‘Best Looking Attorney General’: Was Obama’s Compliment to Kamala Harris Sexist? [OPINION]

Kamala Harris is being dubbed the "Best Looking Attorney General" by none other than Barack Obama. President Barack Obama praised California Attorney General Kamala Harris at a recent fundraiser in Atherton, California at the home of philanthropist John Goldman, a Levi Strauss heir.

He talked about her intelligence, her work ethic and her physical appearance, the President stated, "You have to be careful to, first of all, say she is brilliant and she is dedicated and she is tough, and she is exactly what you'd want in anybody who is administering the law, and making sure that everybody is getting a fair shake," said Obama. "She also happens to be by far the best-looking attorney general in the country -- Kamala Harris is here." When laughter from the crowd emerged Obama defended his claim with a candid defense, "It's true. Come on. And she is a great friend and has just been a great supporter for many, many years."

While the compliment was accepted with grace by Kamala Harris, the media has now turned an accolade of her entire being into solely Obama's acknowledgment of her looks. While the world is up in arms about this apparent sexist comment, I question why? While I don't believe that her looks have anything to do with her work as Attorney General, this comment is not sexist. Does merely stating the obvious make President Obama sexist?

To further investigate this sexist or not claim, let's revisit a news story that broke two days ago, Obama the 'Sex Symbol.' Entertainment Tonight correspondent, Rosci Diaz stated that women across the US view Obama as a 'sex symbol' in an interview with the First Lady Michelle Obama. Diaz stated, "People used to look at JFK, 'Oh, he's sexy.' And then it was Bill Clinton, and now it's your husband, Barack Obama is looked upon by women across the country as a sex symbol."

What is different between this comment and the when made by President Obama? In my opinion, Diaz's assertion of Obama as a 'sex symbol' is more sexist that Obama declaring that Harris is the 'best looking Attorney General.' His comment is a bit more PG compared to Diaz who put Obama in a category with past presidents who had a bit of a reputation for acting on their sexy status.

So why is that we view Obama as a sexist and Diaz as a feminist? This is a misconception and double standard that is vexing. Physical beauty is a bonus in any aspect of life, business or personal, women and men both walk a fine line between wanting to be viewed as attractive although not wanting to be solely judged on looks. Therefore by acknowledging Harris' apparent beauty seems like an honest observation of her looks, not a "sexist" remark and "wolfish" advance.

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