The Mean Girls of America

Kristin Karnitz
Jul 23, 2017 · 3 min read

I realize that given all of the activity flying around DC these days, this may come across as a minor blip on the radar. However, sometimes even in the midst of chaos, certain things simply need to be said.

In my writing and everyday political viewpoints, I try to remain as balanced as possible, calling out the need for improvement from both Republicans and Democrats. Admittedly some days I do better than others. Republicans have certainly provided more fuel for my personal fire and ire, so when looking back on prior columns, I can see how my red jersey friends may think I’m out to criticize them. Well let me assure you, dear Conservative friends and family, this is not always the case. Read on. Read to the end.

I have seen a lot of rage directed at President Trump (rightfully so) for his repeated disparaging comments about women and their appearances. Anyone who dares to take a stand against him inevitably comes under attack. However when it’s a woman taking a stand, his attack typically takes on an appearance-based tone.

Rosie O’Donnell was declared to be “chubby”. New York Times columnist Gail Collins was said by Trump to have “the face of a dog”. Carly Fiorina, per Trump: “Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that?” Miss Universe Alicia Machado, AKA per Trump, “Miss Piggy.”

Sadly, I could go on and on with more examples, but you get the point. When these attacks happen, I see a swift and condemning reaction from the left.

Here’s where the lecture comes in folks…we cannot as people who decry this behavior on one side enable it on the other. We cannot pick and choose our response to attacks on appearance. Latest case study: Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

On Friday, with the announcement of Sean Spicer’s resignation and subsequent promotion of Sarah Huckabee Sanders to the role of Press Secretary, I witnessed a large gamut of reaction. Most of it fell to the typical sides you would expect…kudos from the right, eye rolls and hand-wringing from the left, and a few bi-partisan ‘girl power’ statements acknowledging the fact that it’s uncommon for a woman to hold this role. That was actually encouraging to see.

Then came the trolls.

Snide remarks about her appearance abounded. I read, appalled, comments about her eyes. Her face. Her weight. Her wardrobe. Her freaking eyelashes. Eyelashes, really? Digging deep on that one, ‘murica. Comments about keeping briefings off-camera to avoid having to look at her. Good Lord.

What struck me as so ironic, and truly made me sad, is these nasty, disparaging comments were coming from the same groups of people who so swiftly condemn the attacks made by President Trump. It is mind-blowing, really.

We as a nation have gotten so far off course when it comes to basic decency and treatment of others. Vitriol is as damaging and cruel as it’s ever been. By picking and choosing when to be offended, and when to go on the offensive, many Americans are exacerbating the problem. You cannot condemn someone for attacking the appearance of another whose political viewpoints align with yours, then cruelly comment on the appearance of someone who sees politics through the opposite lens. This is hypocrisy at its height, and does absolutely nothing to move us to a path of healing relationships that have become so strained in America. We have fallen down a rabbit hole of middle-school ‘Mean Girl’ maturity levels and we need to dig our way out.

So my left-leaning friends, if you feel the need to criticize the appointment of Ms. Sanders to her position, I would ask you to consider criticizing the pieces that absolutely matter — that she stands at the podium and berates journalists. That she will tell a bold-faced lie to the American public. That she will work to help advance an agenda that is damaging to our country. But please, please I am asking of you to be cognizant of your criticism. Credibility is shot when you aim low. And attacking someone’s appearance makes you no better than the man whose cruel mockery you decry on a consistent basis.

And to my friends on both sides of the aisle…we all need to do better. Let’s make a pledge to begin raising the bar of decency back to a height where we can do the limbo without falling flat on our backs. Let’s set the example for our children. If our elected leaders won’t pave the way, we certainly can show them how it’s done. A bipartisan pledge to fight fair; a call to arms for everyone to restore kindness and constructive criticism.

It’ll be so fetch.

Kristin Karnitz

Written by

Minivan-driving, shower-singing, wine-drinking, Packer-loving Boy Mom. Feet, floor, coffee, door

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