Gov. Ed Rendell (D) says Obama's Homeland Security Chief is perfect for the job because she has no family or life. Oops.

[Terminator]

Politicians are supposed to watch what they say - especially when a nearby microphone might be on. But, yesterday in Philadelphia, Gov. Ed Rendell made some blunt remarks that could be construed as insulting, if not sexist, about Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, chosen for Homeland Security chief by President-elect Barack Obama.
A spokesman for Rendell downplayed any controversy, saying that Pennsylvania's governor "meant no disrepect."
Rendell's words were picked up by an open microphone at the podium of the National Governors Conference, held yesterday morning at Independence Hall.
"Janet's perfect for that job," Rendell is heard to say. "Because for that job, you have to have no life. Janet has no family. Perfect. She can devote, literally, 19, 20 hours a day to it."
A clip can viewed on The Inquirer's Breaking News Blog: www.philly.com/philly/blogs/from_the_source.
"Wow," commented CNN's Campbell Brown. After saying she likes Rendell for his candor, she also took him to task for his characterization of Napolitano, 51, a Democrat who's served her state since 2002.
"If a man had been Obama's choice for the job, would having a family or not having a family ever even have been an issue?" Brown said.
"Is there an assumption that if you're family-free then you have no life? By some, yes," she continued.
"Your comments do perpetuate stereotypes that put us in boxes, both mothers and single women."
The previous two heads of Homeland Security - Michael Chertoff and Tom Ridge - were men with families, but did anyone question their devotion? she asks.
Chuck Ardo, spokesman for Rendell, denied the remarks were sexist, saying the governor takes Napolitano's qualifications "for granted."
"His comments simply referred to the demands of the new position that she is going to take," Ardo said around noon. "He believes that public servants at that level of government have no lives, including himself."
"He intends to call her, but he meant no disrepect," he said. "I think anybody who has followed Ed Rendell's career knows that he is a strong believer in equality of all sorts, and has had strong women at the highest levels of his administrations."
The Arizona governor's office declined to comment.

[213th]

i don't see how it is sexist. Poor choice of words, certainly.

[GirlInBrown]

I'm not one to stick up for politicians, but Campbell Brown from CNN created much more drama than this needed. When I first heard it, I didn't think that he meant anything sexist. All he was saying was that since she didn't have a family she could commit more time to her work...This could have been made about a man as well. And we did not hear what he said before or after the comment.

[lewisipso]

"Wow," commented CNN's Campbell Brown. After saying she likes Rendell for his candor, she also took him to task for his characterization of Napolitano, 51, a Democrat who's served her state since 2002.

Here ya go Ms Brown.

[Jenna]

I'd take it as a compliment.

[adroitcuffs]

I don't see the comment as sexist, per se, although I'll agree that comments like this are more often used about women than men.

It is unfortunate that so many people think that if you have no children and/or no spouse, you have no life. I've had to deal with this mentality in my own career. A supervisor who was trying to convince me to promote didn't like it when I told him I'd decided to focus more on my personal life. He knew the reason why. His response was, "Those things you want are just dreams. The reality is this job is all you have." Rather than knock him out (which was oh so tempting), I simply replied, "Clearly, you don't know me as well as you think you do!"

[countybear]

It isn't slander if its truth...

[lewisipso]

It may have very well been a compliment. I personally would have taken it as such. A person in such an important position with a serious amount of time to commit to it would be an asset to the position. It seems to me to be a compliment. Ms Brown seems to have taken it upon herself to defend something that doesnt appear to need defending. Perhaps Napolitano should have been consulted prior to making such a public spectacle about it. Not every comment about a woman's dedication or ability to dedicate to a job is sexist on the part of a man. Being a hard working, selfless, confident woman is an attractive quality. Some of us men appreciate it.