Smile. You just had a big night. #PrimaryDay
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) March 16, 2016
I only described MSNBC host Joe Scarborough’s subtweet of Hillary Clinton as annoying to keep the trolls out. But let’s be honest, it’s subversively sexist. Call it casual sexism, call it ever day sexism, call whatever you’d like, but it’s flippant, cavalier and annoying at best and sexist in all likelihood.
Of course, if anyone were to call out the “Morning Joe” host for his reaction to Clinton’s big wins in Ohio and Florida on Tuesday (and he was certainly reacting to Clinton’s election night) he’d deny any charges of the sort, so if he needs a fellow cable news male pundit to throw under the bus in order to deflect some of the blowback surely coming his way, Fox News’ Brit Hume offered an even more superficial election night commentary via Twitter Tuesday night:
Hillary having a big night in the primaries. So she's shouting angrily in her victory speech. Supporters loving it. What's she mad at?
— Brit Hume (@brithume) March 16, 2016
There was also Fox News’ media critic, Howard Kurtz:
Hillary shouting her speech. She has the floor; a more conversational tone might be better for connecting with folks at home
— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) March 16, 2016
And to buffer from instantaneous shouts of outrage (like mine) Fox News’ Dana Perino offered a female take down of Clinton’s victory speech:
It is so strange to hear these inspiring words in such an angry tones. #confused #whyisshemad
— Dana Perino (@DanaPerino) March 16, 2016
After Clinton’s massive wins in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio on Tuesday, we likely only have the next eight months to debate whether the term shrill is sexist or not. Hooray.
