but I thought the President’s comment was harmless\u2026 political correctness has reached a point where it’s out of control.\u201d<\/p>\n
The incident was not the first time Mr Obama has been faulted for his attitude towards women. During his 2008 presidential campaign, he apologised after addressing a female reporter as \u201csweetie\u201d. Yet he also has a history of congratulating male officials on their appearance. In a 2012 speech, he described Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar as \u201ca good-looking guy\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ms Harris, meanwhile, accepted the President’s apology. Her spokesman, Gil Duran, said: \u201cThe Attorney General and the President have been friends for many years. They had a great conversation yesterday and she strongly supports him.\u201d The San Jose Mercury News also unearthed a clip from 2009, in which Ms Harris praised Mr Obama’s appearance, saying, \u201che looks and he sounds like a million bucks\u201d.<\/p>\n