Good article Nisha Chittal. There is clearly a double standard.

Ball responds that “It was tremendously hurtful… but the tactic of painting successful women as whores — that’s nothing new. Ask Sarah Palin, ask Meg Whitman, ask Nikki Haley and Christine O’Donnell. Lots of women face this same thing.

Tonight’s Worsest on the Keith “Al Bundy” Olbermann Comedy Hour –

Krystal Ball

“Krystal Ball Tells Megyn Kelly ‘There’s A Double Standard’”

Absolutely. Because if a man was photographed sucking on a dildo, it would have no effect on his campaign.

Azarkhan said:
“Krystal Ball Tells Megyn Kelly ‘There’s A Double Standard’”

Absolutely. Because if a man was photographed sucking on a dildo, it would have no effect on his campaign.

You mean a man other than Barney Frank, right?.

I don’t see the comparison between “artfully” posing for a national magazine and taking pictures of yourself sucking on a dildo.

Republitarian said:
You mean a man other than Barney Frank, right?.

Now, now, let’s not go down that road!

Krystal Ball has no way to see the future ?

There is no double standard, she called *herself* a whore. How’s this like Meg Whitman again? Oh yea, it isn’t. But it does show that “Krystal Ball” has very poor judgment and clearly isn’t mature enough to represent the people of her state.

Republitarian said:
You mean a man other than Barney Frank, right?.

Homophobic bigot.

whytee said:
Homophobic bigot.

Nothing bigoted or homophobic there at all. Sounds like an obvious observation to me. In Barney’s case it wouldn’t have and hasn’t affected his career at all. If anything, being a sperm receptacle has worked in his favor (just assuming he’s a catcher not a pitcher).

Haimerej said:
I don’t see the comparison between “artfully” posing for a national magazine and taking pictures of yourself sucking on a dildo.

I think the point is that if a man does something risque and sexual it’s understood as part of manhood. If a woman does something overtly sexual, like make sexual gestures at a party , it’s supposed to look bad.

I saw her pictures and thought “Big Deal” she went to a party and acted out. What’s the problem?

Azarkhan said:
“Krystal Ball Tells Megyn Kelly ‘There’s A Double Standard’”

Absolutely. Because if a man was photographed sucking on a dildo, it would have no effect on his campaign.

Thanks for the laugh.

Kudos to Megyn Kelly for a fair interview and kudos to Mrs. Ball for being an honorable candidate.

By the way, she’s a Democrat who says although she disagrees with Sarah Palin on almost every issue, Palin has inspired her to run for Congress. Quite a gutsy thing to say! Congress needs someone like Krystal Ball!

By the way, Ms. Ball proves those wrong who say all liberal women are ugly…but what an odd name.

All of a sudden because its a Dem taking the heat then we all have to act civilized. Maher has been digging up decade old stuff on ODonnell and the left hasn’t complained one bit about being fair and civil.

Not to mention Sarah Palin who probably has Dems working on Ancestry.com 24/7 look for dirt on her. Again no complaints from the left.

I don’t buy the female thing either. Besides Scott Brown Carl Paladino is taking heat for past dumb things he might have done and would like to forget about.

stoogedudes said:
Ms. Ball proves those wrong who say all liberal women are ugly

Well there had to be one or two that popped up but what it really means is that the Dems have hit their quota on good looking women candidates with her and are now allowed another 20 hideous looking candidates.

Bill Mahwer said:
Well there had to be one or two that popped up but what it really means is that the Dems have hit their quota on good looking women candidates with her and are now allowed another 20 hideous looking candidates.

I guess you’re right…but hey, they may be hideous, but at least they’re not crazy!

Andy Lamb said:
Ball responds that “It was tremendously hurtful… but the tactic of painting successful women as whores — that’s nothing new. Ask Sarah Palin, ask Meg Whitman, ask Nikki Haley and Christine O’Donnell. Lots of women face this same thing. Tonight’s Worsest on the Keith “Al Bundy” Olbermann Comedy Hour – Krystal Ball

Might you have a tissue?

With the possible exception of Ms. Haley, all of these women have a tendency towards self-destruction. Please.

The double standard we see here is the opposite end of the same standard that makes men who work with children, as teachers or doctors, suspect. It’s called life.

” the photo scandal that has plagued her campaign”

I haven’t seen a single thing about this is the MSM. If there was, its nothing like the daily beat downs O’Donnell and Angle get.

Dronetek said:
” the photo scandal that has plagued her campaign” I haven’t seen a single thing about this is the MSM. If there was, its nothing like the daily beat downs O’Donnell and Angle get.

PPC = Paranoia Poster Child

CosmosDan said:
I think the point is that if a man does something risque and sexual it’s understood as part of manhood. If a woman does something overtly sexual, like make sexual gestures at a party , it’s supposed to look bad. I saw her pictures and thought “Big Deal” she went to a party and acted out. What’s the problem?

My response was to laugh at her and compare her to other girls in my life that have demonstrated similar behavior, which doesn’t reflect well on her judgment.

But I think a more apt comparison to Scott Brown’s spread would be the countless spreads of naked women with strategically placed coverings. I mean, Angelina Jolie has shown it all on camera and that didn’t keep her from getting that position she had(has?) with the UN.

The Real Royal King said:
Might you have a tissue? With the possible exception of Ms. Haley, all of these women have a tendency towards self-destruction. Please. The double standard we see here is the opposite end of the same standard that makes men who work with children, as teachers or doctors, suspect. It’s called life.

You missed my point, King. Krystal Ball claimed that it is a terrible tactic to paint Sarah Palin, Meg Whitman, Nikki Haley and Christine O’Donnell as whores. This will undoubtably make Keith “Al Bundy” Olbermann furious. Vegas has current odds at 2 – 5 that Ball will be “Al Bundy” Olbermann’s Worser or Worsest tonight for doing this.

It’a not a double standard. There is a legitimate difference between doing something dumb 6 years ago and doing something dumb 30 years ago. The latter obviously has better grounds to claim that they have grown and matured since the mistake happened.

Ms. Ball, by continuing to complain that she’s being picked on, is showing that she hasn’t matured. (That’s the other difference between Ball and Brown. Brown never complained that he was being treated unfairly when his picture was splashed all over the airwaves. He laughed it off.)

That having been said, Ball is still a hottie, so I’ll give her a pass on this.

stoogedudes said:
Kudos to Megyn Kelly for a fair interview and kudos to Mrs. Ball for being an honorable candidate.

By the way, she’s a Democrat who says although she disagrees with Sarah Palin on almost every issue, Palin has inspired her to run for Congress. Quite a gutsy thing to say! Congress needs someone like Krystal Ball!

By the way, Ms. Ball proves those wrong who say all liberal women are ugly…but what an odd name.

Saw the segment today.
Not just pretty.

HOT.
HOT.
HOT.

CosmosDan said:
I think the point is that if a man does something risque and sexual it’s understood as part of manhood. If a woman does something overtly sexual, like make sexual gestures at a party , it’s supposed to look bad.

I saw her pictures and thought “Big Deal” she went to a party and acted out. What’s the problem?

I don’t buy any of that either. I’ve been struggling to think of a fair analogy between the Ball pictures and embarrassing pictures of other politicians. The Scott Brown picture isn’t a fair analogy because he was doing professional modeling–and tasteful professional modeling at that. He wasn’t “out of control.”

The only corollary I can think of are the pictures of drunk John Tower dressed up as Superman that came up when he was nominated to be Sec Def back in 1989. Those pictures–which were embarrassing, but not at all sexual–cost him a cabinet position. (And, in feat of pure political Karma, elevated Dick Cheney to the position of official tormentor of liberals for the better part of the next two decades.)

right-is-wrong said:
Saw the segment today.
Not just pretty.

HOT.
HOT.
HOT.

Agreed.
Agreed.
Agreed.

There is a double standard to be sure.

If a Democrat or Liberal woman is exposed for something silly like this she reprimands us and reminds us that this doesn’t matter, only the issues matter. We agree and move on to the issues because that’s what America deserves.

If a Republican or Conservative woman is exposed for something silly like this she reprimands us and reminds us that this doesn’t matter, only the issues matter. We call her out for trying to distract from the REAL issue and raise all holy heck for her impropriety. ‘Cause that’s what she deserves.

AnonymousFinch said:

That having been said, Ball is still a hottie, so I’ll give her a pass on this.

She’s not THAT hot, but I could give her a pass on the dildo sucking. However, I could never give her a pass on being a Democrat.

Yes, hard hitting issues. For example, if you disagree with Sarah Palin’s politics, talk frequently about the size of her daughter’s thighs. Don’t stray off into things that have nothing to do with the issues.

Haimerej said:
My response was to laugh at her and compare her to other girls in my life that have demonstrated similar behavior, which doesn’t reflect well on her judgment.

But I think a more apt comparison to Scott Brown’s spread would be the countless spreads of naked women with strategically placed coverings. I mean, Angelina Jolie has shown it all on camera and that didn’t keep her from getting that position she had(has?) with the UN.

The comparison is about the difference is sexual attitudes concerning men and women. I really don’t see any bad judgment displayed by a young women at a party. The dildo nose thing is just a joke. I think with all the crap that the media pulled out this year we’re figuring out that candidates are people with pasts and flaws and we need to look seriously at what’s relevant and what isn’t.

writer said:
Yes, hard hitting issues. For example, if you disagree with Sarah Palin’s politics, talk frequently about the size of her daughter’s thighs. Don’t stray off into things that have nothing to do with the issues.

Well, I do think we get to look at a candidates life and decide what’s relevant . Anybody can talk a decent game and spout generalities about policy. A little background reveals something about them, but snide remarks about family. Tacky bullshit.

The Real Royal Knig said:
There is a double standard to be sure. If a Democrat or Liberal woman is exposed for something silly like this she reprimands us and reminds us that this doesn’t matter, only the issues matter. We agree and move on to the issues because that’s what America deserves. If a Republican or Conservative woman is exposed for something silly like this she reprimands us and reminds us that this doesn’t matter, only the issues matter. We call her out for trying to distract from the REAL issue and raise all holy heck for her impropriety. ‘Cause that’s what she deserves.

The Knig is right !

AnonymousFinch said:
I don’t buy any of that either. I’ve been struggling to think of a fair analogy between the Ball pictures and embarrassing pictures of other politicians. The Scott Brown picture isn’t a fair analogy because he was doing professional modeling–and tasteful professional modeling at that. He wasn’t “out of control.”

The only corollary I can think of are the pictures of drunk John Tower dressed up as Superman that came up when he was nominated to be Sec Def back in 1989. Those pictures–which were embarrassing, but not at all sexual–cost him a cabinet position. (And, in feat of pure political Karma, elevated Dick Cheney to the position of official tormentor of liberals for the better part of the next two decades.)

I see the difference, but honestly, if a woman running had done artful nude photos, would we admire her or see her as a little trashy and thereby unfit for office.
I think the double standard has faded to a large extent but I don’t think it’s gone. Drunk and raising hell at a party doesn’t bother me at all, or seem like bad judgment.

AnonymousFinch said:
It’a not a double standard. There is a legitimate difference between doing something dumb 6 years ago and doing something dumb 30 years ago. The latter obviously has better grounds to claim that they have grown and matured since the mistake happened.

Ms. Ball, by continuing to complain that she’s being picked on, is showing that she hasn’t matured. (That’s the other difference between Ball and Brown. Brown never complained that he was being treated unfairly when his picture was splashed all over the airwaves. He laughed it off.)

That having been said, Ball is still a hottie, so I’ll give her a pass on this.

There’s also a difference between numerous public statements and a few photos from a private party. ODonnell complained of character assassination recently because people were interested in her voluntary public appearances and extreme positions. I agree with her that it’s 20 years old ad not very relevant , although I think it’s okay to ask her , “Do you still hold those positions”

I can understand a new candidate being upset about private photos being splashed out there for the world to see, but I think she’ll figure it out and be okay. She seems to have recovered nicely.

women are often their own worst enemies.

The MSM and liberal women were virtually silent during the primary wrt all the attacks on Hillary by obamabots (including msnbc), and then again, during all the ridiculous and ugly attacks on Palin. The Hillary supporters who were outraged about her treatment are the ones that splintered off, and added their voices to those of conservative women to express their outrage when it happened to Palin.

Meanwhile NOW and Ms. magazine were too busy endorsing and fawning over Obama, and naming him the feminist of the year. The majority of Liberal women swooned like love struck teenagers over Obama, and said nothing about the sexism, if not adding to it.

And as was pointed out in this story, it keeps happening – Meg Whitman, Nikki Haley, Christine O’Donnell, Michelle (act like a lady!) Bachmann. Were is NOW? Oh yea, they endorsed Jerry Brown after the whore incident.

And so, now…. ? She’s right, people are sick of this. It’s too bad Liberal women didn’t join forces, and defend the Conservative women against the ugly attacks.

As for politics of destruction, how many smears are out there? Nanny gate, nazi gate, gay gate, credit card gate, witch gate, oxford gate, kidnap gate, civil rights gate, hicky gate, Dobbs gate, Taliban Dan, foreign money gate, Bogeyman Boehner, FOX is evil, tea partiers are racist memes. Seems like there is a lot of destruction going on.

Those pictures are trivial. However, the alacrity with which she plays the sexism card is disheartening. I’d like her much better if she said, “I was young and having fun. Sue me.”

sarainitaly said:
And so, now…. ? She’s right, people are sick of this. It’s too bad Liberal women didn’t join forces, and defend the Conservative women against the ugly attacks.

I will defend her from sexist double standards BUT I refuse to ever vote for an Obama supporting woman who was either complacent or active in the sexist abuse heaped on Hillary, Sarah, and all of the rest of them for the last two and a half years.

They’ve been reckless with our equality and empowerment. They would be reckless in government.

Azarkhan said:
She’s not THAT hot, but I could give her a pass on the dildo sucking. However, I could never give her a pass on being a Democrat.

Agreed. That’s what I meant.

CosmosDan said:
I see the difference, but honestly, if a woman running had done artful nude photos, would we admire her or see her as a little trashy and thereby unfit for office.
I think the double standard has faded to a large extent but I don’t think it’s gone. Drunk and raising hell at a party doesn’t bother me at all, or seem like bad judgment.

That’s a fair point. I honestly don’t know the answer, but we’ll find out someday, I’m sure.

As more women seek and win high office (which I believe is a good thing), there will be an interesting adjustment in attitudes. It’s okay, for example, to be a disloyal political husband (see Bill Clinton). What will happen when a prominent female politician is caught having serial extra-marital affairs? I honestly don’t know.

CosmosDan said:
There’s also a difference between numerous public statements and a few photos from a private party. ODonnell complained of character assassination recently because people were interested in her voluntary public appearances and extreme positions. I agree with her that it’s 20 years old ad not very relevant , although I think it’s okay to ask her , “Do you still hold those positions”

I can understand a new candidate being upset about private photos being splashed out there for the world to see, but I think she’ll figure it out and be okay. She seems to have recovered nicely.

Agreed. I’m not defending O’Donnell. I’m not a fan.

sarainitaly said:
women are often their own worst enemies. The MSM and liberal women were virtually silent during the primary wrt all the attacks on Hillary by obamabots (including msnbc), and then again, during all the ridiculous and ugly attacks on Palin. The Hillary supporters who were outraged about her treatment are the ones that splintered off, and added their voices to those of conservative women to express their outrage when it happened to Palin. Meanwhile NOW and Ms. magazine were too busy endorsing and fawning over Obama, and naming him the feminist of the year. The majority of Liberal women swooned like love struck teenagers over Obama, and said nothing about the sexism, if not adding to it. And as was pointed out in this story, it keeps happening – Meg Whitman, Nikki Haley, Christine O’Donnell, Michelle (act like a lady!) Bachmann. Were is NOW? Oh yea, they endorsed Jerry Brown after the whore incident. And so, now…. ? She’s right, people are sick of this. It’s too bad Liberal women didn’t join forces, and defend the Conservative women against the ugly attacks. As for politics of destruction, how many smears are out there? Nanny gate, nazi gate, gay gate, credit card gate, witch gate, oxford gate, kidnap gate, civil rights gate, hicky gate, Dobbs gate, Taliban Dan, foreign money gate, Bogeyman Boehner, FOX is evil, tea partiers are racist memes. Seems like there is a lot of destruction going on.

Kan the Krap, Toots. The biggest problem for Hillary was Hillary, and the biggest problem for the Drop Out Governor of Alaska was reason, logic, decency and integrity. Can’t you find anything else to bleat, kvetch, moan and whine about? Geez!

I have a coupld of comments here. First is there a double standard here to a degree? Yes there is and the reason being as adults and parents we know that whether right or wrong promiscuis girls are looked at differently and they also have to deal with the consequences of sex more often than men do. So we do react more strongly maybe as a warning to our daughters to not be sexual. Also, welcome to politics going after anything a candidate does is part of the game, whether the voter decides it is important is up to them but if a male politician would have been caught playing with sex toys it would make the press in todays time. Finally, comparing any politician in liberal Massachusettes compared to a more neutral/conservative state like Virginia doesn’t fly. She could have probably been caught smoking marijuana, while doing the things in the picture with a female kissing her(not saying anything wrong/right with anything mentioned, just using an example) and if she come and said that’s me so what, she could still get ellected in Massachusettes.

bearsfan said:
bearsfan

Da Bears

Not unlike Meg Whitman and Linda McMahon, I find Kystal to be very intelligent and articulate..

I salute them all … we need more like them running for office IMO.

I must admit Krystal Ball sounds like the stage name of a Las Vegas stripper. It is a known fact when college students drink and party, they do stupid things. She was an academic All-American athlete and a member of the NRA. Funny, you don’t hear about that.

Being a partisan, I probably don’t agree with her politics. But in politics, it is the issues that are important and candidate’s track record in public matter. Being a stupid college student, should not be part of her resume when running for public office. We would then require every politician be a graduate of Oral Roberts University.

VRWC Destruction Machine said:
must admit Krystal Ball sounds like the stage name of a Las Vegas stripper.

Or a boxer with a groin injury.

Michael_T said:
Not unlike Meg Whitman and Linda McMahon, I find Kystal to be very intelligent and articulate.. I salute them all … we need more like them running for office IMO.

I think you may be right about Ms. Whitman and Ms. Ball. I have so much trouble with some of Ms. McMahon’s life choice issues that I cannot really objectively evaluate her. I find her off-putting in a undefinable but pervasive sense.

As a resident of VA-1, I will tell you when the first “Krystal Ball” signs began to pop up locally, I thought they were a joke. I haven’t heard ANYTHING about the issue being discussed. NOTHING! NOT A WORD!! Nor have I heard or seen anything about Miss Ball. Until today. But I do have three comments regarding Ms. Ball;

-no where in anything promoting her candidacy do I see (or could I learn) that she is a Democrat

-”…but the tactic of painting successful women as whores — and I can’t believe I’m using this word on your program — that’s nothing new. Ask Sarah Palin, ask Meg Whitman, ask Nikki Haley and Christine O’Donnell…”

She’s absolutely correct, painting female candidates as “whores” is nothing new, but unless I’m mistaken, Palin, Haley, Whitman, and O’Donnell ARE ALL REPUBLICANS. PAINTING CANDIDATES AS “WHORES” IS SOMETHING THAT UP UNTIL NOW, HAS ONLY BEEN DONE BY DEMOCRATS IN REGARD TO REPUBLICAN WOMEN. (We’ll skip Betty White’s statement on Letterman that Sarah Palin is, in White’s words, “One crazy bitch!”) And again, unless I’m wrong, Miss Ball is the only candidate to provide PHOTO EVIDENCE of mis-deeds. The rest are nothing but rumors started by slime machines. Somehow, this type of slander isn’t wrong unless it’s directed at Leftists. Sorry, Miss Ball, but you shouldn’t be surprised. After all, your beloved Leftist masters have spent several generations dragging this nation and our culture into the cesspool, so when you encounter floating fecal matter in that cesspool, your Liberal friends have made it possible.

-lastly, call me cynical, but there really is no reason for Rob Whitman(R, VA-1) or the Republicans to release such information about Miss Ball. It would, and will, be used by Democrats to cast Congressman Whitman and the Virginia Republicans as evil, sexist pigs. Virginia’s first district has been solidly Republican for decades, but for the Democrats to put this garbage out there would be in keeping with their methods, (see “painting successful women as whores”, above) and would also serve to get Miss Ball much needed exposure, (maybe on Fox News) as well as an attempt at sympathy. Nice work, (ex) Governor Kaine!

Double Standard does NOT apply here. This STUPID BIMBO had a picture taken of her sucking on the Dildo that was on her ex-husband’s hat. She is a slutty bitch and we are in the process of taking the garbage OUT, not IN to Congress. Go away, you ignorant slut!

Didn’t the LEFT WING CRUDBALLS just recently go bat-shit crazy over Christine O’Donnell’s teen-aged witchcraft nonsense? Now we have a DemocRAT SLUT who allowed a picture to be taken of her sucking on a Dildo and the Leftist SOB’s are SILENT! You are the biggest HYPOCRITES on the planet!

I wish Fox News would quit using Krystal Ball on America Live or any show unless they start letting Christine O’Donnell or Sharon Angel on to comment. Sharron and Christine shouldn’t be shunned for losing while Democrat Krystal is allowed on to blab without any reason. Hypocrisy. Fox News is not alway perfect as they aren’t in this case.