Tucker Carlson's "Daily Caller" Website thinks sexual harassment is funny

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Monday, Sep 13, 2010 19:01 ET
Broadsheet
Shaming sports reporter Ines Sainz
The Daily Caller mocks the TV Azteca personality over allegations that she was harassed by The New York Jets
By Tracy Clark-Flory



I was going to hold off on writing about the alleged harassment of TV Azteca reporter Ines Saintz by The New York Jets until more information emerged. After all, at this point it's mostly hearsay: The NFL is investigating reports that during practice on Saturday footballs were intentionally thrown in Sainz's direction and that in the locker room she was "greeted by catcalls and hooting," according to ESPN. Ah, but then, by way of Media Matters, I came across The Daily Caller's shaming coverage -- or, more accurately, uncoverage.

Tucker Carlson's conservative news site has a slideshow headlined "Baby got back: Meet Ines Sainz" with an array of racy images (that certainly casts "conservative" in an interesting light). The photos of the former Miss Universe contestant are paired with belittling commentary -- por ejemplo, an image of Sainz shot from behind on the day in question is accompanied by the following text: "The skin tight jeans -- er, we mean, the sensible outfit that sparked the current controversy." Some other choice captions include: "Hello, Ines! My, what a serious photo you have to headline your website!" and "Sainz's dressing for success recipe: Low cut lacey top? Check. Necklace with strange white drawing the eye to her chest? Check." The message is so tired I am actually yawning as I type: She asked for it.

Some folks just have a really hard time with the concept that a woman who cashes in on her sex appeal can actually be harassed, violated and abused (see: Erin Andrews). Interestingly enough, Sainz isn't leading the charge here. It's true that she tweeted about the locker room incident in Spanish: "I die of embarrassment! I am in the locker room of the Jets waiting for Mark Sanchez while trying not to look to anywhere!" But, on Monday, she told a TV Azteca colleague: "It was definitely a joking tone, very amicable. I wasn't offended." As for the footballs thrown in her direction, she said: "I took it as a joke, and none of the footballs actually hit me."

She was so untroubled, in fact, that she was "surprised to wake up on Sunday and have a call from the NFL." Sainz had to ask what they were calling about "and they said, well, there is a pretty powerful accusation of harassment." Apparently, Sainz was unaware of some of what was said about her in the locker room until a fellow female reporter told her about it. Still, she told the Spanish program DeporTV: "In my opinion, I never felt I was attacked." On that note, I'd like to offer a thank you to The Daily Caller for providing our lesson of the day: You can wind up on the other end of victim-blaming even when you don't see yourself as a victim.

Now, setting aside Sainz's experience, the NFL still has to answer the question of whether the team's behavior was objectively inappropriate -- so, stay tuned.

http://www.salon.com/life/broadsheet/2010/09/13/daily_caller/index.html

UPDATE: Sainz tells CNN's Rick Sanchez that she has accepted the apology of Jets owner Woody Johnson -- but added, "I'm agreeing with the idea that it's good that everybody knows that a woman or a man deserve the same treatment in the locker room."

[Sapphocrat]

1. Fucker Carlson also thinks...

...slamming a (perceived? fictitious?) gay man's head into a toilet stall is perfectly acceptable, too.

[Pisces]

8. Tucker sounds like a self hating gay republican in the closet.

[cbdo2007]

2. Isn't it harrassment to send a woman into a guy's locker room in the first place?

It's where the guys get naked and change clothes. Where the showers are and stuff.

Why don't they just have everyone at the press conference afterward and keep all reporters, men and women out of the locker room where there are various semi-nude guys standing around?

[joeglow3]

3. I have always hated this

I may be wrong, but I have never seen stories of males sports reporters being allowed in women's locker rooms after sporting events.

[bullwinkle428]

5. Bottom line - the TEAM issues press credentials to individuals

they believe have a legitimate purpose in covering everything associated with that team's activities!

This really sounds like the old "she was asking for it" rape defense!

[cbdo2007]

6. It's nothing like the "she was asking for it" rape defense.

My argument really has nothing to do with the harrassment, but rather the policy of allowing women in the locker room to begin with. If I was one of the team's players I wouldn't be comfortable showering and changing clothes with women around. I doubt my wife would like it either.

[LanternWaste]

10. NFL teams have policies, protocols and locker schedules

"Isn't it harrassment to send a woman into a guy's locker room in the first place?"

NFL teams have locker room policies, protocols and shower schedules to prevent that very thing from happening. So I would presume it is not harassment... much like an interview in someone's dressing room is not harassment if scheduled appropriately.

[cbdo2007]

12. then it sounds like she was going against protocol, if she was "trying not to look around" because

of what she might see.

[AngryAmish]

4. I would not like to change in a room with females in it.

It is part of the job and all that but I think it is unfair.

That said, the Jets are clearly in the wrong.

[Pisces]

9. They should ban all reporters male and female from the locker room. This way

This should be a place the players can expect some privacy. Interviewing and taping them with naked players in the background is not good reporting.

[AngryAmish]

11. This is the rub: Each league WANTS them interviewed in the locker room

Gives off the cuff, heat of battle quotes, interesting press and more publicity.

So, it is a job qualification.

But if I were a doctor and a patient insisted on a female doctor, I would not insist that I do that particular job even if it cost me money. It is only being polite.

[blondeatlast]

7. tucker's maturity in a nutshell. I was dumbfounded to hear he had kids, I truly was. nt

[MikeW]

13. men should be allowed in womens locker room

[blondeatlast]

14. They are. nt

[blondeatlast]

15. I thought this thread was about a nitwit thinking sexual harrassment is a jolly good time.

I still do.