Politico Gets Dragged as Sexist for Saying Biden Nominee Janet Yellen ‘Raked In More Than $7.2 million’ For Speeches

Supporters of President-elect Joe Biden and others tore into Politico over an article that said Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen “raked in” more than $7.2 million for speeches over two years, with many accusing the site of sexism.

The article focuses on financial disclosures from former Federal Reserve Chair Yellen, as well as two other Biden nominees. But it was their characterization of Yellen’s earnings that drew attention:

In the past two years, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to be Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, has raked in more than $7.2 million in speaking fees from Wall Street and large corporations including Citi, Goldman Sachs, Google, City National Bank, UBS, Citadel LLC, Barclays, Credit Suisse, Salesforce and more.

A pair of tweets to that effect generated thousands of responses, including many ripping them as sexist, or otherwise slamming the article as promoting a double standard.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but women like Janet Yellen are allowed to earn millions for their expertise just like men are #BidenAdministration https://t.co/OW1EfEJGJN

— Tara Dublin is Ready For #BidenCalm (@taradublinrocks) January 1, 2021

“How dare that woman make money being an expert on money! TUH!” /s https://t.co/47zztNLDuZ

— Tiffani Ashley Bell (@tiffani) January 1, 2021

How many former Fed chairs are running around these days? Of course she’s in demand because she has unique, valuable insight into something most of us have only the vaguest grasp of.

It’s like people forget how payment for service works when there’s a woman involved. ? https://t.co/r6nZyrMOim

— Jess Phoenix ? (@jessphoenix2018) January 1, 2021

.@politico “…has raked in—” ???
How about “… has earned—” https://t.co/2Ji6sTGc2r

— Darlene McDonald (@VoteDarlene) January 1, 2021

(Sigh) Here we go again. So what? Unless she revealed her secret plan to give them all the money in the world while assuring them she’d never regulate them if confirmed, who gives a shit? https://t.co/0h6LHcEYuQ

— Charles #GetCovered-ba (@charles_gaba) January 1, 2021

It’s called a career. Look it up. https://t.co/mDX7v1KIX7

— kristen johnston (@thekjohnston) January 1, 2021

You never hear journalists talking about each other’s earnings as “raking in.”

When a NYT reporter or Politico reporter gets a huge book deal, they never report it as “raking in.”

It’s somehow earned or deserved or lucky you.

Wonder what that’s about. https://t.co/Q21iTqP60Q

— Michelangelo Signorile (@MSignorile) January 1, 2021

Women making money AGAIN. #smh https://t.co/0xT2FrRW6q

— Virginia Heffernan (@page88) January 1, 2021

and….?

don’t you love how Beltway press switches into Optics gear for Dems and expects everyone to just play along. https://t.co/XopubJTGAh

— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) January 1, 2021

Let the ridiculous journalistic overcompensation begin!!! https://t.co/vPzC8uBEwQ

— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) January 1, 2021

This doesn’t bother me at all and I’d rather someone rake in money on speaking fees than get rich off their influence in other ways. https://t.co/Fw3fEaXLHx

— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) January 1, 2021

Saw this earlier. Good for her. She’s making less than comparable men on the speaking circuit.

(Shout out to all my peers who were annoyed about me & other faculty of color talking about honoraria & speaking fees openly with junior colleagues and grad students. Happy New Year!) https://t.co/V65QKyBBz1

— Ebony Elizabeth Thomas (@Ebonyteach) January 1, 2021

I read politico because it is provocative. Accurate and honest… not so much. I think their motto is “Get it first. If it’s not right, we may or may not fix it later “ https://t.co/SdO8ZO42F5

— Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) January 1, 2021

So?? Also this article conflates one-time speaking engagements with consulting work. They are entirely different things. In a speaking gig you convey your own thoughts and ideas to a group who is willing to pay you to hear them. Consulting involves enhancing the co’s bottom line.

— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) January 1, 2021

The article also had many defenders, who argued that scrutiny is legitimate — but largely ignored the substance of the sexism critique — and many Yellen opponents who agreed with the premise that the speaking fees are untoward.

Good story and absolutely no issues with reporting on where public officials, male or female, have collected large checks.
Not that Yellen will be biased but it’s legit public interest to know this stuff. https://t.co/ttog48py9t

— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) January 1, 2021

cue bajillions of liberals squealing “UHHH SO WHAT?!?!?!” https://t.co/v8CqCPUyu2

— Natalie Shure (@nataliesurely) January 1, 2021

being blackpilled by the amount of replies to this that sincerely say calling out a woman’s corporate bribes is misogyny https://t.co/dHkMYyhsqo

— i send you the smile of goodwill (@runolgarun) January 2, 2021

liberals reacting to this and having a tough time coming to terms with the realization that their party is bought and paid for by wall street and big business. https://t.co/Q5IvU85a7J

— Logan Hall (@loganclarkhall) January 1, 2021

Expected, of course. But still notable to see all the people who have naturally fretted about how Trump’s nominees made their money suddenly say it doesn’t matter how Janet Yellen or Avril Haynes or others made theirs and whether they might post conflicts of interest.

— Sam Stein (@samstein) January 1, 2021

Ms. Yellen would become the first woman treasury secretary if confirmed.

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