Women in Politics

January 26, 2023

Hillary Right About Russian Election Interference…and EVERYTHING ELSE

In light of former NY FBI Chief Charles McGonigal’s arrest this week, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 election “loss” just became more suspicious. Per the Washington Post, ‘[t]he […]
June 14, 2021

Don’t Allow Kamala To Be Hillary’d By The Press

Almost since the moment VP Kamala Harris appeared on the national stage, corporate owned media has been giving her the “Hillary treatment”, which is to say […]
January 15, 2020

Why an Apology to Hillary Helps All Women

Hillary, long a lightning rod for sexist abuse, suffered horrid treatment from the male owned mainstream press, which warned all women: “Step up and you’ll get […]
December 24, 2019

Gratitude In Challenging Times

Having taken a powder from my own website for six months!! (horrors), I need to stop flogging myself about it and be kind, acknowledging that sometimes […]
January 3, 2019

Hey Tucker Carlson: My Mom is a Hero, Not an Emasculator

It’s not that FOX News’ Tucker Carlson is worth listening to or respecting, yet his comments about ‘women’s advancement harming society’ must be addressed; his poison […]
May 14, 2018

Stop Pretending There’s a Liberal Media Bias

Beware anyone trying to tell you that there is a liberal media bias on major news programs. On Sunday’s State of the Union, CNN’s Jake Tapper […]
June 17, 2017

Kamala Harris Gets Hillary’d

When speaking of Hillary Clinton, anyone who ever bought or sold the line: “I’d vote for any woman just not THAT woman” can now put that […]
March 28, 2017

The Insecure Male Behind Hillary Hate

Hillary Clinton was recently chosen America’s most admired woman for an unprecedented 21st year, yet the boundless admiration she inspires is matched by irrational revulsion.  The […]
March 11, 2016

Hillary’s Nomination Fight Complicated by Media Expectations

The New York Times editorial board, after penning a glowing endorsement of Hillary Clinton’s candidacy, now chastises her for going hard at her opponent Bernie Sanders […]
March 3, 2016

Elizabeth Warren, Traitor to the Cause?

Looking at Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Facebook page, you’d think she betrayed every one of her liberal values, since her account was overrun by hateful comments. Her […]
January 10, 2016

What the Big 5 Sunday Shows Tell Us About Who to Value

Reporting for Rachel Maddow’s Blog, Steve Benen tallied political guests on the big five Sunday Talk Shows: “Meet the Press,” “Face the Nation,” “This Week,” “State […]
December 31, 2015

Bring It, 2016!

2015 went by like a speed bump. Is it that I just turned 57, so every year races by faster than the one before it? Is […]
December 23, 2015

Hillary, You May Not Go To The Bathroom and Other Double Standards

The criticisms leveled at Hillary Clinton are in an orbit beyond familiar disparities in male vs. female candidates’ coverage and treatment. Last week, four of Bernie […]
July 19, 2015

Can We Teach Legislators to Grow a Spine?

South Carolina State Representative Jenny Horne made a tearful plea from the floor of the House and begged her colleagues to “do something meaningful” and take […]
July 9, 2015

Women are Fundraising Their Way to the Big Political Table

Hillary Clinton’s first quarter fundraising total of $45 million revealed that women comprised more than 60% of her donor base.  Regardless of Party, this kind of […]
May 28, 2015

Feminism is Not the “F” Word: An Interview with Jennifer Hall Lee

Feminism is not the “F” word and feminists should not be stereotyped as the ball-busting, bearded, Birkenstock wearing sisterhood!  Disabusing wrong-headed notions about feminism is vital […]
May 21, 2015

Why Are Men in Congress Still Sidelining Women Staffers?

National Journal’s article that Some Male Members of Congress Won’t Be Alone with Female Staffers caused quite an uproar. This is a problem on both sides […]
May 8, 2015

Did Carly Fiorina Negate the Reason for Her Presidential Run?

Carly Fiorina claims her presidential candidacy offers the unique perk that she can stop Hillary Clinton from playing the “gender card.” Yet in an interview with […]
April 29, 2015

Are Women Making The Senate More Effective?

The U.S. Senate worked together to pass landmark Human Trafficking and Rape Protection legislation in a collaborative manner – something that stunned many and left the […]
April 10, 2015

Hillary Clinton’s Candidacy – Fact Not Spin

Hillary Clinton plans to announce her candidacy on Twitter this weekend as she journey’s to Iowa for her initial campaign blitz. Big media (left and right) […]
April 7, 2015

Kelly Clarkson Told To Step Away From the Deep Dish Pizza

On Mike Gallagher’s radio show, FOX News’ Chris Wallace admonished Kelly Clarkson to manage her weight by “pushing away from the deep-dish pizza.” Wallace has apologized, […]
March 26, 2015

Hillary Clinton Challenges Barriers to Social Mobility

Hillary Clinton this week led “a roundtable discussion at the Center for American Progress on expanding opportunity in urban America.” Clinton stated “We don’t have enough […]
March 13, 2015

Beating Back the Drive-By Media on Hillary’s Emails

As nature abhors a vacuum, so the drive-by media is hungry to control and define any public figure whose impact might supersede their own. How do […]
March 11, 2015

Hillary’s Emails: Truth Trumps Media Madness

Notwithstanding feverish media squeals about Hillary Clinton’s “private” email usage as Secretary of State, the fact is she adhered to the laws in place during her […]
March 6, 2015

Hillary’s Emails: Scandal or Smear?

Republicans got a huge assist from mainstream media this week in their quest to smear Hillary Clinton, thereby arresting her path to the Presidency in 2016.  […]
March 4, 2015

Hillary in Fine Form at Emily’s List Gala

Hillary Clinton’s speech at Emily’s List 30 Year Gala Tuesday night revealed a woman at the top of her game, relaxed, warm and on message as […]
February 23, 2015

Oscars Activism: Right or Wrong?

By now, Patricia Arquette’s Oscar speech on behalf of women’s equality has gone viral. As much applause as she received for her remarks, the backlash has […]
February 17, 2015

Republicans’ Hillary Bashing is a Mistake

The latest Hillary-bashing from Republicans hungry to win the White House in 2016 is the “Hillary’s Hiding” campaign, anchored by RNC billboards charging that Secretary Clinton […]
October 29, 2014

To Politicians, Your Silence Equals a Yes Vote

The midterm elections are upon us and famously have lower turnouts, but it’s more important than ever to vote.  Midterms may not be as sexy.  But they […]
October 27, 2014

Did Renee Zellweger and Frances McDormand Capture Our Struggle with Aging?

I recently asked if we are now a Botox Nation, preferring Barbie and Ken’s wrinkle-free faces, boobs of steel that say Hi! to the ceiling and […]
October 21, 2014

Have We Become a Botox Nation?

Oscar and Tony award winning actress Frances McDormand has always relied on her immense talent, remaining committed to a Botox-free existence.  At 57, she saw the […]
September 29, 2014

The Good Wife’s Bad Political Stunt Casting

I have long been a fan of CBS’ The Good Wife.  Yet, the quality of the actors and the show notwithstanding, I take exception t0 producers’ political stunt […]
September 4, 2014

Sexism in the Senate? Do Tell…

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, once famously called “the Senate’s hottest member” by Democrat and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, has a book coming out this […]
July 23, 2014

Will Women Decide the 2014 Elections? Anita Finlay & Jerry Doyle Discuss 7/22/2013

It is always my privilege to be a guest on the top rated Jerry Doyle Show.  Jerry and I debate the power of women in the […]
July 21, 2014

Anita Finlay & Jerry Doyle Talk Women in Leadership 7/18/2014

Jerry and I catch up on all things “vacational” and political before digging into my latest article asking if we are finally ready to embrace female […]
July 18, 2014

Are There Signs We Are Ready to Embrace Female Leadership?

Mighty Kacy Catanzaro (ht. 5 feet, wt. 100 lbs.) just made history on American Ninja Warrior as the only woman to complete the course at the […]
July 8, 2014

Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby Decision May Be a Disaster for Republicans

Last week’s firestorm set off by the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision has brought into sharp focus the problem Republicans have in their outreach to women.  […]
June 19, 2014

“Hillary is the Meryl Streep of Politics”: Anita Finlay on Newsmax TV

On her book tour for Hard Choices, Hillary Clinton has been getting a fair amount of lambasting from a pundit class that looks to be lying […]
June 12, 2014

Anita Finlay on Newsmax TV: Hillary, Leadership and the GOP Upset

Thrilled to share my first appearance as a commentator on Newsmax TV.  They roll out on Directv next week and host Ed Berliner is a true gent.  We […]
May 7, 2014

Celebrating Women at BlogHer 2014

I’m so proud to be one of the bloggers chosen by BlogHer as a Voice of the Year for my piece on World War II’s unsung […]
April 23, 2014

Jon Stewart Gives Sexist Blowhards What For

Jon Stewart’s brilliant takedown of the preposterous double standards leveled at Hillary Clinton, Dianne Feinstein and, for that matter, all women in politics is almost enough to make […]
April 22, 2014

News Flash: Hillary Clinton Is Not Pregnant

Media outlets are abuzz with Chelsea Clinton’s announcement that she and husband Marc Mezvinsky are expecting their first child this fall. Sharing the joyful news at […]
April 8, 2014

Was Mary Barra Set Up to Take the Fall at GM?

Last week, newly minted GM CEO Mary Barra withstood a battering from a Congressional committee over GM’s recent recall of 2.6 million vehicles. Per Allan Stamm […]
April 1, 2014

Past is Prologue: Media Again Derides Hillary as an Entitled “Corporate” Candidate

In an interview on CNN’s Crossfire, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who last week intimated he’d make a better president than Hillary Clinton, avoided attacking her despite host […]
March 4, 2014

Anita Finlay & Jerry Doyle Talk Oscars and Women in Film 3/3/2014

An article I posted, What the Oscars Tell Us About How Society Views Women, has been getting lots of play and addresses Best Actress winner Cate Blanchett calling out […]
January 28, 2014

Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul and the Female Libido

Women represent 53% of the voting electorate.  Vital as it is for Republicans to gain female votes in 2014, their need will reach critical mass in […]
January 24, 2014

The Rush to Define Hillary as a Space Alien or the 50-Foot Woman

Republicans fearful of Secretary Clinton contesting for the Presidency in 2016 are falling over themselves to define her early, trotting out tired ageist, sexist attacks while screaming […]
December 12, 2013

First Female CEO of GM: Trend or Anomaly?

Starting at GM as a teenaged intern and rising to global product development chief, Mary Barra, now 51, has been made the company’s first female CEO.  According to […]
October 25, 2013

A Hillary Birthday Testimonial from a Longtime Staffer

Neera Tanden offered a lovely testimonial on Hillary Clinton in Politico entitled “Hillary Is No Quitter.”   Most striking is her discussion of Hillary Clinton’s dedication, kindness to […]
October 14, 2013

Why Were Women Shut Out of the Shutdown Negotiations?

While there is no guarantee that women in Congress would bring the government shutdown to an end, historically women have a better record of cutting across party […]
October 1, 2013

The Right Move: CNN and NBC Scrap Plans for Hillary Films

The Washington Post reported that both CNN and NBC have cancelled plans to produce films about the life of Hillary Clinton. Charles Ferguson, the CNN film’s director, complained that he […]
September 26, 2013

Are Republicans Trying to Lose? Will Female Pundits Come to Their Rescue?

The Washington Times’ Wesley Pruden just derided Hillary Clinton for her “occasional” visits to the hairdresser and wrote that while a man of 69 is not […]
August 27, 2013

Anita's News for Exciting Changes Ahead as Finlay & Smart (Amicably) Part Ways

Too often, we are encouraged to be viewers and voyeurs instead of powerful, vital entrepreneurs and creative, soulful beings who need to be heard more and to hear more that […]
August 7, 2013

Visual Vilification: A Tale of Two Hillarys

In the media’s obsession with all things Hillary, no sooner did NBC and CNN announce biopics on the former Secretary of State than the RNC denounced those […]
July 30, 2013

Daily Beast Insults both Diane Lane and Hillary Clinton Because…?

Way to go, Daily Beast. Thanks for a slap in search of a story. Stating that actress Diane Lane cannot do any more than smolder because she […]
July 25, 2013

Anthony Weiner and Larry Summers Make My Head Ache

You really have to ask yourself what it takes to get some of these guys off the stage.  Anthony Weiner disgraced himself, losing his Congressional seat […]
July 24, 2013

Unlikely Senate Allies Gillibrand, Paul and Cruz Take on Military Brass

Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, an outspoken advocate for changing the military’s current protocols for prosecuting sexual assault, can now call Conservatives Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Chuck […]
April 25, 2013

Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” vs. Beyoncé and Big Media – Objectification Wins Every Time

Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” YouTube has gone viral with over 30 million views and tells us that women are their own worst enemies when it comes […]
April 2, 2013

Does Our Nation’s Current Romance with Hillary Mean She Will Have an Easier Path in 2016?

Every week, another “Hillary: will she or won’t she” article erupts in the mainstream press.  If the amount of copy devoted to reading the tea leaves […]
February 20, 2013

Hypersexualizing Women Leads to Self-Objectification, More Destructive and Prevalent than Society Admits

Images of Rihanna nestled close to fiancé Chris Brown at the Grammys last week were disturbing, considering he had previously punched her in the face, bitten […]
January 24, 2013

Hillary Clinton’s Benghazi Testimony and the Men Who Fear Her

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave 5-1/2 hours of patient and thorough testimony before the Senate and House yesterday regarding the events surrounding the tragic deaths […]
January 22, 2013

Big Media and the Herd Mentality of Party Politics Create More Crises Than They Solve

Salon’s David Sirota today offered an article instructing Progressives to “check their optimism” when it comes to President Obama’s inauguration speech and what it might bode […]
December 12, 2012

Anita Finlay's Christmas Coupon For You!

This year, my life has been about words — spoken, written, sometimes shouted — sharing a heartfelt message with students, talk show hosts, and, well, anyone […]
December 4, 2012

Study Finding We Are Done with Gender Bias Omits Important Data

“Good News for Hillary 2016: New Study Says Media Gender Bias Has Almost Disappeared”   …so reads The Grindstone headline to Ruth Graham’s latest article.  Quoting […]
November 27, 2012

Citing “the War on Men,” One Woman Thinks We Would be Better Off as 50s Housewives

Suzanne Venker, author of the new book, ‘How to Choose a Husband (and Make Peace with Marriage),’ insists feminism has been bad for women and good […]
October 12, 2012

Finlay & Smart Talk — our new radio show!

This week, I had the pleasure of launching a new show with writer and host John Smart.  We cover the waterfront!  Every Tuesday at 7pm Pacific/10pm […]
September 19, 2012

Apologies to Hillary, Revisionist History and Cognitive Dissonance

These past two years, we have been stunned by a pundit class offering everything from grudging to glowing praise of Hillary Clinton, a candidate they had […]
August 29, 2012

I Am Not My Hair (humble thanks to India.Arie for her inspiring lyrics)

At Best Buy one lazy Sunday afternoon six years back, I sampled my first Ipod. The pre-programmed music selections featured India.Arie singing “I Am Not My […]
August 22, 2012

ABC's Jake Tapper Tells the Truth about Media Bias — a blockbuster interview in polite language

Add Jake Tapper, one of our more reliable reporters, to the list of people who have left the reservation – at least for the moment. Back […]
August 19, 2012

Many Who Attacked Hillary Clinton in 2008 Now Suggesting She Replace Joe Biden

I just had the pleasure of being interviewed by Molly Paige and Ernie Brown of the nationally syndicated America’s Radio News Network.  I had some choice […]
August 14, 2012

Female Olympians, Like Women in Politics, Are Still Stuck in the Cheap Seats

There is a reason why Secretary of State Hillary Clinton fights for the empowerment of women and girls around the world.  Even in the 2012 Olympics, […]
July 29, 2012

When Does Hillary Clinton Get Some Credit?

The New Republic, the same publication whose literary editor once referred to Hillary Clinton as a “hellish housewife” is at it again.  Only this time instead […]
June 20, 2012

Ask A Woman What She Thinks!

by Anita Finlay “Men Rule Media Coverage on Women’s News,” Abigail Pesta’s recent Daily Beast article, makes clear that men still control the news narrative at all levels.  The data […]